Habits

Yesterday I talked about making lists but I'm hoping some of those things will turn into habits over the next few weeks. Habits are supposed to develop by doing something consistently for at least 20 days. It's the best way to get that routine in place so things happen naturally. I've been pretty good so far especially with getting up at 6 am and exercising but I have to work on a few more. I guess it has to be balanced with some spontaneity, too. During retirement I want to keep that attitude of "what the heck, let's do it" but not lounging around not getting anything constructive done. Hey, so far so good!

Lists

One of my special co-workers yesterday mentioned the importance of making lists especially after retiring. I've been doing that since I read an article in the paper concerning the anatomy of a good list. Only put five items and write them according to time involved (least to most) was the gist of the article. It's not as important to finish the list as it is to make one. I've stated before that my biggest concern is losing my routine which has been essential to my well being and I'm hoping the list will help my focus. One list I will not write is a bucket list. To me it seems like a lose-lose situation - if I complete it, then what and if I don't, I'm dead. So I'll continue making lists and live each day as it comes.

Having fun

I am now counted as one of our countries retirees! What a wonderful day I had with these co-workers of mine that have been kinder, more generous and more fun than I ever could have hoped for. I managed to survive the day with no outburst of tears even though the emotion was swelling up inside of me. I remembered what I wrote in yesterday's post about not saying good-bye to the people but the job and it seemed to help. I still have much work to do - some of which will take me back to these wonderful friends I worked with and some will follow a different path. The main distinction will be that now I'll call it fun and not work.

Saying Good-bye

Only one more day! Today was really the last day of "work" and tomorrow will be a day of saying good-bye to the routine I've been used to for 13 years but not to the friends I've met during that time. I plan to visit, call and/or e-mail often as friends are too hard to come by, just to leave. It will also be a day to let others cook for me, which will be strange but I'll manage. It will be one step toward relinquishing control and finding another sense of freedom. I've already said I'll plan the next get-together since I'll have the time. Putting the preparations for our(my husband and my) retirement party in someone else's hands will be the next step. I look forward to enjoying whatever comes along.

Paperwork

Only two more days!! I just wish there was a one-stop shopping place or a one-call like they have for utilities to take care of the paperwork and notifying all the people. Now, I've been called a rule follower by my daughter and I take it as a compliment even though I don't think it was intended as such. For the most part, I try to follow rules and life is easier if I do. There have been times that I chose to ignore rules for whatever reason but I accept the consequences. So when I filed the papers for my retirement, I even asked if there was anything else I needed to do. Now I'm finding out that I needed to do this, this, and this. It's nothing that hard and I would have gladly done it a month ago if someone had informed me because, like I said, I try and follow the rules. Sometimes there's things you only do once, unless you're in showbiz, like retiring. I expect the professionals to fill me in on all this stuff and instead I feel like I'm not asking the right questions or everyone needs something different from me. Anyway, I think it's taken care of but I do have two more days if there's anything else.....

Kosher salt

For the past few days, it seems like all I've been hearing or reading about is kosher salt. The September issue of Woman's Day magazine has stated they will only be using kosher salt in all future WD recipes. Kosher salt contains half the sodium as table salt - a fact I didn't know. Everyone is eyeing the sodium content in foods these days, especially because of it's link to hypertension, but am I prepared to cut it out of my diet completely - NO. I believe the link concerns the fluid retention and if that can be handled in other ways then there is no need to eliminate salt. Even all the Food Network stars use salt because it improves the taste of food. My daughter made a delicious tomato salad with kosher salt, oil and basil - quick, easy and tasty! I made salt potatoes with small Yukon Gold potatoes and a bunch of kosher salt - also tasty. The salt is much coarser than table salt but I can work around that. I guess I can have my cake and eat it too.

Can't seem to get the clothes right

I went to a wedding yesterday and realized that I can't get the clothes right. This was termed a casual affair but I wore a skirt, low-heeled sandals and hose. The last wedding I went to I wore khaki capris, dressy top, sandals and no hose. At both weddings I wore the wrong apparel, based on my need to comform. I realize that need is outdated and I shouldn't worry about it, but I do. No one else cared - why should they, since I didn't care what they wore. I guess it takes me back- way back, to when there were rules to fashion. I was taught that you didn't wear white after Labor Day, red and pink should never be worn together, hose should be worn with any kind of dress shoes(flat or heeled),and your purse should match your shoes. I remember in school one year, all of us girls wore hose with white keds sneakers and it looked so cool. We were so "in"! We broke every rule I lived by and it felt great. My plan is to throw away those pantyhose, buy myself a fancy pair of flip-flops and thumb my nose to the rules. Now that sounds like a plan!!