Writing with a Retiree – What takes priority?
Simple enough question, right? What takes priority? Writing – spouse?
Of course it would be your spouse...right? *smiles*
My husband and I couldn’t wait for the time when we could
travel in a 5th Wheel, towing our fishing boat and free-wheeling
where ever we decided to land for a day, a week, or a month…we’d make an
adventure out of the visit.
That was our vision, our dream, our plan…but what
happens when dreams change after the fact? *shakes head*
I resigned from my 8:00 – 5:00 job in 2000 and pursued
a career in writing. I enjoyed some ghost writing, editing, short story
writing, writing young adult fiction, articles, and spent a few years writing
erotic romance (under a pseudonym I shall not name:).
I
love writing, as all authors do; it’s something we’re lost without. And I can’t seem to live without it.
My husband officially retired in March 2016,
although he stopped working in March of 2015. Let me say, it had been an up-down
roller coaster for us, from “my” writing space in the house (which I had a favorite
spot in a few rooms, depending on my mood), my time with grandchildren, our trips
in the RV, to the television shows we watched. What was most important to my
husband now that he had extra time on his hands, was rarely what was most
important to me as I’d lived as a writer on
my own in the house for fifteen years (until he’d come home in the evenings
from his job).
Our house had gotten very small spending 24/7
together. *LOL*
We went on a few month-long trips in the RV, and then
tried longer in Florida. After three months in the land of sun, I was ready to
come back to Michigan – see my family. Three months was too long away from the
familiar.
He had always been supportive of my writing, but
there was an on ongoing tension/pressure at my not being readily available for
him. I attempted to be creative while dealing with a myriad of interruptions, until
we finally had a few heart-to-heart
chats…and we updated our priorities. A little tougher than we figured, but it all shook out to a workable solution for both of us.
We gave up the 5th Wheel for a 34’
trailer and parked it at a lake about a half-hour away from our home.
It’s my husband’s fishing retreat and my writing
retreat, close enough that my family can visit, or I can visit with them.
Now I can write uninterrupted and he can fish to his
heart’s content. There’s a balance between us, having our own priorities and
making them work…together. *Big deep sigh*
Halleluiah; )
DK Davis writes YA sci-fi, supernatural, and fantasy
with a good dollop of all the relationships woven in between. When she’s not
writing, editing, or reading, she’s hiking, RV’ing, fishing, spending time with
grandchildren or her favorite muse (her husband) in Southwest Michigan. She
also writes paranormal suspense-thriller romance as S. Peters-Davis, and all
genre short stories as Susan Davis.
You can find DK Davis at these links: Twitter;
FB;
Website;
Books
We Love Ltd. Author Page; Amazon Author
Page
Enter Books We Love Contest here: http://www.bookswelove.com/books-we-love-contests/
Samantha’s dealing with a lot of
emotional blow-back from her mother’s new marriage. Then she discovers a gifted
creature living in Wolf Lake, and life suddenly becomes all about keeping his
existence a secret, earning his trust. That is until his life depends on her
saving him. But she won’t be able to do it alone…
