So much to do, so little time

I was astounded the other day while I was in deep conversation with one of my brothers in law. He was talking about work and I was talking about not working being the ultimate goal of working. He asked “Well, what would you do if you didn’t work?” He framed it as rhetorical question. I was stuck for words. What an alien concept.

I find myself always in the position of having more than enough things to do. This is fine but it can be a bit wearing. There is always just one more thing to do, or see, or read. If I could figure out a way of sleeping less and still be capable of functioning I would do it.

One thing that I do do (and may be to much) is just sitting around watching TV or playing a video game. I do these for release and relaxation. I need relaxation and release. So while I spend time doing stuff that isn’t productive it is still stuff that needs to be done.

The balance is never right, I don’t think it can every be. I know I spend to much time at work but I only do what I have to. Five days a week I leave my home at about 07:15 and get home by 17:30. I limit my work hours to this period, except when I am away, then it is typically12 hr plus days.

I like to make stuff and I do far too little of this. It doesn’t really matter what I am making but while I am building I am engaged. I don’t mean telling other people how to make stuff, that is what I get paid for, I mean actually cutting up a piece of wood or metal or soldering a piece of electronics. Making words on a screen is fun.

Reading, learning and understanding are precious to me. Wether it is reading a novel or science mag, trolling the internet for political arguments or just setting up a home network it is fun.

Sitting on a beach or by the river, riding a bike, surfboard or canoe are things that also rate highly that I do too little of. I never walk the dog.

There are also tasks I am fairly neutral about. I don’t mind cleaning up the garden or maintaining the pool and house. That sort of thing is O.K. At an extreme I don’t even mind shopping provided I have a strong objective (read a shopping list). Things that should be done (and ultimately have to be)

Some things I hate doing. This would be typified by doing my tax return. It is a relatively trivial thing that I avoid. I dislike work functions (but quite like a good party with friends). There are others but even the thought of them makes me recoil. Bad stuff that gets done (eventually).

There is just so much to do and work definitely interferes with doing it.