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Me, I am an almost 63 year old misguided retiree. Misguided because I have always done things I enjoyed but never really got to do the dreams I have in my head. I went to college and became a teacher for 37 years. I had a successful career and enjoyed what I did most of the time, but there was always this need inside me to do other things.

I love nature and love to be outside working, hiking, gardening or anything as long as it is outside. Problem is my body doesn't do well in summer heat when so much of the gardening needs to be done. I love hiking but have never got to hike the entire AT which is one of my DREAMS. The one time I got to go for a few days backpacking there was not enough water available to be safe so after 3 days my lady minister and I called it quits.I know that is a dream I will never get to do and have accepted that. My body is not in shape for the long haul and my husband doesn't like hiking that well.

When I retired I bought my first chickens, started a garden for the first time in many years, bought 2 beehives with the $750 the government gave each of us to restart the economy, and found a man I wanted to marry.

I have always wanted to own land to do some of the "farming" things I grew up with. Now I have 4+ acres with my husband to do some of those things. With my mother we have had a very nice big garden this year, we put up lots of the harvest, we have frozen 23 chickens, we got our first decent harvest of honey, we are fencing to have a pig to use for meat, and a calf to put into the freezer.

I think in a previous life I must have been a pioneer or something. I like the idea of being self sufficient although I will never go that far. We don't buy many groceries but meat and won't do that much in a few months.

I have searched myself for my purpose on this earth but not sure I have even now found that. I have never understood how someone can say they don't want to retire because they have nothing to do. I still don't have time to do everything I want to do. I crochet for church "Stitches of Love", I do basket weaving and teach others the craft to spread the craft, I read sometimes, I love to travel, and a few other things. I love doing mission work and volunteering in disasters with the Red Cross.

I sometime think I do too many things to do anything really well!!