Most of us have passions for certain activities or creative outlets over and above the work we do to earn money. Some people are lucky and do both. All the research out there says that healthy people keep themselves occupied by doing what they love to do. This is especially true for people in retirement, we are told. Sometimes the problem is having too many passions, which is my case. Or sometimes we have virtually none and time can hang heavy. We all know people like that, too. Or, without personal passions we find people obsessing on other people's lives and we hear the term, "Get a life." And then there were those years of marriage and child-rearing. No time for any passions but that during that time of life.
My current passions are collage art and many crafts, reading, photography, blogging, educational travel – and so on. I still work part-time, too, so I have more interests than I have time. But, in my case, it’s a good thing I keep occupied because if I don’t, I think too much and if I don’t channel my thoughts into “something,” I sometimes get in emotional trouble. Many of my male friends play golf in retirement several times a week and I know a lot of people who volunteer. My friends who enjoy travel and have the money and time to do it seem to be gone continuously.
Yesterday I wrote about scattering Jack’s ashes at sea and how Dottie, his widow, wasn’t ready to release him until now. In the meantime, however, in spite of some challenging health problems, Dottie has continued to build miniatures—which apparently is a whole subculture in the world of creativity—one I haven’t been familiar with except for the incredible models that Dottie builds. Every time I have visited, I come away amazed. Her home is like a miniatures museum, which I understand actually exists in Los Angeles.
Dottie has a huge craft room on the back on her house, filled wall to wall with tables and craft supplies. One whole wall in her dining area features several lit “rooms” filled with her work. A gifted dressmaker and artist, Dottie concentrates these days on her miniatures. She is currently working on a museum and my favorite is her Victorian house which is currently stored in the garage because of her company and all the Christmas decorations. One of the things on my own “Bucket List” is to become the proud owner of a Victorian doll house someday though I can't imagine myself making itty-bitty accessories; I'm not that patient. Apologies for my photos; my camera doesn't do well up close.
This is Dottie’s millinery shop; she actually makes all those tiny hats, the hydrangeas and most of the accessories.
This is one of her offices built into an old computer.
Dottie literally has dozens of installments or rooms she has built and that are currently on display in her home.
So, have any of you narrowed down your interests/passions into one primary interest? Now that I think about it, my family is going to have to dispose of dozens of boxes of journals someday.