Based on a series of interviews with retired women from across Canada, What Do You Do All Day? is a book for those who are perplexed about what lies ahead. It is a book for those who are concerned about being bored, or of having too much time on their hands, for those who wonder about losing their identity and their idea of who they are. This book is for those who cannot imagine what they might do "all day."

If you are someone in whose mind the word "retirement" has made an appearance, even fleetingly, maybe this book will inspire you.

This is a book about joy. It's about having the time, energy and will to express yourself. It's about being responsible to yourself. It's about gratitude and about being in the world in a thoughtful way. It's about embracing the day. It's about embracing others, whether family and friendships or through volunteering. It's about time--time to take care of yourself, time to share with others, time to notice the present, time to watch a bird taking a bath. Most importantly, it is about choosing to do what you want to do.

Miriam is a retired dietitian. She is the author of Fuelling Body, Mind and Spirit: A Balanced Approach to Healthy Eating (Sumach Press). Since retiring, Miriam has settled into a life of militant idleness (when she is not caught up in something else).

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