Would love to just chat!

[Rebecca2004]

I am recently retired and still getting used to being at home all day.  I tried to get a part time job but no success. I would love to chat and get to know people from all over the country.  Maybe you can give me some advice on retirement loneliness!  Rebecca 

[Bea2846]

I LIVE IN ORLANDO, 🙂

[Bea2846]

Me too.  I keep me entertained teaching classes online.

Where are you located?

[EricFalk]

Good morning everyone, I am going to try that Zumba class this morning. What are yall up to?

[Phil6010]

Hi there from Oregon

[HStreet1203]

Hi, Phil. Welcome. Would love to find some way to communicate all together in a user-friendly way. 

[MaryG107472]

Welcome to retirement,  have no fear you will adapt quickly to learning how to not having 

to rise early going to work. Or either having to work evenings or nites. I'm a retired nurse for over ten yrs. My first few months i was bored to the length that i went out and got a part time job. That only lasted until a snow storm, and i realized i didn't have to do this anymore. Have been enjoying my freedom from a job ever since. By loving it and doing what ever pleases me. Welcome to that Club!           Mary

[MedusaE76171]

K, so Rhymesometimes and I were originally thinking Wednesday, but that doesn't suit everyone, which is okay; we'll figure it out.  

I'm open for Sat. - Sun. if that works for others?

According to Google, 10:00 - 1300 PST is the best time for Web meetings across the US.

I've just finished an hour long Webinar on how to set up and host a ZOOM meeting.  It was just the basics, but I feel a little more equipped now.  No worries about pressure to attend as a result; I've been wanting to learn about the ins and outs of ZOOM for a while now.  🙂

Apparently, on the free version of ZOOM, a meeting with three or more people in attendance will cut off at 40 minutes (although we can have as many as 100 people in one meeting).  However, they informed that the above does not prohibit us from simply starting a new meeting.  Although, it being so new, I think a shorter time might be best at first to see how everyone feels.  Maybe 30 minutes?  Just so we don't get cut off mid-good-bye's.  LOL

How is everyone feeling?  Sat. or Sun. workable?  The time's are not rigid, just optimal.  We can work around them.

I want to reiterate that EVERYONE IS WELCOME.  🙂  Just send me your email in a private message if you want to attend and I'll include it as soon as we get the kinks worked out and a meeting set up.  

Hoping everyone is feeling good this day.  🙂

I'm off to post about my coconut pancake disaster. 

Tamara  (There must be a food/recipe thread somehwere around here.)

PS:  I've had to edit this post four times.  I'm blaming steroids which have kept me up since 1:30.  😕  

[MedusaE76171]

@OscarE1968, I didn't see this before sending you my email about Wednesdays, between 10:00 and 13:00 PST.  Rats.  I'm open for Saturday or Sunday.
I'll post and see what peeps are feeling.  🙂
Tamara

[hockeymom9178]

Greetings! Boy, do i know where you're coming from. I was completely overwhelmed due to dealing with a failing mother and adult children who were struggling, while keeping a high stress full time job. i wound up in therapy due to the anxiety. Then....my mother passed away, my children found themselves in better circumstances, and i decided to retire after 32 years of employment. And i found myself struggling as to how to fill my time, after so many years of never having enough of it! i came to the stunning realization that i needed a ROUTINE, even if it was a different routine than the one i had previously. I started establishing a routine....and then COVID hit. So, now back to establishing a DIFFERENT routine. I was ready to give up the high stress job, but i never really planned on what the next step should be. 

Liz

[Rhymesometimes]

@hockeymom9178  I want to first say how sorry I am about the passing of your mom. You have definitely gone through a great deal in a short amount of time, and were so wise to seek counseling when it grew overwhelming.  Classic feast or famine.  It can take time to decide how you want your retirement to look.  Blocking in time to exercise regularly is a good start.  Slowing begin building a social network of friends and family.  Check in with them regularly. Creating a weekly meal plan can free you up from asking yourself, what am I going to have for dinner every day. Also decrease temptation of fast food or delivery regularly. It's an adjustment to cook for one.  You can always double portion favorite dishes and freeze.  Hobbies are a great way to build in routine.  Are there hobbies you like (d) or look into new ones. A crazy thing I picked up two months ago was entering limerick contests. A total blast!  Joining a book club, gets you a chance to meet people with some similar interest.  Volunteering can do that too.  If you are a person of faith, joining a church. Maybe a part-time job is a way to get you out regularly too.

Best of luck hockey mom, you are resilient and resourceful, you got this! 

[Jerome19468]

Is there anyone out there to chat?

[MedusaE76171]

Yes!  I'm here. 

I feel like I'm lost in a tornado of people under thirty on the internet.

[Rhymesometimes]

@MedusaE76171 I know what you mean.  I don't do the whole social media thing.  Other then this AARP site. Welcome to the 50+ online community here at AARP. Lots of interesting forums to participate in.  Hope you find what you are looking for.

[MedusaE76171]

Thank you!  🙂  Thank you so much for the welcome. I don't mean to sound overly exuberant, but this place feels like water in the dessert.  🙂

[Rhymesometimes]

@MedusaE76171 In all honesty, we could use some more exuberance on this site.  Engaging questions and people to respond with interest.  With 36 million AARP members, There is a very very small portion that are in this on-line community. There is great potential to connect, inform and entertain.   To follow your water analogy, jump in and get your feet wet.😄

[MedusaE76171]

@Rhymesometimes Thank you for the encourgement.  🙂  I really appreciate it and would very much like to engage with the people here.  And here we are, you and I, doing just that.  🙂  

[Rhymesometimes]

@MedusaE76171  Nice to have positive energy around here. 😃

[Jerome19468]

People are strange I hear all about the loneliest for people 50+ and aarp gives people a place to help with it and  people do not take advantage of it

Come on folks lets talk it up

[MedusaE76171]

@Jerome19468, Love to you have you at coffee if you're up for it.  🙂 

(Sorry this is a bit late, I didn't see it at the top until this morning.)  🙂

[Rhymesometimes]

@Jerome19468  I agree.  There are plenty of forums in this community for people to connect.  

[MedusaE76171]

@Jerome19468 and @Rhymesometimes  Maybe we should start an open "coffee klatch" at a time that is workable for most time zones.  We can meet, hang out and talk, whenever any of us can make it.  

[MedusaE76171]

So, @Rhymesometimes and I were thinking this would be a fun idea and, while I have attended a few, neither of us actually knows how to set up a Zoom Meeting.  LOL

If anyone else is interested in this idea and maybe has some idea how to go about it?  Morning-ish coffee on screen would be so fun, don't you think?  Maybe?  Some of you? 

No pressure.  LOL
Oh, and Skype; I forgot Skype. I've seen options for splicing people into the video calls.  That might work as well.

[OscarE1968]

@MedusaE76171 sounds interesting. I too have attended many Zoom meetings but not sure how to start one lol. 

[MedusaE76171]

Maybe Skype would be better?  I wonder if more of us are familiar with Skype?

[PatriciaC269790]

Hi I am so new here and my name is Tricia...I will have to look harder to see what Can be done to establish a group chat thingy, funny we use the platforms all day long in business settings but I'm unsure what is expected here or if a group can go outside of this platform???? Anyway, just knowing there are people who would like to connect (that are over 30, I am 63) is ....what I've been looking for...I'll be here daily but not sure of the time, I'll try to follow up.  too bad, we could just be getting some assistance with setting up groups, let me know if you find out the How To on this.  

[OscarE1968]

@PatriciaC269790 I too use it daily for construction meetings but have no clue how to go about it for this type of setting. It would be nice to have a friendly open conversation.

[MedusaE76171]

Hi, @PatriciaC269790 & @OscarE1968 I'm so glad there are a few of us who are interested in "getting together" over coffee, or whatever.  🙂  Although everyone here is welcome and encouraged to come hang out.  It really does sound fun.

So, I've checked into ZOOM and it appears to be very user friendly.   I set myself up as a Host (to see if I could) and now I am.  It appears that, to be a participant, all you need is an email address and a screen name.  

I think it might ask you to download the ZOOM app, but it was a quick download and I wasn't worried about it as it's a trusted site.  

I do remember, when being on these meetings previous, that none of my info, other than my screen name, was available.  

What I like about ZOOM is that you can join over audio, video or both.  You know, if you're having a bad hair day.  LOL

I live on the Eastcoast; we'd need to figure a time that works, in general for everyone. 
Fun.  🙂  

[OscarE1968]

@MedusaE76171 Sounds easy enough. I know for work i usually get an invite thru an email, so being a public forum i can send you my email by private message. I'm in Arizona so i believe I'm 2 hours behind the east coast.

[MedusaE76171]

Hi, @OscarE1968, @Rhymesometimes , @PatriciaC269790 
(And everyone 🙂
An email in a private message would work well.  I have noted acouple others as well so there should be at least three or four of us. :), @PatriciaC269790 , I picked up your email from your tagline.

@OscarE1968, There is a three hour time difference between AZ and the East Coast in the Summer and a two hour in the winter.  So, right now it is just after 1:00pm for me and 11:00am for you.  (I'm sure you had that already.  LOL)

I'm not sure where @Rhymesometimes, or @PatriciaC269790  are time zone-wise, but I think we can find a good time for a trial run.  

I am open most days cept 1:00pm - 2:00pm on Mondays, 12:00pm - 1:00pm on Thursdays and every morning from 11:00am to 11:30am.  - EST, of course.  

What do you guys have open?  

This is so fun.  🙂