Retirement Jigsaw Puzzles Dream Come True

If you are a jigsaw puzzle enthusiast, then this retirement jigsaw puzzles 'dream come true' story will allow you to 'dare to dream'.

It also shows you that 'the dream' is totally doable.

The following video has the entire article and below is the transcription text for reading if you prefer.

But the image below shares the fact that dreams do come true!

Retirement-jigsaw-puzzles
Keetha-Broyles-profile

Living the Retirement Jigsaw Puzzle Dream

Keetha joined the Jigsaw Puzzle Connections Facebook Group well before she became an Admin in November 2017. She has constantly remained a dominant Puzzle poster while monitoring the Group, keeping it in a very welcoming position. Her commitment has earned her the title of 'Ambassador'. She also is living the dream of many Puzzlers! I also had the pleasure of having an interview with Keetha. Here is her story.

Q. Can you tell us a bit about yourself?

A. My hubby, Greg, and I met in college. We have been married for 46 and a half years. We have 4 married children: Keri (F), Kelly (M), Korie (F), and Kyle (M). We have 7 grandchildren and 5 grand- puppies.

Q. When & how did you become interested in puzzling?

A. I began puzzling (right out with 1,000 piece puzzles) as a child with my mom, dad, and sister. Often we puzzled on snow days from school so immediately puzzles became associated in my mind and heart with joy and celebration.

Later after I was married, I began taking jigsaws on vacation AND buying more while there.....further reinforcing the 'celebrational' Joy. During those years I often puzzled with my Aunt Kitty, which was a joy beyond measure. She is now past on and I miss her tremendously.

For the last five years of my husband's career we traveled two hours one way for his ER shifts. We stayed in a hotel for up to 20 days at a time. I hauled along jigsaws to stay entertained in the hotel. That is when I started puzzling nearly every day.

Q. What brought you to the Wisconsin area?

A. Hubby and I vacationed in the Hayward, Wisconsin area for 30+ years. I actually grew up in Hayward from kindergarten through 5th grade. We loved it here and began to dream of retiring here. When we realized we could make that happen, my first priority for a new home was that it would include a designated puzzle studio. I looked at many homes online, so when I found this house I knew it was as near perfect for us as anything I was going to find.

Keri was with me the first day I looked at it. We were standing in the basement and she pointed at the far wall and said, "Mom, would you put your puzzles there?" Before I could even answer, which WAS going to be a yes, the realtor who also happened to be the owner said, "If you give me an offer on this house, I'll have my builders throw up some shelves on that wall for your puzzles." She wrote it right in the contract, and the rest is history. My puzzle table also "came with the house." I requested it to stay because it is a perfect size for my puzzling method.

Q. How many puzzles do you have?

A. Currently I have 532 puzzles (plus a few on loan which will return, but I don't remember how many) I have done ALL of those AT LEAST once (most of them multiple times) except for 8 which are brand new.

The stack of puzzles on the end of my counter is my "to do next" stash. Some of those are brand new, some are repeats. I like to mix it up.

Q. How do you keep track of how many times you have done a puzzle?

A. Since I keep most of my puzzles and redo them, I mark the back of the box with month & year each time I do them. So this one has been completed AT LEAST 5 times, possibly more because I got it before I began marking my puzzles.

Q. What advice would you give to someone who has never puzzled before?

A. Some people say they don't have the patience to puzzle. Many times they tell me what puzzles they have tried. Nearly always they are puzzles that I would classify as difficult. (Dark, blurry, low on detail.) I have had some success turning them into puzzlers by showing the puzzle styles that will be easier and more fun.

Q. Are there any other puzzlers in your family?

A. I know that three of our four children puzzle. I was MOST surprised to hear that Kelly, our oldest son, puzzles because he likes activities that include a high level of risk. I'm not sure if our youngest puzzles because he lives in Tokyo, Japan. BUT I do know he bought 4 of his sister's Kickstarter jigsaws to support her!!!!

Q. We now know that your children enjoy puzzling but what about Greg?

A. Hubby doesn't puzzle at all.....from time to time he DOES enjoy hiding one piece of my WIP. These are pix of 2 of our kids, their spouses, and our grans puzzling together last Thanksgiving. Hubby proudly jumped into the group pic even though he didn't place even one piece.

Special thanks to Keetha for sharing her time and photos of her beautiful dream come true, retirement jigsaw puzzles.




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We have collected a massive list of jigsaw puzzles in numerous categories on our Amazon Store link. It's a quick way to browse most current puzzles and/or specific seasons, accessories and themes. Makes for a terrific one-stop jigsaw puzzle gift giving shopping centre. CLICK HERE

We have collected a massive list of jigsaw puzzles in numerous categories on our Amazon Store link. It's a quick way to browse most current puzzles and/or specific seasons, accessories and themes. Makes for a terrific one-stop jigsaw puzzle gift giving shopping centre. CLICK HERE