Dictionary.com defines luxury as:

A material object, service, etc., conducive to sumptuous living, usually a delicacy, elegance, or refinement of living rather than a necessity.

Given that definition, retirement and our way of life is the life of luxury to me.

I worked hard all my life in a career that chose me, not of my own choosing. I mean who would choose to be a property manager? I had some good times, but for the most part managing staff and sometimes crazy apartment and office tenants was managing problems every single day. I know I am lucky now to be retired, in a wonderful place, with Paul, and I don’t take it for granted.

So here are some of my luxuries:

I can read any time I want. Not just ten minutes before bed. Not just the newspaper. I read a lot, at least a couple of books a week. Sunny days. Rainy days. Anytime. I never feel lazy, I just read. Quite a luxury.

I can eat when I’m hungry. No rushing a piece of toast on my way out the door. No business lunches with people I don’t really care for. No “lunch hour.” I can eat when I want!

I can knit when I feel like it. Getting a theme going here, I think. Knitting was a winter pursuit, and I had so little time to do it I’d put it down and then stitches would get pulled out or I would lose the pattern or something so it would be ruined. Once I left a couple of wool arms to a sweater in my knitting basket for so long that there was a moth hole in one! Right now I’m working on a tank sweater for myself and I am planning a curtain for the little window in the bathroom and a baby blanket.

Guadalupe mops the floors. This is a real luxury. Twice a week Guadalupe comes and mops the floors, dusts, and cleans the bathrooms. What a treat. I still vacuum intermittently, do laundry, wash the ceiling fans and windows, and keep things picked up. But having the floors and bathrooms taken care of on a regular basis is wonderful.

I have a number of writing projects that I am just starting to think about that I will be working on once I get my thoughts more arranged. I’ve learned how to nap. I stay up late. I think I’m going to buy a sewing machine and make some clothes and things for the house. Luxuries, all.

While I feel luxuriously commitment free, Paul has been working for the last few days for his former employer in the US. The person they had hired to replace him has quit, so he is filling in (up to the Social Security allowed amount) for the next month or so. So while he is cranking away at the computer I fix him snacks in between spurts of knitting or reading or dog walking or whatever. I’m a tiny bit envious of the work he has but not enough to scare something up for myself.

I’m grateful for this great life and I know how lucky I am to have it.