Maine is a great state for retirees. Actually, it’s a great state for children, a great state for parents and generally, if you don’t mind mud season, a great state for everyone.

But when you retire here, or semiretire, in my case, you have so many possibilities. You can walk the beaches, volunteer at a food bank, join a knitting group at the local library, or really go through those boxes in the cellar. You can do things besides work – perhaps take a road trip and have lunch with your high school friends. But sometimes, in retirement, you can truly indulge yourself and not feel terribly guilty.

I come from a long line of readers. My mother used to say, “It’s a true delight when you can start a book in the morning and finish it that night.” That was something I rarely was able to do when I was teaching second grade and raising two children.

Sometimes, if my wonderful mother-in-law would have the children for a day during the summer, I would quickly pick up the camp, make something easy for that night’s dinner to put in the refrigerator and then spend the rest of the day with a new murder mystery in the porch swing. But it was a rare treat. Now, it’s not so rare.

Last week, for instance, I came home from an early morning doctor’s appointment and made myself my second cup of tea. I looked around at the house projects and then noticed a library book calling to me. It was a trilogy by mystery writer John D. MacDonald. I settled into the living room couch with the tea and spent pretty much the rest of the day with that rascally outlaw with a conscience – Travis McGee. And since this was a trilogy, I didn’t even have to get up to open a second or third book.

Yes, the books are formulaic, but sometimes, that’s just what you need, especially on a cold day in April with rain at the windows. It’s nice to know that there will be a beautiful girl, they will end up in bed and there might be some violence thrown in, too. Oh, and usually the bad guys lose.

I did rouse myself a few times. I washed and folded two loads of laundry. I made chicken-a-la-king for dinner. I think I texted my son and checked in with the grandsons – but maybe not.

So next week, on my non-working days, I will probably take that walk on the beach. And if it’s a Friday morning, take my knitting down to the library. I have gotten through one of the boxes that house my husband’s elementary school report cards, and should tackle the next. But then, there is that new Bill Bryson book on England up on my bedside table. Hmmmm. I do love retirement.

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