<p>Preface this to say this is NOT a thread to knock anyone who stays at home or can’t stay at home or who works part time or a million hours a week. :)</p>
<p>So yesterday was MLK day and I had the day off. One of those “luxury” days off - no time consuming holiday involved in it, no packing to head off on a trip type day off. I met a friend who also happened to have the day off at a local coffee shop in the morning for a light breakfast and chat. As we sat there, weirdly, I knew at least a half a dozen people who came in the door. A couple of them work, most do not. I watched the other people around us and it occurred to me (as has before when I’ve been off on a random day) that I was kind of jealous of people who DON’T have to report to a job daily. Now I’m sure most of these people don’t spend each morning leisurely at a coffee shop (though some might!). </p>
<p>I have always worked. Part time when the 2 older kids were little. More hours as my youngest has been in school (usually 6 hours a day, 5 days a week with a little work at home after school). I still like work and expect to continue working awhile. But I must admit, I’m a little jealous of these people who have a day to fill WITHOUT a job outside the home. </p>
<p>So I’m just curious since most of you have children who are probably older (at least middle/high school and college) and who are able to stay at home. What is your weekly routine like? How do you fill your day? Is it easy/hard? Are you very social? (I truly am not a very social person - minimally, but don’t have a big circle of people I do or want to hang around). </p>
<p>Help me imagine what might someday be my day to fill (or get filled). :)</p>
<p>I really enjoy not working. I often appreciate how nice it is to not have a job… I have plenty to do, but plenty of shmooz time too, and nobody to tell me what to do (except my wife of course) I can go into more detail later, but right now I have a meeting to go to! :D</p>
<p>I am scared to be at home for long time. I get restless. We are mostly not at home, even on a weekends. I guess, I would be at my fridge every few minutes if I stay at home. I am really NOT looking forward to be out of work. I have a great hobby and exercise for couple hours, but I hate doing anything at home except for laundry. But if I do not work, I will be forced to do all that cleanning, I guess, that alone makes me very sad.</p>
<p>Well, let’s see… I volunteer quite a bit. Right now am President of ProjectProm for son’s senior class (950 kids) so that is taking up quite a bit of my time. I also volunteer at D13’s middle school. I play tennis about 3 days a week for exercise. My job really starts at 2:30… D13 is a busy girl, and I run her to her various practices, games, etc. so H can come home and relax. I also substitute teach for our school district on occasion. I’m well aware of how blessed I am to not HAVE to work… although, if S18 decides on UMICH next year, I’m guessing my non-working days are numbered.</p>
<p>abasket - I had the same thought yesterday. It was glorious to be home on a weekday with no holiday meal to prepare or airport to report to. I exercised, did laundry, ran an errand, and had some downtime watching the inauguration. I could really get used to it! When I had a more flexible job (younger kids), I was busy either working for a salary or volunteering. I imagine when I do retire I will exercise and volunteer more. I am looking forward to doing my housework/cooking/errands on weekdays. Now that all gets done in the evenings or on Saturday. I admit it: I envy my friends that get to be at home!</p>
<p>I go back to school next week, but I have enjoyed a loooong break. I do spend too much time on CC when I am not working. ;)</p>
<p>This morning, I went to breakfast with a friend, mailed son’s new jeans that he left in the laundry basket to him, stopped by the jeweler’s to get a bit longer chain on a new necklace, bought new purple Ravens earrings for me and a gift for a friend, and then headed to my favorite gift shop to pick up a couple birthday cards. I got home too late to see an invite from another friend for lunch, so I will go out with her on Friday. Now I need to go let out the neighbor’s dog.</p>
<p>Hubby is traveling, so I have to figure out what to do later, but I think I am going to whip up a few Ravens fleece caps to give to people at work.</p>
<p>^I envy you! I cannot exercise for more than 2 -3 hours every day. I also absolutely cannot pull myself “doing housework/cooking/errands”, I cannot find motivation for it. If my cleanning lady is having health issues, my house is dirty and I hate it, but there is no way I will clean. If fridge is empty (almost never happen though), there is no way I will pull myself to go shopping or even go out, way too lazy. One of my friends who is at home said that she is addicted to TV. I actually envy her, because I cannot watch TV either, makes me even more restless. I watch it to fall asleep, works better than any pill. I do not like reading also. I will need a great help when I am kicked out of my job. I love doing laundry, but there is only enough to do it 2 times / months. Cooking is not enjoyable either. Depressing, isn’t it? This is what is for me - get depressed.</p>
<p>I have been home with my kids for 20+ years and this is my first year with an empty nest. (S2 is a freshman in college). What do I do all day?? I wish I had something exciting and impressive to say, but in truth, just regular mundane things. </p>
<p>I do exercise everyday (have for 18 years straight), so I feel good about that! I have always planned on doing “something” outside the house when the kids left and am currently researching several volunteer positions which I am excited about. I am a fairly social person and I have several friends who are also home so we sometimes meet for something fun. I also love to cook, so I make a nice dinner most nights and often we have friends for dinner on weekends. </p>
<p>My parents are retired and doing well so I visit with them and help take them to appointments if needed. We also have a beach house which seems to always need work done, so I handle all that stuff in addition to all the house stuff in our home. None of this sounds the least bit exciting, especially now that I’ve given it more thought and written it down! :)</p>
<p>It is certainly harder to fill the day now that the kids are gone and honestly, I liked it much better when they were home. Although I do love and appreciate my situation, there are days that I feel like I should be doing more - that is my motivation to secure some kind of volunteer work soon!</p>
<p>I also love not working, although I also loved working, when I was.</p>
<p>This morning I took my Lab for our daily walk while it was still cool. We walked/ran 3.5 miles down the horse trails and through a path that winds around a golf course. It was clear, blue sky, 61 degrees and gorgeous. I got home, showered, dressed for the day and went off to the market to buy fresh fish and vegetables for dinner. My oldest is coming over for dinner after work, and I wanted something special. Now I’m wasting an hour on CC until I pick up my friend at 1:00 and head down to this little restaurant called Nelson’s, which sits on a cliff overlooking the Pacific to catch up on our week. I know, rough. Don’t think I don’t appreciate every minute. I’ll come home late afternoon and start dinner for Dh and daughter- also a treat.</p>
<p>Not every day is so luxurious, however. Yesterday I took my dog to the vet and learned he needed surgery on his lip for a growth. Thursday I go in for my monthly cancer treatments, and the following Wednesday I take my mom in to see about her back surgery. Having the time to take care of others is also a blessing, so I’m grateful for every day, work or play. I have no trouble filling my day and don’t get bored.</p>
<p>I was a SAHM when my older 2 kids were young. That gave me plenty to do, especially when I started homeschooling. When I began my “second life” with a new H and a new kiddo, not working wasn’t an option. I’ve done it all over the years-FT evenings so I could be home with a little one, FT days with her in before AND after-school care, and for the last 8 years, PT days so I can get her to and from school and drive her to all her activities.</p>
<p>As much as I don’t like having to be at work on specific days at specific times, day in and day out, I can’t imagine just sitting at home once D is grown and gone. Not that it will happen-once she’s in college, I’ll need to work to help pay for it all unless she gets a full ride somewhere. </p>
<p>I get Mondays off, and I use that day for my errands and cleaning-I’m home, it needs doing, I do it. Shrug. If I had EVERY day off though, I’d get involved in volunteering-there are several causes I support that I would get involved with.There’s only so much cleaning and home projects one can do.</p>
<p>“It was clear, blue sky, 61 degrees and gorgeous”</p>
<p>and there in lies the rub; if I lived in an area where it was beautiful in the middle of January, I may itch to stay home…but in the dead of winter, when the projected high temp is 24 degrees, I am happy to have a part time position…</p>
<p>When it gets nice out this year, I may scratch the itch… I do not make enough money for it to make a difference but I do enjoy what I do…we’ll see…</p>
<p>My H is retired and we are empty nesters. It seems like he is pretty busy. He handles all our financial stuff, is a cyclist/runner so trains about 5 days a week, takes care of our pets, does the grocery shopping, home repairs, lawn etc, gets the cars fixed, helps the kids if they need a repair or help moving… i think I have it easier going to work!<br>
When I was between jobs I enjoyed my free time and didn’t have much trouble filling up the days.</p>
<p>I have been unemployed for about 5 months, so sort of have this lifestyle going at the moment. One thing I was recently thinking about is that I have actually been getting 8 hours of sleep pretty much every night AND working out every single day (which includes both 45 minutes of “exercise” workout and a 30 minute walk for the dog – who is estatic about the current schedule). However, I also have noticed this puts a dent in the day to do these things… and I am pretty sure I won’t be able to maintain it when I go back to work.</p>
<p>Other than that, I typically do some housework (more than usual) and might cook something that I normally wouldn’t make during the week. I have also taken on some bigger chores, like landscaping and closet cleaning. And more volunteering – I am mentoring for a team kid is on, driving carpools to some tournaments, and D2 and I have been volunteering every couple of weeks at a local food bank.</p>
<p>I am right on top of all college application/scholarship application deadlines, FAFSA and CSS activities, and everything that can be done to get ready for tax filing.</p>
<p>But I can still procrastinate. I have some work to do on a family estate that I have been avoiding. And the Christmas tree is still up. And I realized that somehow I have STILL been too busy to go to church for the past couple of months when Sunday morning rolls around (and I do love my church).</p>
<p>Of course, I some job searching. But one has only so many places to look and leads to contact after five months. </p>
<p>I have realized during this haitus that I could easily move into retirement now and be happy/productive. I had one like this a few years ago, and itched to go back to work by the end. Not this time…</p>
<p>Thanks for all your responses so far. I am still envious. :)</p>
<p>I figured those with kids still in school and not driving were still busy with the after school stuff. I too am on carpool shifts for my youngest who is a sophomore in HS. So I was especially Interested in those of you who would sort of be “me” in a few years. </p>
<p>I know I would volunteer and already have a couple places fully in mind. We have a summer place that I am getting to the point where I would really love being able to pick and choose more freely when we would go. I would love the time outside in the garden and the ability to choose to do it at my choice of time of day. Same with exercise which has become more important and enjoyable for me lately. </p>
<p>Everyone has a little of something different going it seems. I would appreciate having a little more time for housework though I STILL wouldn’t love doing it!!</p>
<p>Look forward to some more peeks into your days . :)</p>
<p>Interesting to note how many people in the U.S. have a difficult time just being alone with themselves, and doing “nothing”. I guess that CC is more filled with those people than average. We all need to learn to like ourselves enough that we don’t mind spending time alone with our thoughts. </p>
<p>I have years worth of projects to do as the nest slowly empties. I am sorting, organizing, giving away, tossing out, lightening the load of possessions, scanning old photos, transferring old family videos to DVD format. </p>
<p>It can take me a few years of having things just boxed up and out of sight in the basement before I can re-examine the “stuff” with a rational eye and get rid of most of it. I’m better at this than I was when I was younger.</p>
<p>Oh I don’t mind being by myself!! And there are plenty of tasks that need to be taken care of - but face it, all those home tasks don’t sound “get out of bed” satisfying!!</p>
<p>I actually have always enjoyed time by myself but don’t get a lot of it.</p>
<p>There hasn’t been one day since I retired where I woke up and said “gee I wish I could go to work”.</p>
<p>I volunteer on several town committees, and for a charity thrift store. In addition I go to the gym, have time to visit my friends during the day, am able to help a couple of friends with health issues, and can vacation whenever I feel like it. </p>
<p>I can clean the house, and do laundry on any schedule I prefer. Best of all, I don’t have to grocery shop on weekends or in the evening. Ditto all other errands.</p>
I know, rough. Don’t think I don’t appreciate every minute. I’ll come home late afternoon and start dinner for Dh and daughter- also a treat.</p>
At least, we’ll never be done- something is always waiting for me to get around to it.</p>
However, I also have noticed this puts a dent in the day to do these things… and I am pretty sure I won’t be able to maintain it when I go back to work.</p>