Max wrote: ↑Mon Jul 15, 2024 9:55 am... I would be very interested to read in-depth profiles of how people here spend their retirement, beyond TV, gateball, picking up litter, and hanging out in shopping malls.
I don't go to shopping malls, but do cruise a home center now and then (the part with all the lumber, power tools, and that kind of thing). Could that be a 'guy' kind of thing?
I have apple TV, and have watched a couple things, and while I like what I've seen, can I also say how much I hate the friggin' little remote that came with it? I'd watch more if it wasn't for that.
Especially during the last ten years or so of my working life, I had a really easy job. Max of 6 classes a week, sometimes only 4 or 5. So it's not like work was my whole life and suddenly it was gone. More like I was doing a minor amount of work, and then that stopped. And I just continued on doing the rest of what I was doing.
I stay physically active with some cycling. This is a fair weather sport for me--I don't like riding in rain or wet. Winter is okay if it's dry, and early winter where we are can sometimes have crystal clear air/views. I used to ride more, but nowadays it's 90-120min when I'm out. Sometimes I push (I used to be speedster), sometimes more casual. A perfect schedule would be every other day, but with weather, I take what I can get. Eg, today is the 15th, and garmin tells me I've been out seven times this month. I get up early, and am often on a bike by 05:30-05:45. When I get back, there's the shadow work of riding--cool down, liquids, then a shower, start the laundry, eat, and chill a little (recovery). On days I ride, that shadow work is another hour or two.
I know some folks along the way, since I use the same riverside path almost all the time (it's safe, and flat), and tho it may seem odd, I think of it as my neighborhood--tho stretched out long and thin like spaghetti. There are a number of 'regulars' out, and I sometimes stop or slow to chat. One fellow, Nakamura-san, has been a fixture at on spot for 10-20yrs. He used to be part of the trash police, but has given that up. He's 89, and still going strong--still does radio-taiso with a big group at one of the bridges, and also some weed cutting. He's introduced me around to people in that group. There are some gateball groups, but I've never interacted with anyone like that.
I really really enjoy being out in the early mornings. The sky, it's quieter and fresh, no bugs, no wind, a really great time of day. These days in one spot--exactly where they come back to every year, the Ao-sagi are almost finished nesting, squawking away and flying around a little. Another couple weeks and they'll be gone till next year.
Not always, but I sometimes nap a little after lunch. And if not true napping/sleep, at least I 'close my eyes a little' while relaxing/laying on the sofa/couch. Sometimes with some TV news on, usually not (I prefer to read rather than watch).
My wife and I frequently eat breakfasts and lunches on our own, and we share the evening cooking. I might say I do more than half of that, and sometimes I do. But sometimes I don't. I cooked today and yesterday, she'll cook tomorrow. I do shop and do my own shopping for when I cook, but even when my wife is cooking, I'll get the heavy stuff--milk, yoghurt, beer, etc.--and she'll get the rest, the fixings for what she's going to make.
My wife stays 'busier' than I do. Scheduled stuff--she has a company and tutors online a little, files the blue form, and does all the bookkeeping for that. She also plays shamisen, and is in her own group, takes lessons, helps others with their projects, goes to competitions, and so on. (Like a sumo wrestler, she has her own 'name' as a shamisen player.)
She manages our weekly zoom with our kids/grandkids. She chats more with one daughter (it's like they've got a two-person reading club), but we both generally read a book or two for the grandkids--she goes to the local libraries for books, I scrounge a PDF or two to use via screen sharing.
I have some photography equipment (not only a good phone--and phones are excellent tools). I also have a decent camera and a few lenses, and try to do a little photography. I've joined a group or two over the last few years, but have never been very satisfied with them (going to try another on Wednesday eve). Decades ago I was into it, film at the time (did ny own processing), then grew away from it, and now, seemingly back to it. There are 'shows'/exhibitions (varying quality) from around town to a little farther away, and I'm plugged into that and try to make the rounds to those and talk to whoever is willing to chat at those.
I'm 72. At least on a bike (I still have three), I'm feeling my age and am slowing down. But I then also think that may be more due to an accident a few years ago and some separate medical stuff more than age. Here's a
fast ride (yesterday, road bike), and a
slow one (today, my 'rain bike'/clunker).
blah, blah, blah...
