[FoodSciGeek]

May I be among the first to wish you happiness in your retirement Sarape. My Dad retired at 50, and he's never been happier. I hope that the removal of the stresses of your job and the added free time are bring you happiness. I look forward to more posts about burnt food, cabbage tea and gruel, and hope that your acerbic wit is unaffected by your retirement.

Now can anyone else come up with a more tactful way to see we love you as the curmudgeon you are?
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Approach love and cooking with reckless abandon. - The Dalai Lama

[Sarape]

Thanks for the warm sentiments. I really don't fit in with a structured world. I've always been independent and hated following leaders or joining groups. Of all my jobs, I've enjoyed those best where I was outside: golf-course 'starter' and golf-course grounds crew, and construction labor. I never liked the office, desk job.

I really think the life like those of the eighteenth century American founders like Jefferson and Washington has most appeal to me. I enjoy maintaining my "estate". This involves cooking, gardening, yard work, inside work, hobby stuff, and some financial planning. Since, I have to plan for zero income until I'm 59.5 years old. Which is another 14 years to go. Even at 59.5, I'll depend on my own investments and not on Uncle Sam.

So far, I love staying up late and not worrying about if it is a work or a "school" night. Also, sleeping late till 10:30am.

I've also incorporated onion "tea" as an alternative to my cabbage "tea". We have those thin, wild onions growing everywhere wild down here in Alabama.

Here's a really great cracker recipe I've also discovered: 1 part each of yellow corn meal, whole-wheat flour, and while flour, salt, pepper, water. No yeast involved. Thus, there's no rising stage and that's why it comes out as crackers instead of bread.

If you burn it a little and eat it with dried raisons or figs, well it tastes like.... No, it doesn't. But, this is a very good "bread".
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' She says, 'I am the glamorous type.' I said, 'So what?'

[Erin]

But you're still living on the edge with those onions, eh?

Enjoy yourself Sarape.
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"It's watery....and yet there's a smack of ham."

"It's hot ham water."

[Barbara]

Happy retirement Sarape. And don't get your onions mixed up with your daffodil bulbs.
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Barbara

[Judy]

Have a great time, Sarape. I've worked as a casual part-timer for years and love the freedom it gives - taking time off whenever I want to for holidays, family activities, whatever.

I learnt some interesting things about daffodils recently .....

During a war (don't remember which one) soldiers were given daffodil bulbs to keep in their pocket to use as a painkiller if they were badly injured. They bit into them apparently. Of course the soldiers died, but at least they weren't in as much pain. The botanical name, Narcissus, is where the painkiller drug group Narcotic gets its name.

The daffodil is also the emblem of the Australian Cancer Council .... must do some more research about it.
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Doing what you like is freedom
Liking what you do is happiness

www.cupcakerecipebook.com.au

[Donna]

Féliciations, Sarape! It sounds like retirement is a perfect job for you! I'm glad you are keeping us posted on the new creations that are keeping you occupied! Onion tea, huh?
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L'appetit vient en mangeant. -Rabelais

[Sarape]

Let me comment on life in retirement at age 46.

I've been retired now for three months and I am completely satisfied with not having a job. I've adapted well and find it hard to remember life while working. I rarely even think about any of my former jobs or colleages. I've just about put them out of my mind.

I'm spending much more time doing things correctly instead of rushing through life. I now spend more time in the garden -- fighing off squirrels is my current obsession (they are eating my corn plants) -- preparing meals, cleaning, reading, listening to music.

I want to bring up the subject of "backyard gardens" again this spring. Maybe tomorrow.
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' She says, 'I am the glamorous type.' I said, 'So what?'