Why can’t I just relax?

 Stress it seems, hits different people different ways.  Personally I have a hard time admitting I am stressed so perhaps denial is my initial response.

In the crazy days of the 70’s and 80’s I also added numbing myself with booze and drugs.  Mostly pot, which was a fun distraction.  Ok there was the Shroom phase…but I didn't enjoy them as much as some of my buddies.  

So I stuck to what worked, and as Pink Floyd put it, I had become comfortably numb.  My life however, continued to roll along.  I had jobs, made money, bought houses and cars.  Ok the “cars” tended to be used Pintos and Datsun 510’s.  Of questionable reliability.  And the houses were, in a word, ‘modest’.  Lol. But life was good, I had careers, I moved forward, and became moderately successful.  

Todays stress however is way different.  In fact, dear reader, I am now Retired.  Indeed I have hung up my EcDev designation, and am a haus frau.  Uhuh.  Complete with apron and slippers.  Roflmao 😂 if only! 

Seems my idea of retirement included coffee with the girls, day drinking wine in the sunshine, and leisurely walks.  Instead it meant my husband going for a checkup, and the Dr saying Mr Mac, jokes over. You're 71…time to leave the stress of HR and 6 bosses in 8 months…and retire.  Uhuh.  can you see my relaxed afternoons of listening to the waves and hours of painting pretty pictures fizzle away? 

Well as fate would have it, we are now both on EI.   Luckily we have modest pensions, and agree its time to sell the motorcycles and embrace a slower, more senior lifestyle.  This doesn't mean no more beer and wings with the gang on Fridays…it just means calling it a night at 9 instead of cut off or later!

Happily I continue to train for sleeping in, but am failing at the afternoon nap strategy.  However, I am no quitter and hope to sneak a nap in tomorrow.  Before my chiropractor appointment.  LOL.

I’m thankful we can take little trips around the area, maybe a picnic on the shore…who knows?  Today is 3C with wind…not very nice.  My daffodils bravely are preparing to bloom.  And we are both finding healthier ways to deal with our respective stress.  Even the cat has noticed, becoming more relaxed every day.  

I know once we get through this transitional phase of staying home vs going in to work everyday, we will love it.  Already I am happy not to pack lunches in the morning.  Our friends here are mostly retired, so our schedules match!  Lol it’s opened a whole new world, and I think we’re going to be fine. 

Careful what you wish for…2 old farts and an Ikea Bed.

 When we last blogged…. Oh yes, I was feeling optimistic about my life, retiring, etc etc., hoping Mac would set a date.  Apparently prayers are answered, just not the way we want them to be. 

On Jan 31 I thought I was being sneaky getting hubby to come to Drs office with me, when I was getting my “sick note” for my week off. Lured him in hoping for a cure for his arthritis.   Lol Jokes on me, I got a letter for indefinite time off for health reasons (Doc was nice, didn’t say I was mental…lol) Cool!  

The three of us chatted further, and long story short he told Mac his opinion was Mac needs to retire sooner than later.  Husband has had 6 new CAO’s in 8 months…the stress impacts his arthritis….so now…he’s also retired.  He got a sick note too .

Cue the theme from Love Story…ooooh my.  The dream of months of painting, lounging, binge watching, blogging and walks to the coffee shop on my own schedule are now a bit curtailed as we adjust to full time Stay At Home Old Farts.   😼👵🏻🧔🏼‍♂️

As many of you know, when I get stressed, I tend to act on impulse.  As in act first, think later.  In my defence we had talked about moving out bedroom from the street side of our two story townhouse, to the ocean side of the 2nd floor.  It would be quieter, albeit smaller.  No problem…we sold the bed that was in there the next day.  No to move the night stands and the bed.  How hard can that be?  I moved the nightstands…easy peasy lemon squeezy.  Bedding off…check.  Mattress moved…yup not too tough,  taking the old Ikea bed apart…hey it was bought 20+ years ago so its made of real wood.  No “beaver puke” particle board, no sir. Off with the slats, off with the centre board and the flimsy x thingy.  

Now if you'd met my late father Big Al you could see a family resemblance in the “I have a better way”line of thought.  I concluded if I could put the frame on its side, I could slide it with some weaseling, through the door, then into the other room.  Sounds good right?  

*insert big sigh here.  As fate would have it, that was flawed logic.  Not only would the frame Not Fit through the door frame, it was stuck.  I mean not able to twist, shift, lean or budge in any direction jammed.  Thankfully I was Not stuck in the bedroom!  Lol 

Time for the hex key to take off the headboard and rails.  No hex key set to be found.  Off to the hardware store.  “English or metric?” The nice fella asks?  Dunno. Sell me both.  

Off with headboard, off with the footboard….yay!  Reassembled the frame, feeling confident, I mean this is a good old sturdy bed which we’ve had for over 20 years so its been moved many many times.  And now the stupid thin metal x thing that hold the sides from popping apart enough to derail those slats.  got it! Now just to pop that mattress back on….uhuh.  Being a stubborn Menno I figured strong like bull (smart like tractor) me could simply wrestle it on.  Ok after too much grunting, swearing, moaning, straining, I Have a Better Way got the mattress one corner under the frame, the other upright wedged against the wall…Dammit!  This time I was stuck in the bedroom.  I mean stuck.  With a giant heave ho I managed to get a shoulder under the offending mattress and pushed my way out.  Perhaps I need help?  

Enter our fit and wonderful young neighbor!  With minimal weaseling we got that damn mattress onto the bed.  Kahloo Khalay…bed is made, super comfy sleeps lie ahead.  Or so I thought.

Tune in for another episode of “the bed hates me”…..

Ciao for now 😵‍💫😽