Today’s attire mirrored yesterday’s, as most days do now; blue jeans, or dungarees, as they were called when I was a kid, are my standard fare, now. Tomorrow will be the same, blue jeans.
Life changes when you retire. ‘Dressing for success’ isn’t a priority, just dressing is. Casual Friday becomes casual week. Dress slacks, shirt and tie are the exception, jeans, the norm. Sneakers are the new wingtips.
I can’t say that life in general becomes easier, but certainly picking out my daily wardrobe does. Interestingly, there are just as many pants hanging in my closet now, but they’re mostly denim, not cuffed and pressed, but loose fitting to accommodate the slowly evolving physique of a slowly aging gentleman.
The upper rack of my closet still holds too many dress shirts, but a keen eye reveals they’re not as pressed as they once were, when personal appearance was paramount. And when they do need ironing, I’ll do it.
Someone asked how many ties I have, now that I’m retired, and I realized it’s just as many as when I was working. But, strangely, I always seem to select the same two or three. I should thin out my inventory, keeping the theme ones, of course. They’re always good for ‘ice-breakers’ at the Senior Center soirées.
Retirement certainly has taken the edge off the regiment of daily routines. A little bit of laziness has crept into my life. It’s nice, I don’t worry about deadlines or quotas, customers or managers, or which suit to wear. I don’t ‘take on the day’ anymore, I ‘partner’ with it. ASAP and FYI are now replaced by YMCA and scratch-off tickets.
I only pay heed to my world now. And it’s a small world. Dressing to impress isn’t a concern, just dressing is, as I keep reminding myself. And, blue jeans suffice.
By the way, when I do broaden my attire, Wednesday is senior discount day at my new favorite store, the Blue store of Goodwill Industries. Don’t you love helping others and getting a bargain at the same time?
Note to self: never be seen in mid-calf black socks, dress shoes and Burmuda shorts, even in Burmuda!
srbottch
Dedicated to all retirees who are kicking back, enjoying life and dressing down
A friend wrote: “…this is a true depiction…do not let this out the closet, it is history hanging on wires…”
S'amusing 