A Stroll in the Park

I like walking in the parks. Not only do enjoy the fresh air, quiet environment and pretty scenery, but I also like observing all kinds of people in the park. Whenever I move to a new house, I would make sure there is a big park in the walking distance.

Yesterday I went to a park near my house. It is a workday, so there are not too many people in the park. Usually on the weekends, the park is full of people, young and old, both local citizens and tourists. It’s winter. It’s cold but sunny. Some people spread out their picnic blanks and relax on the grassy areas.

I walked along the trail in the park, and then I saw some older people dancing. It’s Chinese traditional dance, with ribbons whirlling in the air. I think they are all retiress. They likely joined a group to cultivate this hobby. Continuing my walk, I encountered some retirees playing various musical instruments, such as the flute and the erhu. While they may not be professional musicians, they clearly derive great joy from their music.

Sometimes I envy retirees. They don’t have to work anymore, and they have pensions to support themseleves. They are free from the stresses of work. They can cultivate new habbies and have ample time to delve deeply into them. Or they can just relax and do nothing at all.

Honestly, I’m quite worried about what will happen when I retire. With the retirement age in China being pushed back to 63 for men and 58 for women, along with the ongoing news about the social security fund potentially running out of money, it seems unlikely that I will be able to live a life like these retirees in the park are living.