If you were not on DU right now -

[csziggy]

24. I've never been "unbusy" - ran my own farm business for many years

"Worked, came home, couple of beers, watch tv, dinner, sleep - same thing next day." That just was not the pattern for me. Get up early, feed, clean stalls, work horses, do paperwork, feed horses, make dinner, clean house, go out and check on horses - and in the spring spend all night checking the mares to see if their foals had arrived. Weekends were shows or interfacing with our customers.

The only "time off" was when I was recovering from an injury. The only reason I no longer run the farm is all those injuries caught up with me and I am not longer physically able to do the work or handle the horses.

My parents are good examples of how to keep busy. Once all us kids were gone and Dad was retired, they kept busy with community organizations. Mom edited a historical quarterly for over 25 years and Dad helped. Mom did all her own garden work and Dad kept the lawn mowed. Now that they are in their 90s they've slowed down.

The people I've known that lived for decades after retirement kept themselves busy. The people who didn't, seemed to give up on life early. So I plan to keep busy for at least the next three decades - I want to live longer than my parents have!