Patience is a virtue, even in retirement

In October I wrote, “As I look for work and also volunteer in our community, I will share my journey too, and maybe we can learn from each other.” Now three years into retirement, I feel more at peace with my new life, and I have learned a few things. I met a local woman who confided in me that she has a difficult time with people who move here and then complain about everything they miss from their old community. “If they want shopping malls and better grocery stores, let them go back where they came from.” She has a valid point. (But the poor girl has obviously never been to Trader Joe’s.)

It must be very difficult for people who grew up in this area to welcome so many outsiders. This is a very unique area where flocks of retirees with foreign plates from neighboring states have descended upon the country roads - how does one blend a community when so many of us have not have shared the same experiences? I meet kind people everywhere, whether they were born here or arrived last summer, except when I am in the two lanes at the traffic light heading into Rehoboth. There we find two distinct types of people. The ones who wait patiently in the right lane and the ones who try to cut you off in the left lane. A third group will get in the left lane only when it is impossible to make the light because there are so many cars in the right lane, and these folks usually try to merge thoughtfully. Many different state tags!

Speaking of patience, remember when I cried because all I had to do was clean the inside of my coffee mugs?

No wonder no one writes to me. Somehow I penciled in something on every single day on the calendar last month and many days there were two or three obligations. How did this happen? I have lost control of my volunteer schedule. Even a fish has sense enough to keep his mouth shut once in a while.

I resumed teaching writing classes, and discovered that I truly missed the joy in helping someone else learn - and I got a paycheck! I expected to enjoy my newfound retirement freedom so much that I would not miss the salary. But now I want a bigger deck, and my husband wants to deck me.

Now that we have made friends here, we enjoy patronizing the local restaurants often. Beth from Harbeson tells me to go to brunch at Bethany Blues and I will be amazed at the quality and choices.

Thanks, Beth, another brunch to try soon. One of our favorite places to eat on a retirement budget is Fish On’s happy hour which is every day from 5 to 7 p.m. Try the tacos or the shrimp sliders for $6  and a house wine for $5. The manager, Will, will take care of you! Rayquest loves it when I don’t spend too much money. I don’t want to eat into his golf budget, now do I? Teller wines called and your case is ready, honey!

I would like to write about your retirement in the next column. You could even give me a fake name. Please, please will someone write? Otherwise I have to come up with my own material, which takes more time, and the thrift shop needs me.