It has been so long since I retired, almost five years already that I can hardly remember my feelings when I first found myself unemployed.

I do know that I had in mind several things I wanted to do or try to do.  One of those things was to acquire a Master Gardener Certificate from the U of Md.  I did accomplish that last February so it took me awhile to accomplish, but I loved the classes and the people there.  Since I had joined the Sandy Spring Museum Garden Club right after leaving my job, I had already begun to learn about plants, soil, and such things.  I also found out that I liked knowing other women and a very few men (they do not join our club) who have similar interests as mine.

Now I am an intern with the Master Gardener's and have to do 45 hours of volunteer work for this organization before I get my final certificate and become a for sure Master Gardener.  I volunteer at a couple of plant clinics, one at the Gaithersburg library and one at Brookside Gardens where we try to help people who come into the clinic with their problem, plants, soil and so forth.  This is like detective work and I like the people who come in and the other volunteers.  I forgot to mention that one of the things that I learned about myself when I was in the MG class is that I like having people around me as I did each day in the class of 48 people this year.  I found myself smiling on my way to the class and smiling again on the way home. 

I also told myself that I would take up painting again after an absence of many, many years.  I did make a painting of, guess what, plants, morning glories to be exact and I made an angel I call Charlie (my grandson's name).  It is made out of an old piece of rotting wood shaped in the form of a flying angel or I think so anyway.  I call it a boy angel because I made dark short hair on him.

I have also tried some writing and have liked the poems the best.  I doubt I will ever write a novel although I have always wanted to do that too.

All in all, I find I am never bored or at a loss for things to do in my retirement.  There are so many things I find of interest to me.  I do a lot of reading of all types of literature and e mail my friends and relatives.  I have an exercise class two times a week and I love that too. 

Both my husband and I enjoy our coffee in the mornings not rushed by having to be anywhere at a specific time.  This is a great luxury I find.  One friend of mine told me that after she retired some years ago now, she had trouble giving herself permission to enjoy herself.  I seem to have done that easily.

What will the next few years bring?   Getting older that is for sure.  Losing some of the energy and agility of earlier years and hopefully no serious illnesses or injuries.

To be continued......