Back from Paradise

We returned from Florida last night to small snowfall but drive-able road conditions.  Had a great time in Punta Gorda FL for the week with good and generous friends.  We stayed in a gated senior community for the week.  To say the surroundings were pristine would an understatement.  The palm trees were swinging in the breezes and the golf carts were rolling by.  There was a lovely pool and hot tub mere steps from our dwelling.  I did learn a new word, "lanai", which is a covered porch or pool area.  In pedestrian Michigan we would call it screened in porch, [much less sexy].  I thought it was a skin condition or a tropical drink.   Our rented dwelling was a third floor condo with this lanai porch at either end of the floor.  There was a pleasant breeze blowing through the place all the time.  Temps were in the mid 70's to 80 all week with mostly sunny conditions.  

Eating out for all the dinners, except one, I added about 5 lbs to my middle,  even with walking a good distance with the dog.  I ate with complete abandon at every meal like my father in law used to say "like he was going to the electric chair".
Now bearing in mind that this is a setting for people over 55 years old,  it is all and only people of this age and older in the environment.  Everyone is smiling and cheery, but there are no young faces to see and it is too quiet for me.  This indeed is a lovely place for a vacation, but living in this type of place is not for me at least at this point in my life.

We dined in a number of nice places, all casual and not to steep in price.  One stands out in particular.  It is called "The Blue Dog".  This is a seafood place with all local fish and it looks like members of Jimmy Buffet's band would eat there.  It was loud and lively.  The staff couldn't have been more welcoming.  And typically, I ate my brains out on every thing and always left with smile.  Also had ice cream (a no no for me) at a local stand "the working cow" that was a hit. 

However, we did have one somewhat disquieting incident.  My friend and I took our morning walk, maybe two + miles with the dog Buddy, a friendly spaniel kind of dog with an easy disposition.  Anyway we are ending our walk and my friend always is prepared with bags for the doggy droppings which he collects promptly.  We found a dumpster in a different condo complex, which was used as a depository before.  We placed the bag in the receptacle, when we were assailed by an elderly resident of the complex,  accosting us that this dumpster was for residents only and that they paid for it. She stated this twice walking her snippy little white dog angrily tugging on the leash.  My friend just said yes, when she pointed out the error in his ways.  I am sure this will be a hot topic for discussion for next board meeting and and least a days worth of pronouncements to her friends and colleagues.
all for now    

vacationing in Florida

Good friends of ours have invited us to stay with them at their spot on the west coast of Florida.  It is beautiful and we are escaping the Michigan winter at least for a time.  Went for a little shopping and are now planning dinner.  This environment is almost too pristine for me.  There not a leave to be found on the ground and the branches that blow down immediately are picked up by a wandering band of workers. Very few cars are about aside from the frequent passage of golf carts.  We saw a local alligator and her babies in a nearby waterway keeping our distance.  This creature makes be nervous.

Also saw manatee's poking their snouts out of the water in the harbor area.  They are great huge sea creatures that harmlessly frequent the warmer waters in this vicinity.  There are palm trees of every variety where we are as of today all blowing in the breeze.  The weather back home is not as bad as many Januaries, here it is at least 30 degrees warmer.
all for now

stunned at the outcome

Like many others, I am stunned by the election of our new president.  Today there are scheduled protest marches staged largely by disaffected women in America.  I hope it goes well and no one gets stupid and causes problems.  By and large these are women of substance, many bringing their children, I believe all will go okay,

As I look at the newspaper this morning I notice all the old white men and women applauding the inauguration of this man.  I look a the photos and see old guys that look like me.  I entirely disagree with them on matters of politics and our now former president.  Cannot figure out why I am so different.  Raised in a lower middle class environment, never went hungry, always had clothes on my back and a nice roof over my head.  And yet I detest most of the words out of this mans mouth.  They love him.

Soon we will be bound for warmer climates.  Looking forward to the break.
all for now

New grandson and inauguration day

Yesterday we spent our time caring for out new grandson Paxton.  He is truly a wonder and brightens my day.  We are looking forward to soon traveling to warmer climates in Florida, escaping the Michigan winters for a moment.  And.....today we will have a new president.  I and surely others are amazed that this guy was elected to the highest office in the land.  By his own professions, he will undo all the executive orders from the previous administration and remove all he sees as unfit.

I fear for our country and its future, my grandchildren and my children.  The fox is now in or rather owns the hen house.  We will see what happens.

Retirement has been droning on, something in my day to day events needs to be more inspiring.  I have always liked to put my thoughts to paper and plan to do more of that.  Aging in itself has made changes in my mind and body that I am becoming more comfortable with.  I'm not nearly as strong physically as in my youth.  My vision is faltering, glasses are now nearly always required.  My drivers license renewal is coming up and I hope I can pass my eye test.  I am presenting with the old age problem that recent memories don't last but I have vivid reminders of when I was a youngster.
My mother in law stayed with us for long periods in her waning years and she did that talking of things that occurred 80 years ago and now this is happening to me.

And frankly I bore myself with thinking about my health and how I am feeling from day to day.  In someways, I miss my youth with its spontaneity and "everthing's going to be all right attitude".
Oh well, enough complaints, on with the day.
all for now 

rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic

As we approach the upcoming inauguration of the new president,  the country has never been in a greater turmoil about our future.  I know this blog is supposed to be about retirement and its foibles but I find it necessary to speak about this topic.  The repeal of the ACA will happen swiftly I believe and many people with be without insurance coverage.  This cannot be good for America.  I fear the emergency rooms will be over crowded with people unable to pay and the rest of us will foot the bill.
Further it troubles me further that this man will be the representative for our country on the world stage. All of his statements seem to be off the cuff and based on his opinions without reference to the facts at hand. He seems to be sleeping with the Russian oligarch and it appears that the election was engineered to be in his favor by outside source, and treason could be afoot. There is scheduled to be a large gathering of women and some men to stand in protest of this new leader on the day following the inauguration.  In my lifetime, no such event has occurred.  Probably the biggest thing about this whole scenario is that friends I thought I knew who are supporters of this man and his precepts, I now wonder about their moral judgement.  Never have I thought negatively about someone I know because of their political leanings.  With this guy, it is difficult to excuse.

On to retirement.  We are going to be watching our newest grandson more and I have reduced my hours to a single day a week.  Weather is typically dreary in the Detroit area.  I will be glad when spring arrives.  Now I am pretty well adjusted to this life, being barely employed, engaged in other pursuits.  I miss my mom in fleeting moments and recall her time with me and my family fondly.
all for now