Finding Time to be Retired

Robert Genn again- damn, he hits me between the eyes so many times:

By the time I was in my teens,
I had figured out that habits were holy--I saw in habits the
key to an independent creative life:

Work doggedly, one thing after the other.
Begin work early, finish many things each day.
Work on what comes to hand, what demands attention.
Have rough plans--work them daily.
Rest from the work--look at the water.

Regarding joy, Winston Churchill said, "It is no use doing what
you like; you have got to like what you do."... By my
mid-twenties I had discovered that work is not work when the
work is loved. I had fallen in love with art.

Regarding sacrifice, early on I found that my days were not
long enough. I had to be more efficient in my use of the time
allotted, and I was prepared to make sacrifices. It was okay to
cut back on the time taken socializing, commuting and eating.
One must not, I thought, sacrifice sleep, exercise,
contemplation, love, family or dog activity.

Me again: Time is the thing that is the hardest to manage it seems. Back when I had a big house and yard, a couple of kids and an extra dog or two I was able to juggle that with a teaching job AND produce more art than I do now. This wasn't just a feature of being younger, it really had to do with not wasteing a moment or a motion. Errands were run on the fly, lists were what I lived by, and calls to friends were done while cooking dinner or picking up stuff around the house (pre cell phones!). To do my art, I worked into the night until I was either finished or the sun started to rise. It paid off because I was selling stuff and exhibiting in pretty good venues as well as getting invitations to be included in books and do the lecture circuit. And I occasionally joined a gym.

Now, my friends have dwindled down, partly through attrition, partly through divorce and death, partly because I am out of the loop 6 months of the year in Florida. Shipping and receiving work back from shows is completely complicated and I have missed several deliveries that arrived back at the wrong state- fortunately so far things have eventually reached me but I haven't found a system yet that works. Making quilts in small space would be OK but in the last few years I have branched out to try new forms and that means new equipment, new supplies, and more storage needs. I have no family making demands, one little complacent doggie, and a husband who sits in one chair talking to his newspaper or yelling at his laptop. Long ago I opted out of making breakfast and lunch so even that is gone. WHERE DOES MY TIME GO?

It isn't any longer the computer because I dropped most of my lists and if you check my website it has been woefully neglected for 2 years now. Blogging takes just a few minutes and keeps me on track (though I know it's not obvious) with my intrests. I don't shop as recreation, I don't lunch with the girls. Geesh. I need a life coach.

And with this, I am headed for the studio with my Italian roast in my largest mug.