Tag Archives: RETIREMENT

Might 🤔 Maybe

Posted on May 24, 2026 | 1 comment

Maybe it grounds me a bit to be here at my nearby coffee shop. The fact that I think it might be excessive might be why I fear that it might be unwise. But reminder: even if it’s every day, which it is not, it’s still cheaper than therapy and drugs—with fewer negative side effects; other than unhealthy second-guessing and self-recrimination.

(A job can ground a person, too, but being retired, I would need to get a job and I’d rather not at this time. Enough already of 50 years of that for awhile!

Unlike a job, this allows me to write or draw or read. All those things can be done at home – and often are – but here I am not distracted by other home things to do and I can be in a more social environment.)

Anyway, that’s my story and I’m sticking to it. Until it becomes tedious instead of uplifting. Someday I might not care or I might become too old to do things independently.

Maybe. Maybe not.

This morning in the garden 😍👆 💧 💧

1 Comment

Posted in Coffee, Commentary, Garden, Gratitude, Photograph, RETIREMENT, RETIREMENT RIFFS, THE AGING ADVANTAGE, thoughts, wondering and pondering

Tagged Existential Angst, Garden, Gratitude, Photos, RETIREMENT, Self-indulgent, Thoughts, Today

One Day

Posted on February 8, 2026 | 2 comments

Sunshine on Sunday

Soon to be Monday

Look forward to some day

Focus on one day

The one I am in

2 Comments

Posted in A Beautiful Day, Life, NaPoWriMo, Oggi, Poems, RETIREMENT, Water color

Tagged Aspiring to Art, Gratitude, NaPoWriMo, Poem, RETIREMENT, short poem, Water color, Yer' Art

Obsessively Seeking Certainty

Posted on February 2, 2026 | 2 comments

Obsessively seeking certainty

When a problem barges in

It’s what I do

again and again

Especially regarding a medical threat

I research to see

How bad it could get

And the fact is

certainty does not exist

Even if I stomp my feet

Or shake my fist

No matter how much reassurance I find

There is no way to convince my mind

How about trying to stop the fear

Let go of the future until it’s here

Instead of singing WHAT CAN HAPPEN blues

See what condition actually ensues

Over-thinking only makes it worse

The brain is funny that way

so I’m told

Can always freak out later

Try letting it unfold

without the guarantee I seek

At least I can give it

a try for a week

Like it or not

It’s worth a shot

2 Comments

Posted in Groundhog Day, Health, Life, NaPoWriMo, Poems, Poetry of sorts, RETIREMENT, Ruminating, thoughts

Tagged AGING, Existential Angst, NaPoWriMo, Poem, Poetry Maybe, Psychological Ponderings, RETIREMENT, Ruminations

Why not?

Posted on June 6, 2025 | 1 comment

Trying to notice stuff that affirms

rather than misdirects the mind

to messy matters that move a person

to unnecessary struggles

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Posted in A Beautiful Day, Gratitude, NaPoWriMo, Photograph, Photos, Poems, Poetry of sorts, RETIREMENT, RETIREMENT RIFFS

Tagged NaPoWriMo, Photo, Poem, RETIREMENT, short poem, Today

The Way It Is

Posted on May 22, 2025 | Leave a comment

Feeling up, energetic, safe

I knew that I could

Also…

Feeling down, sleepy,

headed for something

that might not be good

Happens all at once

Or within moments of time

Pushing me from the absurd to sublime

Right now…

That’s how it is

A hit and a miss

Inner peace and contentment

Can be elusive like this

May you

And may me

Be happy anyway

Safe and untroubled and mostly okay

At ease, on occasion, if not everyday

Today

Posted on April 1, 2025 | 1 comment

Poetry eludes me

And so does the prose

Cannot come up

With either of those

Could it mean I have nothing to say?

But it’s quite in my nature

To talk anyway

No matter

I chatter

In order to play

And continue attempts to be art-y today

1 Comment

Posted in Art?, NAPOMO 2024, Poems, RETIREMENT, RETIREMENT RIFFS, Spring, Water color

Tagged Aw nuthin', NaPoWriMo, Photos, Poem, Random, RETIREMENT, RETIREMENT RIFFS, short poem

Day 14 of Poetry Month (or Losing Focus)

Posted on April 14, 2024 | 1 comment

Clam chowder and key lime pie

A small green salad on the side

A sparking lake and a beautiful sky

Then back home to read and write

Clean the house and take a hike

This is the kind of day I like

1 Comment

Posted in A Beautiful Day, NAPOMO 2024, NaPoWriMo, Photograph, Photos, RETIREMENT, RETIREMENT RIFFS

Tagged NaPoWriMo, Photo, Poem, Poetry, RETIREMENT, short poem

Transition

Posted on April 12, 2024 | 1 comment

Get a part-time job
Volunteer
Travel!
Advice I have been given
Maybe I will
but for now
I'd like to be less driven

I forgot to pay attention 
to some interesting things
Now I have the time to see
What this perspective brings

Perhaps I'll just do badly
what need not be done at all
Could even to this gladly
To see where my interests fall

Though I feel somewhat adrift
Retirement has been a gift
Some things I do have not been changed
The way it flows is rearranged

From way too much to do at work
The deadlines and demands 
to what could be considered
too much time now on my hands

To rush around
To hurry through
No longer rules the day
Time to breathe
Time to choose
Time to find my way

Rinsing, pealing, chopping
a dinner meditation
Reading, writing, shopping
a smooth conglomeration

Take a walk outside 
when the spirit moves
I do not take it lightly
as my morale improves

Trying well or badly
to write or paint or dance
retirement can be tricky
but I'm glad to have the chance