Living it Up in Retirement, New Life

As many of you must know by now, I'm retired, and I'm having great fun. For the very first time in my life I'm enjoying "school." I'm studying in two different places, Matan and the senior citizens program in Ofra.

One of the extra enjoyable "bonuses" in the Ofra program is our interaction with the students. We study in the girls high school. I like to say that we're a three generation family in the school, since two of my daughters are graduates, I have granddaughters studying there and now, so am I.

Today we heard a presentation by girls studying graphic arts about how they designed the logo for our program.

It has an "eye-catching" wise owl look, which really grabs attention and honors our wisdom. The large Hebrew writing says:

מועד ג
moed gimel (3)
"third chance*"

Followed by:

כיתת וותיקים
kitat vattikim
senior citizens class

The girls chose the gold color for the phrase "golden age," which as you know is one of the euphemisms for the elderly.

We had a wonderful time looking at the graphics exhibit about the special programs in the high school of which ours is one.

*moed is a testing time, and usually there are two, moed alef (1) and moed bet (2.) A euphemism for post-retirement is the "third" stage of life, which is alluded to in the logo's moed gimel.

End of School Year Celebration

Yesterday afternoon, even the Ulpanat Ofra Girls High School hosted a festive end of year party for the participants of the senior citizens program I attend and our families. Most of us had some of our children, grandchildren and even great-grandchildren in attendance, too. My daughter and grandchildren in Ofra came, too.

In the formal ceremony I was one of the speakers. I told everyone how much fun it is to be old. We get discounts, people give us seats in buses, we get paid not to work and we can attend the wonderful program in Ofra.

It was through that program that my "story" was put on the multiple history program of the Diaspora Museum.

I've made some new friends and really enjoy the classes. Gd willing I'll sign up again next year.

Retirement... Yes, We're Officially Retired -Eeks!-

There are two real difficulties for me in being half of a "retired couple."

1. I need to have something to do to get me out of the house every single day.
2. It's really hard sometimes to remember not only my varying schedule but also my husband's.

I have gone through times of unemployment, when I had little to do and even less money to do it. But maybe it was because we, including the kids, were younger, I don't remember an almost depression on days when nothing was scheduled. What did I do then to keep myself busy and happy?  During those days, my husband would be at work everyday.

Now, neither of us have "jobs" which get us out on a regular basis. 

We are now officially "small businesses." We can both legally "work" at small jobs and give receipts. I guess I ought to make a blog post specifically about that. I still have to get receipts and cards printed. I guess they will be my very first business expense. If anyone would like to volunteer to help me with the graphics, I'd appreciate it, thanks.

Every week has a different schedule for us, especially for my husband. We generally help out with the grandkids on different days and attend different events. I study now twice a week in different places.

It is reasonably complicated for each of us to keep track of our own schedules, but sometimes we need to do something together. That's a bigger challenge. We scheduled an evening out with my cousin and her husband, and in the end my husband had to make changes to fit the enjoyable evening in. Today, for instance, I'll be going down later than planned to the Tefillat Chana in order to make time to tutor. 

Now that the local pool has closed until next summer, I really make a point of getting out to walk once or twice a day. אחרי החגים... Acharei hachaggim... After the Holidays, I'll make a decision as to what pool and fitness program I'll join. In the meantime walking is my chief fitness mode. Whether solitary or with friends, it's a nice way to see what's new in the neighborhood.