LIFE IN THE SLOW LANE

Back in February when early retirement was still a nebulous dream, I had a plan – a list of activities to rush off and do once I was no longer shackled to an office desk. It looked something like this:

Complete wall panelling downstairs
Rip up old corridor carpet for replacement flooring
Take up wild water swimming
Consider joining the local WI group
Dig large hole in garden for a pond
Finish itinerary for a trip to east coast of Australia
Do more volunteering
Buy a sketch book and have an art attack
Climb Snowdonia
Gardening, gardening and more gardening
Sign up for those free local council Heart Smart walks

But in the 6 months since I left work, I’m beginning to realise that the pace of life in retirement is not what it once was. Somehow, I’ve subconsciously shifted out of 5^th gear and moved across into the crawler lane like all those other old tabbies behind the wheel who drive like they have all the time in the world.  Retirement is definitely more milk float than Ferrari.

Procrastination rules and that’s not always a good thing. It now takes me at least 3-4 weeks to get round to doing things which before I would have raced round to cram into an afternoon. Time has developed a gooey fluid quality, flowing like a lazy river through the jungle of my life.

So, I’ve finished the panelling, flooring and have started on the garden but as for the rest of the list? Well, there’s plenty of time to get round to considering it.

The problem with having all day to do stuff is it’s easy to get distracted. Take today for example. I should be touching up the bottom of the architraves in the corridor. I’ve had this task on my ‘To Do’ list for at least 3 months, yet some unseen force prevents me from picking up a paint brush. Instead, I’m blogging, baking, or painting pebbles. Basically, doing random shit except that which is important because that’s what being time rich is all about. Filling your day. With pleasurable, enjoyable fun stuff to while away the hours.

I need painting

In true procrastinator fashion, tasks left undone are transferred across to tomorrow’s ‘To Do’ list. Trouble is, I’m moving over the same things almost daily and never ticking them off. Hopelessly idle. Can’t be helped but more likely can’t be arsed. I’m retired so every day’s a weekend. At some point, I will get off my lazy arse to finish the architraves but for now, I’m off to pick the last of my ripened tomatoes in my nightie before I head off for a shower.

Last of the ripening tomatoes