2018: A Year to Appreciate

I started a list this morning of the things I am looking forward to in the coming year:

• Traveling: I don't know where we'll go, but I know we will start planning some trips soon
• The Eagles concert in March. Although we've seen them before, this is a group I could see a million times.
• Lake time, of course (Only 100 more days until we can open the cabin)
• I don't have to worry about snow/cold days anymore!
• Which means I don't have to worry about making up snow and cold days anymore!
• A midwinter trip somewhere

And then I realized that what I'm really looking forward to is the 

that being retired brings me. I now have the freedom to:

• sleep in or get up early
• work or not work
• read all day or be productive
• scrapbook or write
• travel or enjoy my home
• clean my house or close my eyes

I'm loving this life of no schedules--the ability to take off on vacation or a shopping day in the middle of the week is awesome. I love choosing when and if and how much I work. Subbing in our little district is great because no matter what classroom I am in, I feel at home because those are still my kids. 

I guess you could say I have eased into retirement well. I'm learning to APPRECIATE this new time in my life.