getaclue, didn;t want to repeat you whole post so I'll just reply. If you are teaching anything you love , that's what we all strive for. Lucky you. Sometimes I wish there was an easy way of getting a class together called Something like " the things you should know for adult life that HS didn't teach you." I think I would have a plan of items to be discussed and practice them, but let the class guide to what they need.
The closest I ever got to that in HS was HomeEc. I have never forgot those skills learned there in 1974, and still use them today. Mostly learning how to sew outfits, alter patterns, quilt, and make food using "Master Blend" which was like homeade Bisquick. Every time I'm in the kitchen or on the sewing machine, the basics still come from that class. I must have been 15 or so.
So I do really really believe in teaching pre adults the basics in some areas, cooking, Banking and credit cards, self esteem, how to talk to a cop if stopped, -I'm sure you all could think of a number of things. One of my subjects would NOT be how to butcher anything! But I will pass on where to learn it.
Good thing about the fence, I have so many rabbits around here. I love to grow things, veggies, and roses and daylilies. The ground here is rock hard slick clay, and I attempt to mix it with all kinds of compost and my horse manure-turned into black gold. For many years I have made horse manure compost turn into "black gold." It smells like dirt and looks like black dirt and keeps the ground fluffy. I recently found one of my piles from 3 years ago and OMG!! It's black gold!!! Mine always seemed to develop better in the shade, left alone.
Retirement is great but sometimes it can really grate on your nerves. My DH is a good guy but being there 24/7, some things just get irritating. It's good that your DH can still think about work. It might be a good thing.
getaclue, I didn't know you had a duck!!! After having 5 geese, I had rehomed them all and never did get anymore. One duck may be nice, LOL.
