The American Retired Life

Relaxing afternoon in front patio with Mayumi

We are now experiencing retirement. Wonder-hubby was the full-time Dad and breadwinner. He worked as a engineer and business partner. Like many of us here in the SF Bay Area, working meant long stressful commute hours. Despite unselfish sacrifices, Jerry always insisted on family dinners every evening, just like his parents did. Jerry always made time to encourage and support the kids... from T-Ball to Little League, from awkward preschool ballet recitals to The Oakland Youth Symphony, from Spelling Bees to SAT exams.  We have been blessed to have owned homes, cared for our aging parents, raised five Guide Dogs puppies, and... (despite some unfortunate and poorly made financial U-Turns) got our kids through the end of college (barely, by the skin of our teeth!).

I was the “CEO of Household Management”. Duties included Mom, Car Pool Driver, Short Order Cook, Personal Shopper, Scheduler, Housekeeper, Errand Runner, Dog Groomer and Pooper-Scooper.  Also to supplement the family income, my duties included various and sundry full and part-time jobs.

This is really not anything to brag about. We are a typical middle-class family, as far as this area goes. Though we like to think that we carefully planned this life, “Mercy me!” we really didn’t, and couldn’t have imagined all that we went through together. These were many fruitful years, filled with laughs, adventures...along with life’s painful losses and griefs, and sprinkled in with some financial mistakes and disappointments.

So, Jerry draws from his pension (U.S. Social Security) now going on 2 years and for me it’s been one year. Jerry is a very easy going and content guy. He is fully enjoying this season of life. We gave ourselves new titles. He is “The Chauffer”👨🏻‍✈️.   I don’t know why he is uncomfortable with me driving ?!? 🚗🤷🏻‍♀️. I got promoted to “Jerry’s Personal Chef” 👩🏻‍🍳 (I’ll keel over and faint from waiting if he is cooking! Ha ha).

But me, I am not used to all this extra time! Do I look for a part time job again? Friends are traveling, so we can use the extra spending money. But, since we traveled in our younger years, we just don’t have the travel bug. Besides, we have comfortable living room front row seats to any country, any Warriors game, any SF Giants team, etc, courtesy of our big screen TV.

Let’s see, how about volunteering? Well, I am trying out many of the numerous volunteer opportunities around this community, and that has been really great. Plus I’m meeting some interesting people.

Hobbies? Yes! Still quilting and reading. How about getting fit and healthy for those future grandkids!?!  Yes! We just joined the YMCA.

....Whereas Jerry has been content, and truthfully “de-stressing” from all those years of hard work, I am still wrestling with what do to with time at my disposal. I realize I am very privileged to even be at this point.  It’s very easy be just content, comfortable, and (hate the word)...complacent...

Hmmm...I’m beginning to think it’s more of a heart issue...so I will be exploring this further in the coming posts.