What's it like to deal with normal life after eight years under the harshest scrutiny possible? Barack and Michelle Obama are figuring that out, and it apparently involves lots of golf and SoulCycle.
This week's People cover story focuses on the former president and first lady, and how they're adjusting to life outside the office. They didn't talk to the magazine, but lots of their confidantes and former staff members revealed details about how they live now.
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These days, they still have a staff of 20 people and an office in the West End of Washington, D.C. Both the Obamas are writing books, and they're also planning the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago's South Side. Politically, President Obama is expected to help support Democrats during the midterm elections in 2018.
President Obama still can't drive because of security concerns, and that was something he was looking forward to doing outside of office. But he's still happy with a smaller security force. "If he wants to go out to dinner on a Saturday, that doesn't take teams of people and hours of advance," said chief of staff Anita Breckenridge. "You know? That's really freeing."
As for the cool leather jacket President Obama wore in March, to the delight of the Internet? He apparently had it all this time, but felt it wasn't presidential to wear it while he was in office:
Michelle is enjoying going to SoulCycle, and naturally, brings a healthy packed lunch with her every day to the office. Her husband still doesn't quite know how to use the coffeemaker. But one thing remains the same: he's still close to Vice President Biden, and the two play golf every now and then. Thank goodness.
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Megan Friedman is the former managing editor of the Newsroom at Hearst. She's worked at NBC and Time, and is a graduate of Northwestern's Medill School of Journalism.
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