No matter how carefully you have planned your retirement, adjusting to a new lifestyle is inevitable. For myself, retirement came way too quickly. I guess that's because I lead a very busy life. Multitasking was the name of the game for me. With four children, a husband and a job, my days just flew by. I enjoyed my job tremendously, I was well paid for my services, had built a pension and planned for years to sell our big house and move a few hours away to live the simple life on our farm.
Financially speaking, we were in good shape. We had purchased the land that our house sits on now some forty plus years before retiring. We built the house originally with the idea of having a vacation home in the mountains in Upstate NY, a place where our children could really get to know nature, enjoy swimming, fishing, ice skating and anything else they could dream up.
They had lots of freedom, time explore the forest and all the critters. As well as enjoy visiting other farms that had horses, cows, pigs and goats.
It was a child's paradise, as well as a quiet retreat for mom and dad. As time past, we became more and more familiar with the area and quickly realized we enjoyed the small town, as cozy feelings crept into our souls.
We had made the choice, some 20 years before retirement, that the farm was where we would land when that big day came.
No more work, no more alarm clocks, no more bosses.
Our lifestyle change had actually occurred about 5 years before the actual move from our home state of New Jersey, USA. Our #2 son, @ryan313, family had outgrown their starter home and needed a bigger place. So as it happened, we just traded houses. We went north just a few miles an took over their tiny 2 bedroom house and they moved into our very large, 5 bedroom place, much closer to both my daughter-in-law's and my son's work. Perfect.
Once the move was made, shortly after my 62nd birthday, the excitement began. First stop was the furniture store. You see, all of the furniture, as well as the glassware and dishes, sheets and pillows were old, restored or bought second hand. So after years of saying, "I'll wash it, paint it or sew it, I said "let's buy new". Wow was that fun. What a lift!
But as the weeks turned into months, I felt this yearning to be with my people. I suddenly missed my kids, the grands and my friends as well as my brothers and sisters and nieces and nephews. I had to keep saying," stay busy, lots to do". We had veggies and herbs to grow. Wild blueberries, raspberries and black berries were there to be plucked. Gardening was our passion with the idea of self sufficiency. Our goal was to create a safe place, with all the necessities to sustain life.
With the size and scope of our homestead, every minute could be filled. But something inside of me just didn't feel right.
I was slowly realizing, my life was different now. No, I couldn't just drop over to see this friend or that grand daughter. No, the pizza joint wasn't a mile away, it was 12. That winters were more severe. The light was almost gone for a couple winter months a year.
Good part, I was able to say, heck with it, I am going traveling. @thebigsweed was always game when I said "let's get off the homestead for a bit, let's go visiting."
Always welcome where ever we landed, the gap started to fill in.
I was adapting to my new lifestyle.
Now, instead of a 2 hour dinner together, we have long weekends together. Birthdays celebrated by just one, became a new tradition of celebrating 4 or 5 at a time. Everyone still gets their own cake from farm mom.
Although it's not always smooth sailing. Some little kids just don't get why they don't have their own cake. Mya just doesn't understand her birthday will be included in the next line up, just a few months away. Needless to say, grammy makes sure there's an extra cake and candles at the ready at all gatherings from now on.😀🎂
So we adapt. My daughter is now in charge of monthly visits, where we all meet in one of our states. New Jersey, New York or Pennsylvania, where she lives now. It's always a lovefest, with lots of food, games and happy faces.
The cold winter months are now broken in half by a visit to the sunshine state of Florida, during the worst months in NY., February and March . The break from winter darkness is always welcome.
Our sun may be setting, but we are going out with a beautiful warm glow.
A huge thank you to @lizelle for getting this new community off the ground. A big HELLO to #ocd for helping to give us a boost, thanks guys.
Best wishes to all in the #hive o sphere.