August 2019 (almost on time!)

August catch-up

August was another busy travel month.  Len and I hauled the 1938 Buick out to the car show in Sechelt and took some extra time to visit with all the family out there.  We stayed in a room we outfitted in my parents rental home in Sechelt.  

Other than the tail pipe coming off half-way home, it was an uneventful trip and good to see everyone.

And yes, a couple of weeks later I did another work week in Vancouver.  I know, I know!

Other than that, I mostly did all the regular things and tried to keep  my garden going and also have some fun.  It was a bit hard as the weather STILL was marginal at best, and often cooler than usual.

I enjoyed the times we did simple things like going for a bike ride and visiting friends at Sheridan Lake,  We did a spontaneous thing and took a full day off of EVERYTHING and drove up to Barkerville for the day.  It was fun - we took a town tour, saw a musical review and ate ice cream.  The drive was lovely and the company comfortable.

What I learned in August is that "time marches on".  Staying with my parents, both in their 90s brings certain things to the front of mind.  Yes, there will be a time when I will likely hobble, not walk, when I won't hear or see clearly, a time when the world will get smaller, narrower and harder to navigate.  My Mom is a good example of having spirit and the will to remain involved and to do as much as she can until she can't.  Fighting up-stream, I call it.  Dad had a stroke a few years ago, and added to his very different outlook for life, this means his life is so very narrow and limited.   At this point in life, pleasure and joy comes in small ways.  Watching the birds coming to the feeder, enjoying a glass of cider, having family around, eating together and even watching tennis together - these are joys - these are pleasures.

Knowing we are all on some version of the same pathway means that I don't want to waste a lot of time while I can still drive, see, hear and move around.  I want to be able to look back with pleasure at the memories of things I was able to learn and do with no sense of "I should have done more".  I expect I will still have that feeling, but I am going to do my best to live as fully as I can for as long as I can.  That means being more mindful of the choices I am making, saying YES more often, and not letting fear hold me back.  And being more spontaneous!  And taking advantage of every opportunity to experience the big and small joys of life.

July 2019 (not quite as late)

July catch- up

Between June 24 and July 30th we got 4 3/4 inches of rain.  That is a lot of rain, especially for us, especially in July.  That is all I am going to say about how non-summer-like July was.  

Because of the weather, I ended up working quite a bit in July as it wasn't sit outside at the lake kind of a month.  ( I know I promised not to whine, but can you blame me?)

We had one marginal day in there when our band played at the local car show.  Len ALMOST got the Buick ready and down there.  Next year!  Anyway, our gig went well as we were dressed to avoid the mosquitos and rain.

I did one very fun thing in July.  I drove down to Forest Grove, just outside of Portland for a whole week of viol playing at the Viola da Gamba Society of America's annual Conclave.  There were over 200 people there - all early music geeks.  Who knew?  Apparently it is a thing.  Anyway, I was what they call a "custos" which they thought sounded better than gopher.  I organized the packets and ran registration and then just helped out here and there.  It was a great way to meet people, especially people you want to meet (like the management and organizers).  I learned quite a bit too and offered up a few suggestions of how to make it better for beginners like me.  The weather in Oregon was perfect - no bugs of any kind, blue skies, warm temperatures!  I really enjoyed it.

People have asked me why I went by myself, and didn't that make me nervous.  You know, I would have loved to have shared the experience with another person, but I would rather go on my own than not at all.  I want to take advantage of the opportunities to GROW and I don't mean just grow older either.  I am the kind of person who doesn't mind putting myself forward, saying hi, visiting with strangers and taking the first step.  I also appreciated that when I wanted to be on my own, I could be.

Of all the things I planned to do when I retired, this is actually one of three things I consider to be new accomplishments: 1. Hospice work 2. Tai Chi 3. Viol conclave.

It was a great way to wind up a dreary month with some sunshine and music!

June 2019 (very, very late in posting)

Apparently I am too busy with my "new" life to blog.  That may well be.  Where were we.....  way back in May, I believe.  Seems like a lifetime ago.

First I must say that I suck at staying retired.  I have been working at least 1/2 time since I left full-time work.  This is a conflict for me.  I like doing things on my own terms (yes!) but I also like the challenge that some of the work offers.  So most Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays I do at least a bit of work, sometimes a whole day's worth.

May/June 2019 catch-up

There was a lot of gardening in there.  You would have laughed out loud to see me in my anti-mosquito outfit.  First a ball cap, covered by a net hat.  Heavy sweatshirt, leather gloves, heavy canvas pants tucked into rubber boots.  Not going to get bit by those suckers!

There was quite a bit of Hospice work.  I even did a presentation on cultural safety at a meeting. (the Real speaker couldn't make it!).  I visited in the hospital every Thursday afternoon.

There were band practices every Sunday evening and choir every Wednesday until the concert early June.The band played a few gigs around town which was fun.

I practiced viol and cello in there somewhere and got together with my good fiddling friend, Marilyn every week we could manage.

There was Tai Chi a couple of times a week as well.

We had a really nice house/not a house concert with Gary Fjellgaard.  So many people wanted to come that we moved it to the 100 Mile United Church and we had a full "house" with about 90 people.

June started out warm and the mosquitos were horrible!  We put up two net tents - one for the table and one for the hot tub.  We couldn't have gone outside without them.  Then as quickly as it turned warm, it got cool and started to rain.

Melissa and Cathryn came by on the way to the coast and back.  Short and sweet visits.  Cathryn was staying out at Ruby Lake for a while.

Mid June I went to Vancouver to work for a week while my replacement was away on a vacation.  Because I was in Vancouver, I was able to go to the Graduation of Gretchen MacNaughton, daughter of my boss and friend, April.  She was loaded down with all the awards and scholarships she won!

That same week Dad turned 90 and I made my way up for the celebration and caught up with all the family in Sechelt before heading home.

The last week of June it really started to rain.  And once it started, it didn't know how to quit.  It was dull and depressing.

So what does all the activity of May and June 2019 tell me and you about retirement?  I don't think I qualify to comment.  But when I look back over the changes, it is not the number of activities (Tai Chi and Hospice are the only really new things) but the attitude.  Things feel a bit more on my terms.  And even though I still worked quite a bit, I didn't feel the full weight of responsibility and I certainly didn't feel any need to get involved in the politics.  So busy, yes, but with a difference.