<p>D is now a junior in college, but the main thing H and I rediscovered was bridge (as far as I can tell, only jym824 mentioned bridge, and I recommend it highly to keep the mind sharp, enjoy competition, and meet new people).</p>
<p>Now H retired a few weeks ago, and playing, and traveling for playing, is taking over our lives…</p>
<p>This thread should be making me happy, but it is making me sad. I will miss my son. But life must go on, so we will probably be planning more weekend trips to Napa Valley, Palm Springs and Vegas, which are not too far from us. Since my son is planning on going OOS with OOS tuition and we have another one right behind him, we will not have too much money left over for far away travel for a few years.</p>
<p>Less laundry, no school programs to attend and I can finally get back to building a new Z-scale electric train layout, that will be set inside a shadow box style coffee table that my husband will build.</p>
<p>LOVE this thread - as anyone can tell by my “name”! DD is a senior so DH and I have approx. 7 or 8 more months before she flees the nest. </p>
<p>I’m looking forward to more free time so I can do more cooking - i.e. try more new recipes, techniques, etc. We also like to wine taste so we will be going to more wine events. And traveling all over! </p>
<p>Will miss our daughter, but will probably see her quite a bit during the year as well during the summers so I don’t think it will be too different. But will be nice not to have to deal with all of her stuff all of the time. </p>
<p>We also hope to relocate when hubby retires but that is probably not for a few more years. But in the meantime it will be fun traveling around to different locales to check them out.
And not be tied to a school schedule or worry about leaving for a few days with our daughter home by herself with the car, etc.</p>
<p>
Now that is cool.</p>
<p>CalMom05–I hear you. I spend half my time eagerly anticipating all the things I’ll be free to do when the lad is gone, and the other half feeling depressed about how much I’ll miss him and how dull life will seem.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>I’m playing my first duplicate game in 28 years tomorrow. TheMom doesn’t play cards, one of her few defects, and was kinda grossed out that I could remember my seven-digit ACBL membership number after all these years.</p>
<p>The changes in convention cards since then… Oy, I’m rusty.
But I’m playing with a bright beginner so we can trade off making goofs. Taught her Jacoby Transfers and Weak Two major openings last week. Her head just about exploded when I explained Flannery, however.</p>
<p>I love those shadow box coffee tables! Have always wanted to get one and fill it with mementos from family vacations (i.e., all those seashells!).</p>
<p>To start off, I plan on taking a formal 18-week quilting class. I have picked up a good bit informally in my Judaic fabric art, but I know there have gotta be better ways to do it!</p>
<p>DH also gets to travel to some interesting places from work (and generally off-season), so if the budget permits I will try to accompany him occasionally.</p>
<p>Would like to get more involved in our synagogue again. We were very active when the kids were in middle/early HS, but I have slacked off over the past couple of years as college stuff has occupied so much of our attention. The Mah Jongg gang has just about given up on me.</p>
<p>in no particular order: Gardening, reading, writing and sexy time</p>
<p>Historymom: you go, girl!!! 
:D</p>
<p>LOL CD I figured others were thinking it too. ;)</p>
<p>Way to go, TheDad! I hope you both stick with it. Would be curious whether you find the other players more or less offensive, since ACBL has really cracked down on behavior. And people sometimes bid on next to nothing these days. Don’t worry about adding too many conventions to soon!</p>
<p>My husband is my regular partner, and we can usually work things out, but count your blessings that TheMom has other things to occupy her time!</p>
<p>I am MOSTLY enjoying my new non-profit, helping the public, and planning trips to visit kids & do what we want. I also enjoy doing things with my mom and niece as well as helping figure out what H & I will do once he retires in the next few years. Not sure whether I’ll “retire” or try to get folks to do more & more while I end up more as a volunteer/coach. We shall see.</p>
<p>I want to reinvent myself. At least once, but then maybe a few times after that. Try on lots of hats. I plan to keep up with technology, music, movies - everything. I want to be a really feisty empty-nester. I can’t wait to have control over the food in my house again. If DH and I don’t want it in our bodies, in isn’t going to be here. I want to go where I want to go, and travel where I want to travel. Without considering the offspring. DH and I have the same taste - we are so lucky. I will miss the kids dearly (if I had my way, thery would just move in with their spouses and children). Reality dictates that they will move on and start their own lives. I will accept it, and I will flourish.</p>
<p>Eating ice cream for dinner and pizza for breakfast if I want.
“Marital relations” wherever I want.
Staying out all night. ( or as long as I can stay awake)
knowing where my ______ ( lip gloss/earrings/boots) are.
Volunteering in D’s high school without worrying I am going to run into her!
I miss the school programs and the sporting events though- even though she is on her school teams and it is close enough we could go- she says- " nobody goes to them" ( by which I think she means parents)</p>
<p>I want to:
<p>I’m looking at this as “Empty Nest - Part I” - both kids at college. Hubby and I living alone, but still both working (Gotta pay those tuitions somehow, right?) We have more private time, can go out to more dinners for 2 (which is ALOT more reasonable than those crazy dinners for 4), and can take some trips not really dictated by my kids or family-friendliness (can you say “Mardi Gras” this year?)</p>
<p>I also look forward to “Empty Nest - Part II” - when both of my kids are out of college and really out of the house: living on their own and self-sufficient. We can hope, right? Then, when we retire, the real fun starts: maybe downsize (maybe not), maybe move to a different part of the country (maybe not), definitely lots of travel!!!</p>
<p>Mine won’t go.</p>
<p>:-(</p>
<p>Actually, light at end of tunnel - son signs teaching contract this week. But since that leaves summer as a little under-financed, he’ll probably stay here until next fall, when he’ll go on 12-month pay AND MOVE OUT!!! YAY!!!</p>
<p>Good news, bad news… Obama has announced high speed rail right here, right about when son 2 graduates with a degree in mechanical engineering. So son may well be able to get a JOB, but he may end up at home for a while to save up $$ to get started. We are NEVER going to have an empty nest.</p>
<p>intparent – Look at Ruth McDowell’s books for landscape quilting. Absolutely incredible stuff.</p>
<p>CD, just went and looked at her website. Wonderful! Mine will never look like that 
I saw a book about landscape quilting a couple of years ago (I don’t think it was hers, though) and was really inspired. But I didn’t have time for another hobby, so vowed that when D2 goes off to college, I will start then.</p>
<p>I’m looking forward to having hot water in my house once again - after all those looooooong showers.</p>