Memories

After I retired, I occasionally visited the library where I had worked and while there saw one of the mentally challenged boys who often came to our library. 

He almost cried when he saw me and told me that I was the only person there who had treated him like a real person. (He was afraid that I had died , because he didn't see me there anymore.)  

Another example of how librarians get the right books to the right person.

How can you afford to live in southern California?

A friend asked how I could afford to live in southern California.  Here's my answer:
I worked full time, wrote part-time, saved every spare penny I could. 
I raised 3 kids, grew food in a half acre garden, shoveled 200 foot five feet wide brick walkway out to the drive way where we had to shovel around 3 cars and shovel room for the cars to back out and shovel the driveway fifteen feet uphill to the road so we could drive out. Oh, and I forgot that we heated with a woodstove for part of the house, so there was all that carrying wood inside and carting ashes outside. The ashes were good to sprinkle on that uphill driveway so that we actually could drive out to the road.
I earned a pension, retired from my job, am now also receiving part of my husband's pension, plus the few pennies that social security gives me. My writing income these days pays for a few weeks of groceries. I eat salad a lot. 
Jobs here pay more, but, as you noticed, expenses are more so yes, my daughters who live here do complain about living expenses.
I also live in a very small condo - two bedrooms - and I use what should be the dining room as my office.
That's how I afford it.

When you first retire

My husband retired September 2010, before I did. (I retired January 2012)
But his first month was a bit difficult:

Here's what I wrote to a friend a few weeks later:

His record so far this month --

2 broken lawn mowers  (actually the attachments , grass cutter and the bricks sweeper)

1 computer e-mail system wrecked and rebuilt

1 eye stopped working, which meant he needed lasor eye surgery a couple of days ago.

1 idiot at Social Security who went on vacation for a month (we thought she was fired for giving everyone a 'blessed day' right as she hung up after calling the caller an idiot, didn't move his case file to anyone else, which means that his social security won't begin on time, will be about a month late in beginning.  irk.

1 week of total joy and rubbing it in that HE didn't have to get to work

and 1 week of semi-depression.  

(we'll see what next week brings)

Plus several times of him being a jerk and being surprised when I didn't quietly take it, but told him I didn't like him treating me like an idiot.  

Tonight he called my working at the computer a computer addiction.  I was so flabergasted that It was only later that I realized I should have pointed out that HE spends twice the time on the computer than I do.

We'll see how he is when he finally gets adjusted.

So - how did YOUR husband take retirement?

Last day of work

As of today, I am a retired librarian.

I am a working writer.

and

a mom

and

a grandmom

and

owned by cats

and

hmmmm. I'll fill in more blanks, later.

-wo