One thing I was positive I would have time to do in retirement was to keep up with my blog and reading all of my fellow blogger entries. Wrong.
I find myself furtively looking through my blogroll each night around midnight trying to catch up on the latest posts. For those of you who have not received email responses from me lately, I also apologize. They will eventually arrive.
So. What have I been doing?
Monday morning I was up literally at the crack of dawn to drive my truck to the local Ford dealer to get some major work done before I hit the road. I have oil leaking from three different points on the engine -- and my accelerator has a tendency to get stuck. I was not willing to risk either one becoming a larger problem on the drive south.
I got a call in the afternoon adding coolant problems and a loose windshield to the list. Based on an earlier estimate, I expect that I will be leaving $3K on the table before I drive it away this afternoon. I suspect I could have spent two days in the Salem Hospital and have owed just about the same amount of money.
I turned down the offer of a free van ride to my house. Instead, I walked the 3 or so miles. On a beautiful, clear morning, I enjoyed the exercise.
I did a bit of weeding, and then set out to resolve some financial issues. Brenda suggested I should get extra ATM cards -- just in case one wore out. I thought it a brilliant idea.
Wells Fargo did not share our enthusiasm. One card per account said they. Asked I: What happens when it wears out? Said they: Order a new one that will go to your Oregon address only. Security. Liability. Blah blah blah. ARGHH!
And then I had the brilliant idea to ask my credit union if we could set up emergency access to my account. Certainly. If I would merely stop by the credit union in person when I needed a week's authorization. I asked if they would waive riding the usually-required elephant, but she seemed to miss my point.
I then walked to three department stores to buy shoes. Not one of them had anything in my size. So. No high quality walking shoes for me.
It may just be me, but I am convinced someone has enrolled me in Mexico Survival Tips 101.
But I had a success today. My purchase of MagicJack for telephone calls from Mexico. And I would have forgotten that if my brother had not reminded me. It should be arriving in the mail within the next few days -- he said with hope rising in his breast.
I also shoe horned in two long walks with Jiggs. He loves getting out in the warm weather, but he seems to tire quickly in this new-found heat.
This was the day I was going to start on organizing closets. At least, I managed to fit in about 6 or 7 miles of walking. I have not weighed myself recently. I think I will wait on that until the move is complete.
For those of you who thought I could not enjoy the non-business aspect of retirement, I am doing fine. Of course, I really do still have a job. This business of getting out of town is as much of a job as the one I just abandoned.
I will eventually catch up with all of these tasks -- and with all of your posts. I am hanging in there until the better end.
I find myself furtively looking through my blogroll each night around midnight trying to catch up on the latest posts. For those of you who have not received email responses from me lately, I also apologize. They will eventually arrive.
So. What have I been doing?
Monday morning I was up literally at the crack of dawn to drive my truck to the local Ford dealer to get some major work done before I hit the road. I have oil leaking from three different points on the engine -- and my accelerator has a tendency to get stuck. I was not willing to risk either one becoming a larger problem on the drive south.
I got a call in the afternoon adding coolant problems and a loose windshield to the list. Based on an earlier estimate, I expect that I will be leaving $3K on the table before I drive it away this afternoon. I suspect I could have spent two days in the Salem Hospital and have owed just about the same amount of money.
I turned down the offer of a free van ride to my house. Instead, I walked the 3 or so miles. On a beautiful, clear morning, I enjoyed the exercise.
I did a bit of weeding, and then set out to resolve some financial issues. Brenda suggested I should get extra ATM cards -- just in case one wore out. I thought it a brilliant idea.
Wells Fargo did not share our enthusiasm. One card per account said they. Asked I: What happens when it wears out? Said they: Order a new one that will go to your Oregon address only. Security. Liability. Blah blah blah. ARGHH!
And then I had the brilliant idea to ask my credit union if we could set up emergency access to my account. Certainly. If I would merely stop by the credit union in person when I needed a week's authorization. I asked if they would waive riding the usually-required elephant, but she seemed to miss my point.
I then walked to three department stores to buy shoes. Not one of them had anything in my size. So. No high quality walking shoes for me.
It may just be me, but I am convinced someone has enrolled me in Mexico Survival Tips 101.
But I had a success today. My purchase of MagicJack for telephone calls from Mexico. And I would have forgotten that if my brother had not reminded me. It should be arriving in the mail within the next few days -- he said with hope rising in his breast.
I also shoe horned in two long walks with Jiggs. He loves getting out in the warm weather, but he seems to tire quickly in this new-found heat.
This was the day I was going to start on organizing closets. At least, I managed to fit in about 6 or 7 miles of walking. I have not weighed myself recently. I think I will wait on that until the move is complete.
For those of you who thought I could not enjoy the non-business aspect of retirement, I am doing fine. Of course, I really do still have a job. This business of getting out of town is as much of a job as the one I just abandoned.
I will eventually catch up with all of these tasks -- and with all of your posts. I am hanging in there until the better end.
