My house was like a motel, but now it is closed

It is about time we all enjoyed our lives… It does not matter that we are over sixty as I see that as the new chapter in our lives when it is okay to do the things in life we did not have the time or energy maybe money when we were younger.

Mine has been to socialise more and not have to cook and entertain the masses. When I look back at our 56 years of marriage I have fed and entertained so many people from all walks of life. Yes I enjoyed it at the time. Then all the shopping and the cooking, chopping, getting everything just right for all to enjoy my efforts.

Suddenly when I reached 70 I thought “Oh my goodness! Where are they all now???” Where are our outstanding invitations;;; not that we entertained to expect that they had to return the compliment. I think I could fill Sydney Town Hall with all the people we have had through our doors. Friends and friends of friends are always welcome at any hour or day.

When we retired to a waterfront with boats for all to enjoy, we had to keep a list of comings and goings so not to double book too many people at one time. As people were packing their boots others were unloading, whilst I was changing linen and cleaning the rooms for the next guests. Yes I did enjoy it all but then suddenly I thought… I do not want to do this anymore! It was a light bulb moment!!!

All of this entertainment was costing us a lot and it seemed that our generosity of giving our guests food and drinks was becoming outdated. One couple that came regularly asked us to their property for a weekend and I was asked to bring groceries… yikes they had never even brought their own drinks. It was like another wakeup call. Of course I did as I was asked as I could not arrive empty handed as many many did when they came to stay with us…they would say “We knew you would have everything under control and not need anything.”

When we went out it was always out of our pocket for fuel for car and boat. Please do not get me wrong we did enjoy that time of our lives. Now we are more selective and meet people at restaurants where we can all order the meal we want and drink. I notice they drink much less than they did at our home.

We love our lives now and we please ourselves as we wish. We do not keep a Motel Booking running… as in “See you In a Month!” The Motel Sign is closed and the kitchen is closed unless I want to cook what we want when we want. Not having to be the entertainment, cook, cleaner and friend. I have no regrets… I wonder if they do? From now on my new mantra is “I am free to be me!”

Have you had to make big changes in the way you live your life before? How did you do that? What did you do? What brought you to the decision that you needed to reassess?  Share your thoughts in the comments below…