It’s been about 4 weeks since I stopped working. I still miss my office and my friends. I miss the routine. I miss the problem solving of work, but not the red tape and bureaucracy. And I certainly don’t miss the daily commute on the subways during rush hour.
New Mexico landscape, WIP – watercolor on 1/2 sheet of 140# Arches coldpress
Charlie our friend and my late night dog walking buddy thinks I’m crazy. As does practically everyone I know. I’m sure I’ll get the hang of this soon enough.
Charlie came in for the weekend to visit his son. We also got a chance to visit. He’s been living up in Maine for 3 years now. It was like he never left the City. One night while out at dinner we were talking about shows we’ve been watching. I told him we now have Netflix. Streaming, not the disks. Charlie said in Maine they don’t have streaming internet, just screaming internet. He spends most of his time screaming at the computer waiting for things to load. Then he gives up and goes to the library because they have internet access.
My retirement reWirement continues and so far I just feel like instead of having a rewired brain I have a lot of disconnected and frayed wires. My ever so thoughtful niece Caroline gave me this book:
I’m not relaxed yet.
At least my Netflix streams.
The above painting is from a reference photo I took when The Husband and I visited New Mexico in October of 2014. I know….it doesn’t look like New Mexico. But it is. I swear. While painting this I tried to keep it loose like the beautiful beach-scapes Stephen does. I may work on it a little bit more, but not much. Off to see what the #476 way to relax is.
Carol King: drawing, painting, complaining 
12 comments
Comments feed for this article
April 30, 2015 at 1:22 am
padmaja
Love your landscape, the simplicity added the beauty. Enjoy your Netflix time! Have you watched Breaking Bad?
April 30, 2015 at 4:23 am
C brown
Loved reading this post
I retired from my little landscape design business last year. It didn’t take long to get use to not having to be somewhere at a set time ! I was much more organized when I had more demands on me! Now I just have to be at the paint store all the time
Netfliksl streaming is great…..
April 30, 2015 at 9:15 am
Mary
Wonderful painting Carol, shows a place that I think I’d like to be right now. So great to see you again too! My husband just retired, “we” aren’t relaxed yet!
April 30, 2015 at 9:22 am
RHCarpenter
I like the landscape – it doesn’t look southwestern 🙂 You seem to be missing a lot and having nothing to replace it – art class or scheduled painting time each day or so? Reading a good book you didn’t have time to read before? Go out for coffee in the neighborhood and a nice walk? So many doors are open for you, don’t spend time staring at the door that’s closed!! Wishing you well – and relaxation 🙂
April 30, 2015 at 9:22 am
RHCarpenter
D’uh! I meant it DOES look southwestern – fingers are faster than brain this morning!!
April 30, 2015 at 9:40 am
Jennifer
Just come back to work already, we miss you!
April 30, 2015 at 10:02 am
nicsearth
Ha, I love your friend’s comment on the screaming internet – ours is very similar up in the north of Scotland and while the rest of the UK now has mobile phones with 4G we barely get 2G up here! I like this painting very much – I’ve no idea what New Mexico looks like so can’t comment but it is a lovely scene all the same!
It must be strange going from working full time to not working – I know I found it different working only 2 days a week now but believe me I still manage to fill my time on those other days very easily (hours can go by with me scrolling through the internet – I didn’t say my time was spent productively!!)
April 30, 2015 at 11:37 am
lesliepaints
Well, I think it looks like New Mexico. I saw scenes like this while there. I like how each area has a different texture to it and that there are specks of splatter around the tree that draw my eye to it. Trees are something one searches for in much of New Mexico. I think you do a great job of keeping your work loose and free!
Once you get settled in your new home and begin to involve yourself in a new community? I think things may just take off as you maybe go join a painting group or meet new people? I love the reduce stress book! Makes me chuckle because 1,001 ways sounds daunting!
April 30, 2015 at 4:39 pm
jotsfromasmallapt
It does take time…this “relax without guilt” thing. Just do your best…you’ll find that place (or many places) that gives you the purpose you feel you want or need. In time. Could be tomorrow, even. Maybe. Maybe not. Some day….
How do I know this? I don’t not really…I just made it up. Let me know how it works for you…I might have to try it myself.
May 5, 2015 at 10:47 am
Sand Salt Moon
ReWirement – that’s a phrase I will have to remember. Love your watercolors – such a nice touch. Love the lines and your colors.
May 6, 2015 at 5:34 pm
joantav
This reminds me of spots along the river heading to Taos. It is coming along nicely. Why don’t you just pin it up and tell hubby you are out west. Glad you are adjusting to retirement. When I stopped teaching I thought I would miss the kids…never speak to little tykes now and don’t miss it at all. lol I did miss my friends but I still get together with a few of them. Life changes!
May 12, 2015 at 9:57 pm
napabelle
Go back to where that painting is… it sure looks relaxing! It is such a beautiful and calm piece, well done!