“Retire from work, but not from life.”
-M.K. Soni
My life has been a series of chapters. Retirement is a wonderful, perhaps final, chapter in which I have traded schedules, appointments, meetings, and deadlines for doing whatever I want whenever I want. That doesn't mean I want to waste what time I have left doing nothing, though. I still want to make the use of my time meaningful, though. 
Most of you know what I've replaced my working life with, and it includes:
Hanging out on ActiveRain, where I've met so many amazing people (online and in person) whom I consider friends. AR is a part of my daily life, and I can't imagine life without you all. The good news is, even if AR were to disappear into a black hole of Never Never Land, I would still have a connection with so many of you. I have met so many of you in person, and I treasure that. I was going to use the AR collage below this post as my feature image, but it was cutting off half the top and bottom rows, so I put it below. Throughout this post, I believe I've included pictures of all the AR members I have met over the years. What a blessing you all are.
Taking road trips. When I get home from one road trip, it seems there is always a future Road trip brewing in my mind. My road trips aren't about visiting all 50 states, all the National Parks, or specific historical sites. Although I enjoy and do many of those things, they are not my primary purpose. My trips are more about the people I will see and have the opportunity to spend time with. And, I love trying the regional cuisine during these trips.
My Golf Clubs are always in the trunk of my car, so no matter where I go, I can pull them out and play when the opportunity presents itself.
And then there’s my writing. It’s where I get to be reflective, nostalgic, and sometimes a little goofy. You folks are my sounding board. I love the feedback I get from you all. I like to think that my words sprinkle a bit of wisdom with just enough humor to entertain readers (and myself).
Retirement, though, isn’t just grand adventures, meeting new people, and blog posts. It’s the everyday moments, even when I'm alone, like sipping my morning coffee while checking in on AR or an evening adult beverage (or two) in my courtyard.
My retirement is about embracing each day with a sense of purpose and gratitude. I want to continue to be a positive influence in the lives of others. It's about enjoying the journey and celebrating the freedom to spend more time on my interests, explore new interests, and appreciate every moment along the way.
Retirement is an active chapter for which I am deeply thankful. 
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