KalamaQuilts

I retired about 2 years ago. Was a square peg leading up to it, I quit subscribing to magazines in 1996, quit buying fabric in October 2001, quit buying quilt books around 2005.

I get up every morning excited to do what the day brings, thrilled to sometimes get to sew all day long.

I still love every single piece of fabric I ever bought, (and my stash was never big) because I bought it because I loved it, not because it was on sale.

I have been a scrap quilter for the last 8-10 years which utilizes stash shopping. If I need red, I have 20 reds and use some of it all.

I Love being retired.

cjsews

As of January 5, 2018 I will have the pleasure of joining the retirement club. I plan to enjoy every minute of it. Quilting whenever I want. Using a Lot of my scraps.
all ask what I will do when I retire. Whatever I feel like. And definitely will not look for another job.

karate lady

I used to sew in my bedroom, now I sleep in my sewing room. LOL....works for me....

Dolphyngyrl

I work at a shelter and just want to say thank you for volunteering your time. shelters really depend on and appreciate volunteers helping where we can't.

Kelsie

We have been retired for 1 year and 4 days. We are in Arizona in the RV so my sewing table is the dinette and my husband doesn't mind that my machine is set up there permanently. I don't sew in big blocks of time as I can't sit for a long time but we also are always doing something else in the day. Because our space is so small we must be tidy and organized. I only started sewing shortly before we retired and have several projects with me and minimal other fabric. We each have 2 - 3 hobbies and we spread our time between them. One thing that has been important for us is to be physically active hopefully for a part of each day. Quilting is a sedentary sport. We plan our days and ever once in a while realize that we need to take a time-out day. We are never bored. The joys of retirement are that you get to do exactly what you wish. Here's hoping yours is wonderful.

Nesie

Congratulations Crispy Frog and CJ! I retired this past June after 28 years as a school librarian. I love it! I sew for a few hours every morning because I am a morning person. The last few years of work I couldn't quilt at night, I was just sapped of energy, even after resting, and I still don't do well at night. My sewing room is usually neat unless I am trying to make a deadline. (But the luxury is you have time to straighten at odd times). I love 99 percent of my stash so that's not an issue. I am not afraid to cut into it and get the most joy from donating or giving quilts away.
I was lucky enough to make it to Missouri Star in Sept.,which I never could've done while I was teaching. A hint: I use a soft cover letter size date book to keep guild commitments, meetings and appointments straight! I also use it to prioritize my projects.(once a librarian always a librarian-we need order lol!) Let yourself ease into it and you will develop a routine. I also balance
the sitting with walking several times a week. Good luck!

Crispy_Frog

You retirees are a great group! I hope many of you will be in the chat room early in the day. It is usually dead at night when I check into it. I loved that KalamaQuilts knows the exact day she stopped magazines, quilt books and stash enhancement!

Maralyn

Congratulations on your retirement and happy sewing. I retired from a full time job at age 62 (will be ten years next July) and then continued to operate my long arm business and did adjunct teaching (sometimes 3 classes a semester.)

My quilting room is NOT organized. I still have too many UFOs and that is what causes most of the problem. I volunteer at my church's quilting group and we receive donations of UFOs from many areas and we try to finish them at home.

My quilting room is in the basement, along with the laundry room, so laundry day is the longest block of time I get to spend quilting. I have had a lot of family issues in the last 18 months, caring for relatives with the loss of several family members, so my quality quilting time had to be placed on the back burner.

I have tried to work with "stash only" for the last couple years, but have bought for some specific quilts several times. If I see something special in the church donations that I need to go with something at home, I am usually able to take it as I have done a lot of tops for our mission work.

I think the important thing to remember is that quilting is supposed to be fun, relaxing and a way to create beautiful statements.

giquilt

I retired 3.5 years ago. I sew on something most everyday. I have bought more because I usually get a BOM or two every year. You will make time to sew if you want. I do take more classes, go to sit & sews, and Retreats because I can. Retirement is what you make it and I love it. (Worked 40 years). I have 7 small grandchildren from 3 children. I do not keep them more than once a week from any family. They have learned to get on the calendar early. I don’t bump my monthly quilt groups to babysit. I think they respect that.

WMUTeach

I will be happy to report back in about 3 months. I am retiring December 31 and although I will be spending some time hiding out in my quilting room, I will not be tied to my machine or stash. My plan is to work through some promised quilts balanced with some UFO's then I will see what happens. I would like to work through more of my stash as most all of us are wishing to do. I had a strong heart to make quilts for a non-profit agency last year this time but after donating 4 and not even getting a thank you, I will be changing organizations ASAP. I am sure there are plenty who would like some warm snuggles from a quilt.

And as you know, fellow swapper, I have what looks like a life time of 2.5 squares to put to work.

No magazines, I refuse to purchase and do not even look at those freebees I see at guild meetings.

I have so many ideas, I have not taken a class ever. Maybe but I get so much from my guild that I just feel I have enough to keep my mind busy.

Happy Planning, Happy Quilting and watch those six months fly off the calendar.