<p>YDS: I too will have one left at home so I’ll only have an emptier next come August 
But things will loosen up some.</p>
<p>Cooking foods that you like. Hadn’t thought about that one. Mmmmm.</p>
<p>I still have a ways to go until the last one leaves but with the first one going to college next fall, it will be a little less frantic around here for at least a year. That’s when the 2nd one starts applying :)<br>
I’d like to really learn how to use my camera. It’s got all of the bells and whistles but it’s been on AUTO since I bought it. I’d also like to take an art history class. I took one in college but I’d like to learn more…that’s a start…</p>
<p>When the last kid is gone the first I will do is probably change the lock.
I want a smaller house with a bigger yard for gardening.
I am looking forward to cooking one meal for dinner instead of two or three.<br>
Reading with no interruptions.
Sleeping and waking up when I want to.
Learn how to play the guitar.
Learn to sew.
Do something with all the short stories that I wrote over the years.
Talk to more people outside our circle. Most people we know are Profs and conversations always are about education and politics.
Spend more time with my best friend.
Volunteer at another Org.</p>
<p>I’m in the same boat as mathmom. I would love to cook fish 5 days a week(H&I love fish) without having to make something extra on the side. Right now, I have to made extra pork/chicken for D2. The leftovers from these dishes can go into making sandwiches the following day so it’s no waste.
For me, I guess I can travel in the cheapest season and get cheapest fair. I would love to do a train ride from coast to coast. And possible accompany my husband on his business trips.
I’m also thinking of starting a business that involves embroidery since I love sewing and saw some cool sewing machines.</p>
<p>Empty nester with a college senior here. You are still tied to the school calendar- instead of on a daily or weekly basis it becomes a need to know when college breaks are. The transportation duties become far less frequent but take a much larger chunk of time- whether it is an out of town or airport trip. Instead of planning your trips and vacation for your child’s you find yourself deciding that time won’t do- you want to be home when they are home that first year, but that you may as well keep going to work while they sleep the day away.</p>
<p>We found fewer reasons to get away for evenings- the space, peace and quiet are right here. We established our couple’s rhythm, a different one in our 50’s than in our 30’s as a new couple. Mealtimes are different- individual favorites and no concerns for a kid’s tastes or schedule. We rediscovered our compatibility. It is so nice to travel as a couple instead of as a family- even one extra person to consider for meals, activities, hotels, driving times takes a lot more thought. We even can change/cancel plans easily without worrying about disappointing someone- a last minute “do you really want to…” works. We have done many car trips, partly learning what we do and don’t like for a relocation when H retires this spring. Another new stage in life.</p>
<p>New empty nester here. I’ve done the little things (cut back on cooking, cleaned the house since it will now stay clean, etc.) but I keep putting off the big things. I’d like to find a new passion and purpose in helping others and really need to change the two-parents-focused-on-kids relationship with my significant other.</p>
<p>Really like this thread. DH will do the 100 mile bike trips, and I hope he is okay with the ones that let the slower spouse ride 20 miles instead. Also, DD is vegetarian, and we will cook more veggies and fish when DSC (dear son carnivore) goes to college.</p>
<p>IF my child chooses her nice cheap in-state option…I want to either go take some local college classes myself, or maybe learn to play an instrument. </p>
<p>IF she chooses her expensive OOS private option…I will have only time…no money. But basically I will just be: striving to use less toilet paper, eliminating bottled water, clipping coupons, and eating leftover meatloaf for about 6 meals in a row.</p>
<p>When my twins leave, I’ll still have one at home…but I’m looking forward so much to occasionally being…bored, with nothing to do.</p>
<p>Travel, travel! Whether its a weekend trip up the coast or a week-long trip to Mexico, we will be going somewhere. I will continue to pursue my 2nd bachelors degree, which I have been doing one class per semester up till now. Having been a stay at home mom, it will be a big adjustment for me to have no one to take care of everyday, but I think after about 20 minutes I’ll be fine I also plan to do much more entertaining, dinner parties and such - become 2 adults again instead of 2 parents.</p>
<p>As much as I miss my son–I love sleeping late, eating more fruits and veggies, not waiting up late on weekends, being back to sewing for hours at a time. I have started to garden again and am trying roses for the first time. I adopted a new cat. I do not miss high school football!</p>
<p>I always wanted a PHD in Math … how am I going back to school if I will be broke? … hmm</p>
<p>And what am I going to do with a PhD in math when I may be in my late 50s by the time I complete it … hmm</p>
<p>Roses, cross stich and jigsaw puzzles will do.</p>
<p>I’ve been on a systematic search for all the lone socks that went to sock heaven from the dryer.</p>
<p>And we are getting a wine tasting/appreciation group going in the neighborhood. Thinking about getting back into bridge too.</p>
<p>Remodelled the kitchen/bathrooms/closet (I DONT RECOMMEND THIS)</p>
<p>Am into year 2 of empty nest, but DH is about to start travelling a LOT. I did not plan on empty <em>house</em> 
. Will exercise more (already joined a weekend group), joined a womens investment group (sure hope the market improves) and will stay here with my cyber friends.</p>
<p>mpabon: when I went back for my grad degree, I was griping to someone that “when I finish my degree I’ll be x years old.” Their reply to me was " and if you don’t finish your degree, you’re still going to be x years old in three years. Do you want to be x years old with the degree, or x years old still complaining that you don’t have it?" Oh. Um. Hadn’t thought of it that way. So I got the degree.</p>
<p>I have to admit-I love this chapter of my life-“EMPTY NEST”. We decided to sell the big house, downsize to a home with country club living. We made it a point to involve our DD with the sale of the house-packing her items for storage-and donating other items she no longer wanted-that way we feel she was better able to support us in this change.
G’Luck- APOL</p>
<p>Go for it, mpabon! I would be happy to cheer you on, as needed. </p>
<p>No reason not to give it a shot. If you are accepted into a Ph.D. program most places, your tuition will be covered, and you will also receive a stipend (not a lot, but ballpark $25,000), plus (most places) health insurance.</p>
<p>I am into year 6 (4 years in college + 2 years out of college for my son) of empty nest. I planned on doing a lot of things but financial considerations ruled all of them out.
Only trips I have taken in 6 years are: 1 week in Spain, 1 week in London (in December), 1 week in Amsterdam and 3 weeks in India. India is just a usual kind of trip to visit family and nowhere else. I am burned out from work! But I need to keep pluggin on. The trips to Amsterdam and Spain were just last minute stuff thrown together. I do sound ungrateful, don’t I? Considering what’s going on in this country and the fact that 10% or more of the working population is out of work. But I’m saying it here and honestly, that is how I feel (at least today and for a couple of months now). Would have loved it if son had health insurance and was totally independent of me, but that is still a distant dream.</p>
<p>My company recently was bought out by a European leader in our industry, so an international assignment will be nice after the kids are gone - either that or going into consulting and assisting with system implementation in the field, I LOVE that work and miss it.</p>
<p>H and I would also like to do the genealogical tour in Europe to see what (if any) family records survived the wars. We have clues as to the origins of both sides of the family so it would be fun to make some discoveries!</p>
<p>Wearing out the fifth wheel we just inherited from in-laws would be nice too - gotta fill up that National Park Passport!</p>
<p>Cruise around the world…ahhhhhhh</p>
<p>My husband and I are both engineers and run our two-person firm out of our house. I handle all of the bookkeeping and AutoCAD drawings. IF I had more time, though, I could do some of the actual engineering calculations and charge a lot more per hour! As it is now, I’m always on call - take DS1 to the dentist at 9 am, get groceries, pick DS2 up, take DD1 to piano lesson, etc., etc. My day is so chopped up I don’t have enough time for work that takes concentration. So I’m looking forward to the kids being gone, although it will be 7 more years until the youngest is in college.</p>