Monday Musings on Antiques and Silver Swans
We have always loved decorating our homes with antiques. Both of my parents loved antiques, so I grew up surrounded by them. In fact, I get a kick out of the fact that our kitchen table in California is one that we bought at a garage sale for $10 over 48 years ago! I’ve always believed that antiques get better with age…and so do we.
2 – SEED PEARL NECKLACES
As we began decorating our little apartment in Vancouver, all the big pieces ( bed, sofa, easy chairs) were bought new. Now that it’s time to add some personality, I’m looking for antique pieces that will give the place a distinctive look…much the way our personal accessories do for our outfits.
We stopped by one of my favorite little shops last week and found this antique Swedish mirror that had to come home with us. It’s petite, which is just what you need for a small apartment. I have no clue where I will hang it, so for now, it’s just leaning against the wall. I’m also trying to figure out what color to paint the walls… which is a whole other challenge.
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We also explored Little Italy in Vancouver this weekend. The deli’s, bakeries, and restaurants are amazing! We managed to control ourselves because we’re leaving on a road trip, but it’s a new favorite destination and we will be back to shop for more culinary delicacies. Each day, we discover new reasons why living in the city is such a rich and vibrant experience.
Silver Swans
I am not planning to retire in the very near future, but my daughter has been encouraging me to think about what I will do with my time when I do. The natural thing would be to do more of the hobbies I enjoy now. The problem is I don’t have that many. Then I remembered a book my husband read when he retired. It encouraged him to think back to what he had a passion for in his youth and resurrect it. He was a big swimmer, and it’s now become one of his daily passions.
As I thought back, one thing stood out above all others, and it hit me like a bolt of lightning…ballet. It was a love and obsession for many years. I went hunting online for in-person classes. Everything I found mentioned 35 and above. I don’t know about you, but my 35-year-old body was worlds apart from my almost 68-year-old one.
I searched for hours until I found the magic search term. Senior! Once I put that in, I discovered the Silver Swans program. It was designed by the Royal Academy of Dance specifically for those over 55. Bingo! They have teachers throughout the world, and I’ve reached out to see if I can attend classes locally. I also discovered some YouTube classes to get me started. I know my body won’t come close to doing what it used to do, but it may still feel as graceful.
Oh, and my daughter also convinced me to take some golf lessons, so that should be interesting. I smiled when I realized it might require a new category of clothes :).
What was a passion in your youth that you could take up again?
Pickleball – exercise & new friends.
Cheers, Jan
I’m loving all the comments—so inspiring! I’ve been retired for 2 years and it’s finally (!) clicked in for me. I was an avid pianist as a child and young adult, but then life intervened. I’m happily playing again, many days I practice more than 2 hours! I enjoy playing classical music, especially Bach. However, I’m taking lessons to learn how to improvise and play blues/jazz. After 50 years, I’m finally able to jam with my husband and his friends when they gather to play their instruments. Gosh, it’s super fun! I also love to work in my garden, play with my little dog, and read, read, read. I just finished a wonderful book called Beautyland by Marie-Helene Bertino and highly recommend it. For volunteer work, I tutor kids in math. I love math, it was my profession, and I try to help kids see that math is fun.
All that said, I don’t want you to retire! I adore your blog and the community you’ve created..
Lol, I’m planning to be here. Thanks for sharing. Piano lessons were tortuous for me but I always wish I’d learned to play better. You’re a busy, active lady. Wonderful!
I retired from a 36-year teaching career in 2016. My friend and our son talked me into learning to play golf the next year, and I love it! I play golf with a group of friends as well as with my husband and son. It is challenging and frustrating at times but gets me outside and moving. (I admit that I need to spend more time with other types of exercise.) I enjoy reading, baking, and visiting our two grandchildren. We also help tend to my 93-year-old parents. The weeks fly by, and as many other retirees have said, it’s a wonder I ever had time to work!
This is the best time! Thanks for sharing Barb.
Retirement is its own hobby! Self care, games, crafting, cooking and baking are my retirement playful times.
Fun Lisa!
Take a look at Sherwin-Williams’ colors Sea Salt and Comfort Gray for your paint project. Both are a wonderfully subtle green/blue/gray that might complement your coastal condo.
Thank you! I will check those out
I was going to suggest a blue green, being so close to the ocean and in such a green place as BC. It is a relaxing, soothing, calm colour of the west coast. Just enough colour to be cheerful without overdoing it into loud.
That’s a fascinating idea. I’ll try to envision it and get a small sample to try on the walls.
I loved riding horses in my youth. I’d love to try it again but I’ve got osteoporosis now. If I fell off, I might have some broken bones. I’m not sure it’s worth the risk.
Maybe you could spend time just being around horses? I’ve never been a rider because they scare me. They are tall!
It’s never too late! Many programs offer very safe and yes older well trained horses for their riding lesson programs. It’s a great way to keep your body conditioned and help your balance. I’m 73 and can’t imagine my life with out animals in it, especially horses. Enjoy!!!
Awesome!! Thank you for the info and encouragement, Lynette. If we look, many things are geared to seniors.
Oh what a great post, I’m retiring too and have been in my pool or warm spa every night for 7 years doing water exercise…on my own with just my thoughts and strengthening my hip and shoulder. I love the water and it revives me daily to be peppy and interested in everything. I sew on antique Singer sewing machine my grandmother gave me, and I volunteer help to any neighbors needing BP checks or a temporary few days of meals after a procedure. We live in a gated community with a good number of senior-seniors. Enjoy your passions and you’ll make new friends also! Sandra
Your life sounds rich and rewarding Sandra! Thanks for sharing
My lifelong passion is gardening. The last house we sold was advertised as having arboretum like grounds. This property is well on the way. As I’ve gotten older and illness has interfered, I have to hire some things done. But it is still my hands in the earth, and hopefully I’ll just die in the garden! Also have cultivated reading the Greek classics, some new translations are wonderful, and studiously avoiding political talk! That’s a job in itself!
I love your dress but I’m too tall to wear it. It would be mid thigh on the 72 yr old, not a great look. And I could not bend over at all. Much prefer your linen and cotton outfit, the bag is lovely.
Thanks for making me think about it!
Can you recommend one of the books you’re enjoying!
I loved Demon Copperhead, by Barbara Kingsolver. Pulitzer winner, and a heart wrenching read.. Actually, any of her books. Emily Henry has a current translation of the Iliad out. Tana French books are quite good. And The Art Thief by Michael Finckle (sp?); And for fun I read historical bodice ripper romance. It can’t all be serious!
Hmmm…don’t think ballet….but golf…new clothes…sounds like a real nice idea. 🙂
😉
Fair warning…golf can be addictive. I’ve been at it regularly for 10 years and have made countless friends through this wonderful sport. It’s a lot harder than it looks. Prepare for a lot of laughs and humility.
BTW…you have beautiful legs…that dress looks fantastic on you!!
I’m looking forward to it. Thanks, it’s probably all the ballet I did 😂
The best retirement advice I received was to do something for yourself; something for others, and learn something new!
That’s fabulous advice!
Very thoughtful post! I retired at 62 and began writing again which was my passion from an early age. You are so right to find an outlet that brings joy without the demands and deadlines of a full time career.
What fun for you Jennifer! Yes to exploring ballet and golf, both will require different types of clothing that you’ll enjoy shopping for. You work so hard to bring all of us this blog, and you should start taking more time for yourself. Maybe cut down on the number of posts each week?
Ballet is special to me too, an interest I shared with my cousin. We took some classes together back in our 20’s, such fun. It was likely also what drew me to barre classes, which I’ve done for 9 years now.
Hats off to you!!
Thoughtful comment Deanne, thank you. I have been thinking the same thing.
Funny, I’ve only taken one barre class, about 15 years ago. It’s was too soon after I cracked my hip and was excruciating so I never tried it again. Maybe I should reexamine barre!
I have known how to sew from way back. I made a few things for my girls, a top or two, some Halloween costumes, etc. As a retired lady in her 70’s, I joined a quilting group. We get together once a week to socialize and make quilts . The group is known as Prayers and Squares. We make quilts for people who need prayers and comfort for illnesses, surgery etc. Quilts are not made by hand , but by machine now. We do have people who don’t sew on machine, but sew by hand label and prayer ties, and help pin quilts before they are machine sewn. I enjoy the social with these ladies.
I also read a lot , mystery, and historical fiction. There are bookclubs at the library and online. I also go to the gym and exercise on bike, treadmill or elliptical.
Our city park and recreation centers offer ongoing classes on gardening, fitness, yoga, dance, pilates, painting, etc.
Check into your city programs to see what you can join.
I love your ideas. That sewing group sounds so rewarding, Sue. Thanks for reminding me of the knitting group I used to love attending. I’ll try to find one in my new areas.
My passions growing up were art- paper mache; sketching; drawing. Limited painting in water colors.
I took several dance classes when very young as well as horseback riding ( English saddles). But I lost interest as I matured.
I admire your interest in ballet and in golf. Let us know when you give them a whirl!
Happy week!
Thank you. Happy Monday!
Good morning! I’ve been retired or who years now from a very stressful career in research and development. While I loved my job, as I imagine you do, retiring while we are young and healthy is a gift, I was 61. Thinking ahead is a smart strategy, I did the same. I’ve enjoyed every single moment since retiring. Follow your dreams and you will enjoy it. For me giving back is key, I volunteer as a life coach with women in recovery, I volunteer as mentor for a single Mom that needs encouragement and advice, I’m more active at my
Church. Having time to do what you want is a blessing. We also watch our grand babies one day a week. After that I continue my passion of being a maker of various things, work out during the day, and enjoy the peace and sleeping later than 6:00 am!!! Good luck.
That sounds wonderful, Amy. I love the idea of giving back. It feels so good to help others who need it.
Oh Jennifer,
Thank you for all you do! Your post today, which shared many personal tidbits, was so inspirational!! I LOVE that you will go after the passions from your youth, like ballet and golf. Of course I love all that you share about fashion also. You are such a beautiful and strong woman who gives us all inspiration on how to age gracefully. I too have pulled out my old old golf clubs (at the insistence of my son) and started to go to the driving range again. I haven’t retired yet but a large reason why is that I’m just not sure how I will spend my time! I’m really looking forward to my first trip overseas to Greece next month and please know that many of your posts about outfits for travel and what and how to pack have been extremely helpful! Again, thank you for all you do. I look forward to your emails every morning.
Sincerely,
Johanna Davidson
I hear you about how we will spend our time in retirement. Your trip to Greece will be amazing!! Thank you for sharing Johanna
Very inspiring! My hubs and I retired awhile ago. We travel extensively. I took up learning Italian about a year ago bc we travel to Italy yearly. I have often “doodled” over the years and decided one day I would take drawing classes!! I love it and I’m showing my first piece in the fall. If you are not having fun, what’s the point?
That’s amazing! My daughter is encouraging me to take some art classes too. I loved the classes I took in college.
I too don’t have many hobbies, so when I retired, I didn’t have a lot to occupy my time. My passion was music. I played the flute, but once married w/children, stopped. 3 years ago I decided to take up the oboe. I am still taking lessons every week and have a recital with all the kids (and some adults) once a year. Love dance and so glad you found ballet again! No better time to start over!
That sounds so fun, Deb!
Contemplating how to spend time in retirement is like having a new box of crayons and a white sheet of paper. Have fun!
As someone in retirement, I spend my time differently than planned. First, time fills up so quickly. I look back on Friday and wonder when I would have time to work. It’s provided me with more time to volunteer, catch up with friends and spend time with grands that takes up days. My advice is not to overthink the ways to use time; they appear.
I’ve decided to pursue hobbies that work crowded out, like knitting. Some new ideas surprised me. They fall into the category of “I always wanted to…”. Ballet lessons fall into this category. Ballet was not a childhood passion, but I always wanted to learn. I also picked up areas where I wanted to be better. One insight came when my granddaughter asked me to help her with 8th grade algebra homework. Uh-oh. So, believe it or not, a few times a week I go through a math module on one of the wonderful online sites. No pressure, no grades- just mental puzzles. There is a similar story for Spanish. As someone whose struggled with being judged in traditional school, I find it fun and confidence building to get better in areas that previously intimidated me.
So, get out your crayons and white paper. Have fun drawing your future!
Thanks for sharing Susan. Your life sounds rich and full. Math would not be at the top of my list, but that’s what makes this all so personal. And yes, grandkids are one of my favorite ways to spend my time. xo