Now What Do I Do for Entertainment?

It's interesting to consider what happens to folks after they retire. Whether we take early retirement because we have reached the point of having obtained all our goals, or because we have health issues, retirement will affect all of us in a different way. It is never too early to consider what happens to folks after they retire. Ideally, we all ought to have a plan, or at least an interest that will keep us active, healthy and productive in some way.

As a couple, my husband and I had been active all of our lives until five or six years ago. He played basketball and was involved with music as he was a jazz musician for many years with his own band. We have a nice group of friends and we have lots of family. We were use to going out on the weekend to dinner or music festivals. We went to sporting events. We took weekend trips with our friends. But, we are both in our 70's now, and much has changed.

It began when I had lung cancer surgery 6 years ago from which I have totally recovered. Then he had congestive heart failure and kidney failure. We more or less became housebound. This sudden turn of events for two active people was very difficult. Probably more so for me than for him. But then, he was a lot less able to do things than I. He has always enjoyed television so having that as his main source of entertainment was acceptable to him. On the other hand, I have lots of energy, I get bored easily, and television puts me to sleep.

One of the first things I got involved in was writing. I wrote my first book and it got published. I found AC and a few other sites to write for on a regular basis. But these were still "at home" activities.

In order to keep my sanity, I needed to become involved in something that would be worthwhile and meaningful. I found Beta Sigma Phi and joined a local chapter of women whose purpose is to seek out and share the cultural aspects of life and to continue the learning of all things new. We meet one evening a month to plan for social/cultural events for fund-raising.