Remind Me Again Why I Wanted to Quit My Job?

Today and yesterday, I moved this pile of decomposed granite (it was originally 4 cubic yards--about double this size) to this wheelbarrow:

I then wheeled this wheelbarrow to this garden and emptied it into these piles:

I then raked the piles flat and used this twenty pound tool to stamp down the granite:

At the end of the day yesterday, I asked my husband, "Remind me again why I quit my job?"

"What do you mean?"

"When I worked, I wrote a check to someone else to do this.  Then after a long day of sitting on my ass all day at work, I came home to see completed landscaping. Remind me again why I decided to quit my job and do this stuff myself?"

"Because it's way more rewarding than doing tax returns."

And as I sip my WELL DESERVED martini tonight, I can be proud of myself for eight hours of backbreaking work instead of drinking because I'm so sick of doing tax returns.

Oh yeah, now I remember.

Related Posts:

In Praise of Work

Is Boredom Really a Danger in Retirement?

Retirement and the "B" Word

Comments

[Andy @ Retire at 40]

Wow, it looks like you did well. There's nothing more satisfying that seeing a job done well over the space of a day or two. Also, doing projects in work takes weeks or months and it's rare you get that same satisfaction.

Hope the landscaping turns out exactly how you want it.

[Early Retirement Middle Way]

Great job! Looks fabulous!

[Middle Way]

Great job! Looks fabulous!

[Steve @ brip blap]

Hah! Exactly - you'd rather be exhausted for doing something that you feel proud of doing rather than something that you feel sick of doing. Since we're all working on the assumption that life is busy and we're going to be tired one way or another, better to be tired doing something you like, right? Good reminder :)

[Analise]

It may not be finished, but you have a lovely back yard. Enjoying spending time there instead of doing tax returns is ANOTHER reason to be where you are. Plus, you got a workout and the satisfaction of DIY. *smile*

[Debbie]

Looks good and I'd rather be doing something wonderful in my backyard than at work.