Retired and thinking about how it will feel to spend more time with your spouse? Here’s some advice from the book “How to Love Your Retirement” (Hundreds of Heads Books, www.hundredsofheads.com, $13.95), straight from people who’ve done it.

“When my husband and I retired, we did everything together: golfed, played bridge and so on. Never once did we get sick of each other. If you enjoy the activity in addition to the company, that really helps!”
—B.A.R., Bayonet Point, Fla., Years retired: 25

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“Our decision at the point of retirement was that I wouldn’t be with my husband 24/7, and we have kept to that. In terms of friends and activities, we have “yours,” “mine,” and “ours.” That has worked perfectly. We usually have breakfast together and discuss plans for the day and menus. And we come back together at dinnertime, unless we have a joint activity planned in the middle of the day.”
—F.M., Erdenheim, Pa., Years retired: 14

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“It’s important for retired couples to have a little time away from each other occasionally. I like to go away for the weekend with my sisters. And I really don’t want Bill to go to the grocery store with me and rush me. It’s my own time. When I’m shopping, I want him to be out fishing or at home reading. You have to respect each other’s space.”
—Barbara Stevens, Gatlinburg, Tenn., Years retired: 6

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“Going into business together is the best possible practice for retirement you could have. My husband and I worked together for nine years as a real estate team, so spending too much time together after retirement won’t be an issue for us.”
—Brenda Justice, Wichita, Kans., Years retired: 1

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“It’s very different to be together twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. She plays golf and loves gardening. I have a workbench in the garage and study multiple subjects that I’m curious about. But when we’re both in the house, we have to learn how to respect each other. My wife and I listen to different radio stations; she likes talk radio and I prefer music. We listen with headphones if we are in the same room and want to have it on.”
—Frank Hawk, Lakeland, Fla., Years retired: 3

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“I thought that was the idea of retiring; to spend more time with my wife. If you can’t enjoy being together after spending a lifetime earning the right to do so, maybe you shouldn’t have been married in the first place. I couldn’t wait to spend more time with my wife. I feel bad for anyone who feels differently.”
—Dale Jennings, Frostburg, Md., Years retired: 2

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© 2008, Hundreds of Heads Books, Inc.