For weeks now I have tetter-tottered back and forth regarding my employment and finally made the decision to retire. The monastery in which I have worked for 18 years is closing and moving their offices. It was a good time to make the change. My plans are to spend more time with my DH who has been retired for ten years already (and of course find more time for stitching and quilting). The decision was not an easy one in our difficult economy. We will just be a little more frugal. Having committed to my choice, I have been working every day long hours to clean out closets, files, drawers, shred papers, recycle and “when in doubt…throw it out.” I will miss most of my working companions (some perhaps not so much–smile) and the routine. But thinking about sleeping in and being occasionally lazy sure sounds wonderful to me at this point.
I must now get busy and decorate my home for the holidays and finish my Christmas shopping. With the changes in my life regarding working, I’ve had a bit of a difficult time in getting into the Christmas “spirit”….but I LOVE the holidays and know it will be wonderful. My son and DIL will be coming in from Boulder, Colorado, and all the family will be together.
So……Merry Christmas to all…may the Holiday Spirit fill you with joy and peace for always. Joyeux Noel, Averyclaire
Averyclaire 
Margaret
Dec 08, 2010 @ 08:53:21
Good luck to you on your retirement! I hope you enjoy it and you don’t have to be tooo frugal. The Christmas spirit is lacking around here too — been too busy to get into it all yet. Hopefully I’ll get into it soon. 😀 Hope you do too!
KarenV
Dec 08, 2010 @ 09:08:59
Good luck for your retirement, I hope everything works out for you.
Annie
Dec 08, 2010 @ 10:09:51
Best of luck on this new phase of your life! Feels good to get rid of all that old stuff, doesn’t it? Have fun preparing for the holidays and living a life of leisure.
Dee
Dec 08, 2010 @ 11:05:48
We are considering that very same change in our life — DH is considering retiring from his current company, but will do the same kind of work for another company. It means a move for us — that’s what we have to think about seriously.
Stay? Or go? Decisions, decisions!
Hope you enjoy your new phase of life!
Doris
Dec 08, 2010 @ 12:15:15
good luck on this new phase of your life, the changes sometime are hard to do,but, is always good, that we can move and change..
Jane
Dec 08, 2010 @ 12:59:15
A very happy retirement, I hope you and your husband enjoy your extra time together
Jackie
Dec 08, 2010 @ 21:09:12
I know that decisions over major life changes can be worrisome. I have no doubt that you’ll enjoy every minute doing the things you love and spending more time with the people that you love! I’m looking forward to hearing about your new adventures!
virtualquilter
Dec 13, 2010 @ 16:26:48
Have a wonderful retirement …. may it be busy with the things you want to do!
Judy B
Siobhan
Dec 14, 2010 @ 05:33:18
Congratulations to you! I know you will enjoy the next phase of your life.
Nanouanne
Dec 20, 2010 @ 15:37:18
My dear Karen,
Enjoy your retirement time with william! It’s about time.
I wrote you a message that you did notget. If you want to hear the just new songs of our friend and one of your favorite singers, go to my website (up and right side) and open his official site with your computer sound on…
I wish you a marvellous Christmas with all your family around.
Kisses, Anne