This morning my good husband worked on adjusting the tracks for the drawers in my clothing chest. The small repair didn’t go quite as smoothly as he had anticipated. Yesterday, he had to adjust the Lazy Susan cabinet in our kitchen that holds baking supplies, coffee and snacks…that didn’t go very well either, taking more time and patience than he had in mind. Adjusting things seems to be a theme in our home this week and provoked my writing imagination about the very word…Adjustments. 

With the retirement of my husband from his varied careers from age 16 to present, we’ve been “adjusting” as friends describe the process…one friend even says, bathed in a chuckle, “learning how to dance”…you know, moving in sync with your partner…gliding across the floor without stumbling or falling over your feet. Yes, we are “adjusting” which made me ask myself this question–”Just how or what circumstances caused us a necessity to adjust?” In the interest of space here’s a bulleted list that came to my mind–and they may not all be in the proper order.

• Marriage in 1980
• Moved to new area of our State
• Birth of our children in 1983 & 1987
• High school & college graduations for both kids
• Loss of parents & two brothers
• Job Changes
• Surgeries & Illnesses
• 2020 Lockdowns
• Retirement in 2022

And with the last item…we are learning “new” adjustments…discovering idiosyncrasies that “bug us”…(argh) Admittedly, being together almost 24/7 has its beauty as well as challenges. Thankfully the good side of our new chapter in life is outweighing the downside of things.

We’ve had some minor spats. But we’ve also quickly apologized when necessary.

We’ve had more time to spend with family and friends. Being available at the spur of the moment has advantages.

We’ve changed how income is now generated for us. A steady paycheck or two has been replaced by Social Security benefits and my husband’s part time job.

Our aged bodies require a bit more rest, a break from tasks, a new medication here and there, more candles on birthday cakes.

We’re still really “new” in this gig called retirement but we’re making it. We’re learning how to share living space…balancing household duties…respecting needs for privacy or desiring conversations–except during a favorite program we’re watching….that’s still a bit of contention but certainly not a deal breaker for either of us to get real cranky and create another minor spat…

Adjustments come in a wide variety of circumstances during a lifetime. Most are natural. Some are unintentional or a complete surprise. All are opportunities to react or respond….