I'm truly dull. I'd keep right on working. I'd just travel a bit more.

I just had this conversation! because I was talking about what I want to do when I retire:

1. So many many more books I'd have time to read! I would love, for example, to pick a particular subject and learn a great deal about it. Anything from Trees to Frederick the Great to Latin.

2. I'd like to set to work and create a really nice flower garden. Possibly organized by color. Or maybe by height. Just the experimenting with design would take up loads of time.

3. I would dearly love more pets than just my two cats. A fish tank, for instance -- I had one as a girl and never had one since.

4. So much cooking I still don't know how to do.

5. I could devote a certain amount of time each day to writing, whatever kind of stuff I felt like, letters, poems, essays, etc. Last week I had an idea for a play.

6. I've got an enormous collection of old-time radio shows that I've barely had time to get into yet. I'd also spend a lot of time listening to ordinary radio.

7. If I felt like it, I could get back into community theater, either onstage or crew.

8. I might even take up a sport. A sport suitable for old or young, I mean. Like curling -- I could be one of those people with the brushes I bet.

Well, that's just a start. I could go on and on. My job is fine but there is no reason I would do what it entails if I didn't have to, or any other job for that matter. Most of what I listed above, since I was talking about my retirement at the time, and I'm unlikely to be rich, involves things that don't cost very much money. I wouldn't mind doing some more traveling, if I could afford it, but it won't bother me if I don't get to -- just being at home would have so much to offer.

Although I do admit that if money were no object I would go to Australia and ride the Indian Pacific train all the way from Sydney to Perth. And back again.

Paint.

Throw myself into charity work. Or become a lady who lunches. Does anyone still wear a hat?

More dogs. All the dogs.

I would quit my job in a heartbeat. I'd spend a lot of time getting better at stained glass work and maybe do some commissioned pieces. I would garden, flower and veggie. Exercise. Cook. Do home renovation projects. Take naps. Sit outside in the sun. Learn to sew.

I would train for marathons and run them all over the world (assuming I had some sort of income to pay for that).

I'd also throw myself into charity work.

I'd walk women into planned parenthood all freakin' day.

I'd read so many books.

I'd travel, seeing all the places in the world I've always wanted to visit, and I'd go back to Australia, which I've not seen since I was a child. I'd also do volunteer work at an animal shelter, matching animals to their new forever people.

Read. Watch so many films in theaters. Go to film festivals. Go to film school. Make films.

Write. And travel. Small house near the beach, maybe Florida or Hawaii. No more daily grind for Jon or me-- it is to dream.

Produce cool community events, and travel.

Spend time camping around the country/North America. I'd love to travel, slowly, and savor the journey. I'd have a small, simple camper, and take pictures of everything. I really hope I can do a little of this someday, when I can retire.

Read. Enjoy my family. Raise puppies for a guide/service group.

Make music. In this country, if money were tight, or, if funds were available, in a variety of interesting places all over the world :-)

Maybe even put myself through music college.

I'd do what I'm doing now but maybe not as much of it.

I'd travel the country in an Airstream while running a bookmobile out of it.