I think I told you that we joined a camera club. We just had a competition and I got First Place for one of my photographs. We also bought a small trailer so we can travel to more remote places so we can enjoy the outdoors and find more unusual views to take more photographs. We travel the western states mostly now. We enjoy the mountains and deserts of AZ, WY, MY,ID,UT and CA mostly. The east is too hot and sticky in the summer when we do most of our traveling.

We're planning to take off to Sedona AZ within the week. The weather's supposed to be nice even though it's still winter.

We are settling into retirement slowly. it might be harder for men than women unless both worked outside the home most of their lives. At first it's kind of hard not to have somewhere to go to every day, and of course a larger paycheck than what ssi and pensions pay back to you. At any rate, we're learning how to enjoy retirement by looking at options. For instance, like many retirees, I've always wanted to paint, and my wife likes to write. It's also a way we can do sometiing on our own.

But we also do things together. We joined a photography club. We tried rock hounding but we weren't interested in just any old rocks like true rock houncers. After a few outings we realized that we were only interested in looking for gold or other precious gems like the saphires we found on vacation in Island Park ID. Sometimes it's kind of trial and error to find the things that help you enjoy retirement.

The photography club had something for both of us. It gives purpose for our traveling about. I don't like to just drive somewhere, I want to do something when I get to our destination. My wife just likes to drive and look at the scenery. This way we're both happy and she's getting into photography now too. It gives us more to talk about too. Keeps things interesting. 

The days are long if you don't encorporate activities you enjoy in retirement. Check out clubs, organizations in your area that you might find interesting.

As I said, it's a process. But we're getting out of our comfort zones and trying new things. So far, it's working but I still find that I haven't quite fit into this new lifestyle they call retirement some days.