Retirement: Week One Coffee Share

Good Morning, Everyone. Pull up a chair and pour yourself a cup of coffee, tea, or hot chocolate. It is that kind of Sunday.

If we were having coffee together, I would report that my first week as a retired person flew by. There was a long list of chores and appointments. Since the weather was gorgeous, we sailed the Bella Vela a few times. October proved to be the best sailing month this season. The little catboat will be pulled from the water early next week. Yesterday we got the sails off the gaff and boom, wrapped halyards and lazy jacks, and stepped the mast down. Our sisters came to help, so it was quick work. The small sailboats are tucked in the side yard. Bella Vela will be trailered next to them, empty of all paraphernalia, and covered for the winter. This year we have only four boats hibernating in the side yard and a friend’s trailer. This time of year is a bit melancholy.

  I also organized closets and put away summer clothes to make room for winter wear. There is a pile of school clothes to sort through. I also had to find accessible space for my teaching materials. I’m not sure if or when I may need them. 

If we were having coffee together, I would say that I did get to the gym a few times to swim and work on aquatic fitness exercises. The pool is kind to my joints and back while I push stamina limits. My neck has been stiff and cannot pull to the side for breath without twinges of pain. Being a problem solver, a modification came to mind. I now wear the goggles and tuck a small snorkel into the headbands. This way, I do not have to lift my head and can swim laps without stopping. It may look ridiculous but it gets the job done. 

If we were having coffee together, I would admit that there was not much time for writing this week. I finished all but one requested article as a guest blogger for the Women on Writing Blog Tour. Almost everyday a book review, interview, and/or an essay is posted. It has been a valuable exercise, but I will be glad when it is done so I can get back to my writing projects.  I must think seriously of establishing a routine. Perhaps writing deadlines could work. Prioritizing what I want to do over what has to get done is the Big Challenge.

 

That’s it, folks. Thank you for reading.

As always, BIG THANK YOUs go out to, Eclectic Alli for managing Weekend Coffee Share.

Have a good week, Everyone. Make it great!

 

Antoinette Truglio Martin is the author of Hug Everyone You Know: A Year of Community, Courage, and Cancer. The memoir is a wimpy patient’s journey through her first year of breast cancer treatment.

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