Making paper airplanes

[Mandy Muffin]

I saw the Fold-A-Day paper airplane kit as I was touring the mall last week. It was on sale for half price, at $7.50. There is a paper airplane to fold for everyday of the year. I purchased the kit and thought I would try to accomplish the daily folding as a relaxation activity.

I tried the first one as I folded and refolded the sheet of paper according the directions and never got it right after several futile efforts. My spouse was laughing and chiding me as I worked for 32 years for the General Electric Aircraft Engine Company. All that time I was located in a factory that had been established by the  Wright Brothers Aeronautical  Corporation.  I made planes that flew people around the world, broke speed records and at one time helped manufacture the rockets that sent man to the moon. But I couldn't make a paper airplane.

Sometimes I think life is like that. We can accomplish great feats when we need the money and the family depends on it. We add an entirely new dimension if we are lucky enough to do work the world depends on. But when it really doesn't matter, the incentive to succeed is not as great. Nobody is going on unemployment and food stamps if I don't master the art of making these airplanes in the next year. I'm certainly going to try, as my spouse says I am a Type A personality who doesn't settle for failure.

How many of us are making paper airplanes? Certainly I have made a lot of them since I retired. I have played some horrible rounds of golf. I probably have written some bad blogs. Who knows, maybe this is one of them? I read what I want, that often includs some bad fiction instead of some business documents that had to be reviewed by the staff meeting the next day at 9:00 AM. I don't even have to break some speed record or worry about doping myself as I ride my bike around for an hour each day.  I can go as slow as I want and enjoy the scenery. 

So I will keep on making paper airplanes as long the kit lasts and if I never get good at making them I won't grieve over the lack of mastery of the task.

[Baia]

Good for you, Mandy Muffin!

Over the years, I've accumulated so many books to read, crafts to try, yarn to knit, patterns and fabric to sew, places to visit, beads to string, ideas to think about, plans to implement and courses to study because I was afraid that when I was older I wouldn't have the money to spend on them. Well, now I have everything I need to do everything I wanted to do and still don't have the time for it all.

I've been retired officially and fully since August and tomorrow I'm going back to work as a consultant for a while. I've been driving my daughter to her students while she is having vision problems and while I am waiting for her I've been reading and knitting and keeping in touch with friends and relatives by phone. It is a constant challenge to fit in everything I want to do in a day and still get a good night's sleep.

Some of the best time I've had would be considered by some as wasted. Looking back, I'd say that was not true for me. Right now I'm working on a plan for cramming in even more. I got it free from Amazon for Kindle.

[MGDJ]

Marketing to seniors is a lot different than it used to be.  Seniors are more trendy and enjoy more youthful activities.  The over-50 crowd represents 75% of the financial assets in this country and over half of their money is discretionary money (http://www.economist.com/node/1270771).  I think it is great that most of us can look forward to taking up hobbies when we retire.  I can't tell you the number of times I have said that I would love to take up a hobby, but I have no time.

[EddieDingo]

Reminds me of watching my friend throw her knitting against the wall one day in a frenzy.  I asked her why she had taken up the craft if it frustrated her so much.  Her reply: "Because it's so G** damned relaxing!!"