Retirement: Where Pajamas Count as an Outfit

 

It was a rainy day.  I had nowhere to be, no appointments to keep. No mahjong games to play.  All I wanted to do was curl up on the couch and read my book. And that, I've discovered is one of the true perks of being "retired".  To make the day even more decadent, I decided to stay in my pajamas. 

There’s this funny misconception that staying in your pajamas all day is some kind of moral failing. A sign you’ve “let yourself go.” But let me tell you—when you’re retired, staying in your pj’s isn’t lazy. It’s a luxury. A perk. A small, silky rebellion against decades of alarm clocks, commutes, and clothes with waistbands.

It’s the quiet joy of choosing comfort over obligation, of letting the day unfold without structure or expectation. Pajamas become a soft little reminder that you’ve earned this ease, this freedom, this delicious ability to do absolutely nothing if that’s what your soul needs.

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For years, I lived by the clock. I dressed for work, dressed for meetings, dressed for errands, dressed for company. I even joked that I shopped for clothes I didn’t have to iron—well, mostly joked, but you get where I’m going with this.  Pajamas were reserved for the last hours of the day, when I was overcome by exhaustion and I finally collapse into bed.

But retirement flips the script. Suddenly, pajamas become a symbol of freedom. They say, “I have nowhere I have to be and no one I have to impress.” They say, “I’ve earned the right to be comfortable.” They say, “This is my time now.”

And honestly, there’s something deliciously indulgent about padding around the house in soft cotton or flannel while the rest of the world is wrestling with zippers, buttons, and business casual. It’s like being wrapped in a quiet little reminder that you’ve already done the hard part. You’ve shown up, worked hard, raised families, paid bills, navigated crises, and survived decades of Mondays.

So, if a day arrives when the pajamas stay on from sunrise to sunset, that’s not slacking. That’s savoring the moment. That’s choosing comfort over obligation. That’s leaning into the gentle, unhurried rhythm of a life well lived.

On a rainy day, with a good book and no place to be, pajamas aren’t just clothing.

They’re a state of mind.

PS and by the way, I have been reading some good books that I will try and share with you at a later date.