Slower Lane

When you no longer work, whether it be part-time or full, you find yourself in a slower lane. There is no need to rush. There are no time schedules other than those you set for yourself. Your days off are those you choose and no one is "the boss". Before you get to that point, you fear it. What will I do with myself all day? There will no goals to meet. I will be bored. Who will I be when I am not a -------? All of us who once worked, felt the same way before we quit and while we told everyone how great it would be to be free again, we worried about it during those last few weeks. But we soon learned that being out of the work force, is a constant holiday and
 time soon becomes so precious that anyone or anything plunking you into a gridlock of tasks, is to be avoided. Other than missing the bigger pay cheque, there are delights to be rediscovered. And even the former pay scale that required you to spend on appearances and transportation and all the little expenses that your job demanded, is not the same issue. Your favorite jeans, shirts and sweaters are your new work clothes and you may relegate the high heels to the far end of the shoe rack. It's not that you are going to let yourself go, but you can go casual during your new working hours. When you are going to lunch out or on a shopping tour, that's when you might dress. And just think, when you do, you can spend time to look your best. No more of the get up and take ten minutes of prep before out the door as it once was. You have time to dally thinking about your date with that guy or the gals and what to wear and where to go. Furthermore, your togs don't wear out as quickly and you have time to steam the wools and press the shirts and shine up the shoes. Also, when you do get out and about, you are rested and at peace and all ready to fully enjoy your new life. All this doesn't take a huge retirement salary either because even if you are a Second-hand Rose sort who haunts the retro racks, you will have hours to re-model and search and select. Those of us who live alone and have only ourselves to pamper begin to appreciate our own time and rather jealously guard it while others who have a man or family to take care of too,  will have more time for planning how to use their hours best. The hobbies you once indulged in, can be trotted out: arts, reading, writing, games, crafts take on new interest. Learning and volunteering are sharing your time in  valuable ways and spending family time can be revived. Boredom does not happen and if it does, no one is to blame but the gal in the mirror.