Gym Cracks By Jim August 20, 2003 RETIRED. NOW WHAT? Final paycheck deposited, what's a retired guy to do? By Jim (Babe) Berryman MissingNebraska.com Western Nebraska I have received approximately 600 monthly paychecks in my lifetime. This week I may have deposited my last working paycheck. I have retired for a second time. The first retirement lasted just a few weeks. What does one do in retirement? I am not handy in fixing things. On occasions a real handyman has been solicited to redo my fixings. I can distinguish a rose from a sunflower, but not much more. So the flower thing is not for me. A 4-H gardening experience didn't exactly crank my motor either, although I have devoted small amount of time over the years to the raising of a few vegetables. Many retirees take up golf. I tried this activity many years ago and played for several years. About three decades ago, I found myself throwing golf clubs and one day I said to myself, "Jim, this is supposed to be fun and you are not having fun." Somewhere over the years, the clubs disappeared at a garage sale. Fishing? Putting a slimy worm on a hook, trying not to hook yourself, while praying the thousands of mosquitoes in the area do not infect you with the West Nile virus, is this considered retirement fun? "Fool" around with your automobiles was still another suggestion. If I did this, a fool would certainly be fooling around with the automobiles. Should I become more actively involved in a church? Sounds great on the surface, but man's interpretation of God's intentions leaves me disillusioned. Volunteers are needed in this community. I tried this once. My experience wasn't bad, nor was it a great experience. Possibly choosing an individual who is not in a formal assisted living program would work. Overzealous program administrators can create havoc with a one-on-one situation. I enjoy traveling. But one can't travel all the time, if for no other reason, such activity can be very expensive. Daytime television! You know what this is all about. One has the choice of soaps, watching Bob Vila build a house in 30 minutes, animals eating each other, Jerry Springer (there are mentally sick people in this country), or the omnipresent news stations which show the same bombings/killings every ten minutes for 24-48 hours, or until a more recent bombing/killing occurs. Late afternoon and early evening television features the many "talking heads," all of them "experts" in their fields. Enough said! Join a singing group a friend may suggest. A choir director once told me, "You have many talents, but singing isn't one of them." Why not learn to play a musical instrument? I've tried plucking on a guitar a few times many years ago. Family members told me "I had many talents, but playing a guitar wasn't one of them. Where had I heard that before? Since you participated in sports, maybe you could become involved in some form of dancing was a comment I heard. One of my last "dancing" experiences was in the school gym when the staff had the boys line up on one side of the room and the girls on the other side. I didn't want to attend this dance but my peers persuaded me to do so. Probably among the five worse decisions I've made in my life. Guess who I drew? The All-American-Princess in her Cinderalla outfit. And there was I--in bib overalls, flannel shirt and work shoes. This was before anyone would be caught dead in bib overalls and flannel shirts--except, of course, for farmers. Cardiovascular exercising and reading seem to be my two interests at the present time. Wilton and I walk four miles most mornings. After the morning walk and the reading of two daily newspapers, it is now 6:30 a.m. What is a person to do for the next 12-13 hours? See my dilemma! As I wrote in my second sentence. I MAY have deposited my last working paycheck. Feedback Previous Gym Cracks: 08-14-03: Feet Spoil Feat Gym Cracks By Jim 07-15-03: Training For Walk Gym Cracks By Jim 06-30-03: Walk Across Nebraska Gym Cracks By Jim 06-20-03: No Stress Stress Test Gym Cracks By Jim 06-11-03: Crazy Horse 'Fun' Gym Cracks By Jim 05-31-03: Friends For Life Gym Cracks By Jim 05-19-03: Spurs And Cubs Gym Cracks By Jim 04-29-03: L.A. Delay Gym Cracks By Jim 04-16-03: What's In A Nickname? Gym Cracks By Jim 03-28-03: More March Madness Gym Cracks By Jim 03-14-03: March To Remember Gym Cracks By Jim 03-07-03: Tall & Tough Gym Cracks By Jim 02-26-03: Zingerland Gym Cracks By Jim 02-19-03: Cuss The Bus Gym Cracks By Jim 02-09-03: Ratings And Recruiting Gym Cracks By Jim 01-31-03: Hoops Elite Gym Cracks By Jim 01-24-03: Nebraska's Super Connection Gym Cracks By Jim 01-15-03: Hometown Hits Big Time Gym Cracks By Jim 2002 12-30-02: Count The Numbers Gym Cracks By Jim 12-18-02: Cream Of Coaching Crop Gym Cracks By Jim 11-28-02: The Big Picture Gym Cracks By Jim 11-18-02: 2 For 2 Gym Cracks By Jim 10-25-02: Sweet On Switzer Gym Cracks By Jim 10-17-02: Best Time Year Gym Cracks By Jim 10-11-02: Odds And Ends Gym Cracks By Jim 10-04-02: The Rating Game Gym Cracks By Jim 09-22-02: Fans Panned Gym Cracks By Jim 09-12-02: World Herald Calling Gym Cracks 09-05-02: Bit By Baseball Bug Gym Cracks 08-29-02: Caring Coaches Gym Cracks 08-22-02: Nebraska "Storm" Hits Colorado Gym Cracks 08-15-02: Cubs Win, Wallet Drained Gym Cracks 08-08-02: To Coors For Cubs Gym Cracks 07-25-02: Major League Madness Gym Cracks 07-18-02: Nebraskans In The Majors Gym Cracks 07-11-02: Kile Death Sheds Light Gym Cracks 07-04-02: Couch Potato Parking Gym Cracks 06-23-02: Top 10 Nebraska High School Nicknames Gym Cracks 06-06-02: Better In The 50s Gym Cracks 05-30-02: Dangerfield of Nebraska Gym Cracks 05-16-02: Baseball Sneak Aways Gym Cracks