Austin, TEXAS, January 26, 2006 — Yes, I'm still writing something for every day. However, I don't have to. No one can make me.

A lot of my life is like that. Since I retired I've avoided commitment strenuously. While I have joined a committee at my club, if they schedule meetings I can't make, too bad. I have tried to help with FFP's commitments to a weekly column in The West Austin News and all his commitments to write monthly WEB newsletters for the ballet, raise money for the Butler Dance Education Center, etc. And, yes, I've committed to things like this charity dinner next weekend, but understand: I only do what I enjoy.

I extend that to the pleasures, too. You won't

catch me doing things I don't think are fun or committing to a tennis league or even a regular tennis game that requires getting a sub if you can't play.

I spent the entire morning (after coffee and computer) at the club. I played tennis from nine until eleven. Three pretty good sets of doubles. I went to the gym after and did a bit of recumbent bike and also some ab and lower back work. Then I talked to someone for about fifteen minutes. The club president was sitting there and I knew that he knew someone I was interested in getting FFP to interview for his column. Or maybe even doing it myself.

As I drove home I realized...I spent the whole morning at the club! Heck, maybe I should have just gone upstairs and had lunch. But I went home and had salad with leftover salmon and started watching tapes of the Australian Open on TV and just goofed off and snacked a little more until I talked a friend into going to an early movie with me while FFP went to his Ballet Austin Board Meeting.

Casanova, by the way, is a slapstick comedy. I didn't know that from the previews. So initially I was a little disappointed although I laughed outloud at Oliver Platt. But later I thought it was pretty good. Besides when in history has one actor had two roles in the same multiplex at the same time, one as a slapstick Casanova and the other as a gay cowboy?

A bit of advice about retirement. It takes some time to work into selfishly doing whatever you feel like. And figuring out what that is.