Reflections on Routines

Since I’ve retired I’ve fallen into new routines.  I used to get up at 5 a.m. to beat the commuter traffic on my way to work out at the Y before going to the office.  Now I still wake up early and realize I don’t have to fight commuter traffic anymore, and more often than not roll over and go back to sleep.  When I finally get up, I go to the kitchen and make coffee, unless Klare has done this first. Then on to the computer to catch up on emails and the news.  Since the election I’m getting a lot less spam, which is fine with me.  We’re still getting robo calls which are annoying, but we never pick up unless we recognize the ID.  Thank God for caller ID.

Two or three days a week I make it into the Y and go swimming or play pickleball.  It’s good to keep the body moving and not fossilize in the recliner, which, I’m afraid, I would be inclined to do unless I made a routine of going to the Y.  I also visit the library frequently, thank God for libraries.  I lean toward history and biographies, which I routinely read in the afternoon.  In the late afternoon we watch Jeopardy, followed by the local news, followed by the national news, then on to political shows, or, if I’m lucky, some sports on TV. Then to bed, and repeat.  If all this sounds boring, it really is not, for I am enjoying the freedom of retirement.  I’ve also fallen into a routine.

Speaking of routines, our family, including daughter, son-in-law, and grandson, routinely spend time with our friends the Smiths, with their son, daughter-in-law and grandson, at a time share in Alexandria, Minnesota over Thanksgiving.  We enjoy each other’s company, stuff ourselves with food, play board games, and watch football, including the Dallas Cowboys, which Kathy Smith always roots for because she is from Texas.  Anyway, I bet a dollar on whomever is against the Boys. Sometimes I win, sometimes I don’t. We exchange Christmas gifts and make reservations for the same time next year.  A good routine.

This year we joined the Smiths and our friends the Wickres on a trip to Peru.  Did a tour of Machu Picchu, Cuzco, and other notable sites. It was fun.  Sometimes it is good to get out of routines.  We have a picture book that no doubt someday grandkids will look at and say:  “Hey, look at Grandpa and Gramma when they went to Peru.”  No doubt.

The other routine I’ve settled into is, as you can tell, writing stuff.  Some say I write good.  Not well.  Good. You could say I write good stuff well. Or not.  Your call.  Anyway, it’s another routine.  Whether or not it’s a good habit, you be the judge.