Keeping Up With My Senior Parents is Exhausting! Retirement is Hard Work!

For the first time in over a decade I got on a flight by myself, with no kids or Hubby accompanying me, and left for a 10 day visit to see my snow bird parents. I had visions of peaceful slow-paced relaxing days, without the need to cater to my kids' or Husband's schedules or demands. I mean how busy can it be visiting my senior parents right? As my vacay comes to an end, it has been a great time, with days and nights filled with quality one on one time with my parents. What it wasn't was slow-paced. I tell you those seniors are busy. Retirement is hard work! 

My trip to Tampa went without a hitch, no delays on either flight, and my luggage arrived on time. The weather forecast called for warm sunny days for most of my visit. My parents greet me at the airport in good health and spirits, excited about the next 10 days of fun. On the drive from the airport to the condo they have rented for the last 14 years, my Mom mentions that they have been invited to Seniors BBQ on Sunday at a friend's condo complex. Sounds pretty relaxing and slow-paced right? 

Each day I wake up late to coffee made, fresh squeezed orange juice and an offer of a bacon and eggs breakfast. Little did I know I would need it to fuel the days activities. Each lunch I have the option of going out for lunch or delish BLT's on sour dough bread my Dad gets fresh daily. Dinner is the same deal, I get to decide if we go out to dinner or have a delicious one made for me. As I write this my Dad is making a chicken caesar salad for my lunch. Good thing he is making it because after three days of more than eight hours per day of shopping marathons (no idea where they get all the energy from) and a BBQ followed by an intense dice game called Left Right Centre, I can barely keep up. After only five days into my vacation I was already exhausted.

My parents get up earlier than me; my Mom has finished a suduko puzzle and half of a crossword puzzle, and my Dad has done the daily grocery run before I show me face. My Dad does all the driving and is the official bag carrier of the shopping marathons. This is anything but slow-paced. This retirement thing is busy, and I can only hope that when I retire that I have the energy that my parents have. Thanks Mom and Dad for a wonderful visit, and all you did to make my vacay such a memorable one! 

Yep, just me Cathy thinking out loud about busy seniors.