Retirement - What to Do, What to Do?

There are a few things about retirement Duane has not particularly enjoyed. His life changed a little too dramatically all at once. He loves the freedom he has never experienced, but he is a little bored to say the least.

We were sooo busy when we lived in Draper. He worked full time. He was square dance calling at least once week, sometimes more. We did assemblies in the schools (ARTS, Inc.) at various times. He loved his huge garden and spent a lot of time in it. He had a gigantic lawn to mow and weeds to keep down. He was getting very tired of all the "have to's" -- or so he thought.

He really misses his garden. He LOVED the harvest, but truth be told, he loved being out there digging in the dirt, planting those tiny little seeds, irrigating (especially when it was flood irrigation), watching it grow, stalking those pesky little birds who tried to raid his grapes, and eradicating the weeds. Even when there wasn't anything in particular to do, he would wander around and investigate every little thing. I think he talked to it a lot, too.

He went from too busy to not busy at all. He has said, "I went from a pumpkin patch to a pomegranate bush." Yep, that about sums it up.

If we were to do it all over again, I don't think we would have retired AND moved all at the same time. We would have done it in steps. But, alas, that is not how it happened.

So here we are in sunny St. George, Utah's Dixie, and Duane has been climbing the walls. He has attempted to be happy at home, but he has an incredible amount of nervous energy. Earlier this year he got his real estate license, but the market isn't good right now. Then he decided to become a school bus driver. He thought it would be perfect because he could be a substitute and drive only when he wanted to. I thought it would be perfect, too. And it is, except now he seems "driven" to be doing it more and more.



First day 2008.04.23
Special Ed Bus
Duane & his Aid





Behind the Wheel






Away he goes!



Don't get me wrong. Duane truly loves being here in St. George. He loves being close to our daughters and grandchildren. He's just desperate to find some outlets for his energy. I must say, he has NEVER missed the 7:30 - 4:00 rat race he endured at ATK for 25 years. I think it's just going to take time . . . and lots of patience . . .