Monday, March 12, 2007

Spring Fever

n. A feeling of restlessness, excitement, or laziness brought on by the coming of spring.



I think I have a touch of Spring Fever. I read the definition above and it certainly sounds like the way I have been feeling, although spring itself, seems to come and go around here. When it stopped raining late this morning I wandered around outside taking pictures of some of the flowers that are blooming in the yard.

I'm antsy waiting for the baby to arrive. I'm unfocused and unproductive. I have no new artwork to take to my critique group later this week. I am having a hard time with the change to Daylight Savings Time. It was so hard to get out of bed this morning to go walk with Beth. Yawwwwwn . . .

Change is in the air. We are making decisions about retirement and what we will do and where we will live. It is exciting and anxiety-producing. Do we still have the energy to do all the things we plan to do? I think so. I hope so. I want to do it right.

Last week we went to a dinner given by our financial planner. We sat at a large round table with several other couples, most of whom we had never met before. The subject of retirement came up (it seems to come up a lot lately) and Ray asked an obviously older (than us) fellow across the table if he was retired. "Oh, no. I'd be bored to death if I retired" he replied. "He must have a fascinating job" I thought to myself, but no—turns out he has a very mundane job that can't possibly be very stimulating or challenging. He went on to say that he goes to bed at 8:30 every evening because he is "bored." Nothing to do at night. Doesn't get up in the morning until 8. Nothing to do in the morning. Bored. As the conversation shifted to other topics, we learned that he has never cooked a meal, never run the dishwasher, has no hobbies. He and his wife (poor woman!) left before the speaker—bedtime, don't you know.

If you asked me if I would be bored when I retire I would laugh out loud. I cannot imagine any reason to be bored. I am just hoping my feet and back hold up well enough to do all the things I want to do between now and the end of my life. But right now, I need a nap. Spring Fever has me in its clutches.

6 comments:

  1. Oooohhh, spring flowers. You are ahead of us, naturally.

    Is the iris one of those dinky ones?

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  2. Anonymous7:18 PM

    oh I can't imagine NOT having a hobby or interest!!!!!!!!! that is a scary scary thought. He will be the kinda guy that retires and dies the next day. Oh goodness!

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  3. Lovely to see your flowers. We still have some snow here. We took early retirement at 55 and are loving every second of it. Luckily we both have hobbies that we are passionate about. Some people retire and just watch TV. I can't imagine how boring that would be.

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  4. Anonymous9:45 AM

    I am having the same symptoms. I hadn't thought about spring fever!!

    Retirement is great. After an initial adjstment, I think Steve is enjoying it and we are never bored. There does not seem to be enough time in most of our days to do every thing.

    That guy is still working because he is too lazy to manage his own life!!!

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  5. Anonymous9:34 PM

    Terry,

    I have been neglecting your blog for the last couple of days, and I think I have to point out that your spring fever seems to have given your blog entries a wondrously creative edge. Perhaps you could just bring the blog to the critique group. Although we would take the rug in lieu of the blog, if you offered it up.

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  6. Anonymous8:53 AM

    Terry,
    After we took an early retirement 9 years ago, we wonder how we ever found the time for work. When I did work I was in my spare time a weaver, spinner, knitter and stitcher. Then I discovered quilting, no time for any of the rest although knitting has started to sneek in again.
    Bev

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