US President George W Bush can see his post-White House life already, and it doesn't involve lazy days soaking up the sun, dressed like a tourist, enjoying an idle spell after eight crazy years.
"I'm a Type A personality, you know," he said one week before leaving office on January 20 at noon. "I just can't envision myself, you know, the big straw hat and Hawaiian shirt sitting on some beach. Particularly since I quit drinking."
Upon joining the three other living former US presidents in an elite sort of brotherhood, Bush will head back to his adoptive home state of Texas to set up his presidential library and museum, write a book, pursue his avid mountain biking passion, and set up an institute to promote democratic reforms.
But there's no doubt that the sudden slowdown from hectic presidential schedule to civilian life will take some getting used to.
"I'm not sure what to expect. For the last eight years I've had a national security briefing every day but on Sunday. And when you get a national security briefing, it is a reminder of the responsibilities of the job," he said.
"The interesting thing about this job, by the way, is it's one thing to deal with the expected, what you anticipate; the real challenge is to be in a position to deal with the unexpected," he added at his final press conference.
{{/usCountry}}"The interesting thing about this job, by the way, is it's one thing to deal with the expected, what you anticipate; the real challenge is to be in a position to deal with the unexpected," he added at his final press conference.
{{/usCountry}}Bush took issue with criticisms about his spending all or part of nearly 500 days of his presidency on vacation on his ranch near tiny Crawford, Texas, noting: "You never escape the presidency.