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 😵‍💫😽

Holy sheep shit…Friday the 13th! Bwahahahahaha. Cough cough

 And as I mentioned previously, things were getting weird in 2023.  Here we were, minding our business, ignoring the rain and wind and fog…my office becoming a little more toxic every day.

So on the 13th my boss calls me in at 1 p.m. and hands me a “we’re cutting your contract short, your last day of work is the 10th.  You get a 4 week without cause working notice”?  Translation:  you get to come in, can’t  start anything new but oh just hang around for 4 weeks then get lost.  WTF?  

Was I surprised?  Not really, its a new year, new budget, new Mayor and they wanna cut costs.  Lolol oooh and no development.  Nothing new, keep it status quo..no body moves, no body loses money.  A big BIG step backwards.  “Oh and don’t tell your coworkers” …give me a break!  Lol I’ve been a manager many times, I’m married to an HR professional, this is Not Kosher!  So, I packed up my personal stuff, and left. Monday I crafted a nice email and updating all the people I’ve been working with .. that got interesting reactions.  Lol and then Wednesday I announced the Town’s decision to end my contract 10 months early to the local Rotary club.  Bazinga!  😂

And this past Monday I figured I was staying home, sick,  this week, and ya know what?  I’m ok.  I am actually happy to be able to make a plan, and know my health - mental health - is most important.  

If this hasn’t happened to you, let me elaborate.  The brain revs up…the money mind pipes up: ok, no more Hello Fresh, the cleaning lady will likely have to go after Feb., and what the heck we’ve been talking about selling our bikes any ways.  😎 savings: almost $2,000 a month. 

We both have pensions, and since I was a member of the group health plan  - we will sign up for a personal plan which they can’t deny us.  😷 Mac has his HR Manager job which, albeit is stupid stressful, is as secure as anything can be these days.  I am encouraging him to pick a retirement date…once those bikes are sold and gone.  

On the north island there are lots of opportunities for contract work and so if we want to stay in the game, on a slower pace, we can.  Yeah we’re old, but we have boatloads of skills…we can travel, we have contacts out here…we’ll be good. 🤓

When hubby and I talk about retirement we ask: can we retire here?  For now, the answer is yes.  We’ve got a nice little place to live, we don’t  have to mow grass or shovel snow, the community has whatever we need (except for decent Chinese food) and we have started reconnecting as well as making new friends.  And good Chinese food (and Indian food) is just a day trip away!

Yup, I wanted to retire, but couldn’t commit.  Now I don’t have to make the decision, and I am applying for “something to keep me out of trouble” this weekend.  

What a life!  I am a lucky woman, we’re a lucky couple!  

Happy Robbie Burns day y’allq…Slainte 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

2023. Who would have guessed eh

 I will chalk up 2022 as one of the weirdest years so far.  Hell I'm 67 now, working and on north Vancouver Island, surrounded with the woke and the left.  Good lord I was hoping to be in my second year of retirement, painting, having coffee and watching boats and birds.  Maybe a nice walk in the morning, reading off the patio in the p.m.  oh yes and eating more leafy greens, perhaps forage some wild mushrooms?  Oh yes, its good to dream.

Reality: hubby and I both still in harness, working 5 days a week.  We are definitely comfortable in our wee town, tho it seems to be stuck in a time warp, like so many small island towns.  Times they are a changing and so must we.

Example number one:  the government in their wisdom, has legalized pot.  So now I hold my tongue when people talk about going home and smoking a joint, “yeah I got stoned last night” conversations in the workplace.  Lol Sheesh I'm no prude but I sure feel old..thanks to years of “those” conversations being reserved for somewhere private.  Or in the bar!  Not any more, and im often regaled with a cloud of skunk weed smoke when I walk from my car to the apartment.  Yup.  So much for being an outlaw, I’m feekin’ old.

Example number two:  everyone else is getting old, and worse they’re dying!  OK exception to this rule is Keith Richards.  Who apparently is rockin on forever.  Kind of depressing at times, but tis the way of the world.

And finally number three - although I’m sure I could go beyond: my country is in the crapper.  Through shite leadership, and printing of money like we’re in a monopoly game and China is the banker, seems we are sliding thru a recession into the arms if a depression.  Groceries, gas, cost of living shooting skyward, and no relief in sight.  Makes me glum. 

Having survived the Covid, and watching people struggling with depression and panicking, loss of health care, etc etc its not a surprise the Feds answer is “but we’ve made it so much easier for people to end their lives.”  Jesus wept!  Is this what I have to look forward to in 2023?  

Actually, no.  We have a roof over our heads and it may be wee, but its comfy and warm.  We have a kooky fat cat who is endlessly entertaining and not demanding.  We have friends - old and new - who lift us up as we lift them up!  And as I often say “no body’s shooting at us.” 

So I’m not giving up on the year to come.  My husband said this morning “its going to be a great year, just watch”, and that heartens me.  To all our friends out there, aging along woth us - 😜 Happy New Year!  We made it this far, onwards!

Yup 

Welcome Fall...or Winter?? Or Monsoon season?? I"m confused.....

 And that was it for summer.  Yup, it was I think one or two days - I obviously missed it and that may be due to the fact our lives here are NOT leisurely!!

It's a good life tho - I have a job, I get paid every two weeks, and my hubby and I are happy, and relatively healthy for a couple of old farts.

So dear reader, I'm sure you are dying to hear about our time since July.  Yes, we did go on a vacation for a week to Port Townsend WA.  Which was fun.  And filled with cousins, seafood and fog.  But I digress.

Our trips "down Island" to Campbell River are few and far between. BUT when we do head south, we make the 2 hour drive through rugged and beautiful landscape - trees, rocks, more trees, magnificent vistas between the trees, and end up at the Ideal Cafe.  Now at first glance it's pretty old, kind of ...not dingy but has weathered a few years.  And when inside - it's like you stepped back in time!  The waitress yells a welcome, grab a table, hustles over with a menu and the coffee - and it's just bliss.  Yup.  No big electronic signs, no order on line - it's all in person.  Ok so the wait staff use iPads to take the order, but other than that its good strong cafe coffee, a wonderful menu obviously aimed at working men (read loggers) and the food is devine!  Best Eggs Benny ever and their stuffed Hashbrowns are amazing.  So when we stopped in the other day, as usual the place was buzzing, and at the counter (and they do have a counter with stools) sat something I haven't seen in years.  If you are a biker - you'll know exactly what I mean: a Scooter Tramp.  Thats the only way I can describe him - likely my age or older, beard bent where he'd had it in an elastic band, worn jeans, old tshirt and the look of many many miles around his eyes.  Yup.  I smiled, he nodded...Hubby came in - he got the nod.  No words spoken - but it was acknowledgement.  So cool.  Got my coffee, turned to see if he was eating, but he was gone.   

August and September came and went - both of us working, both coming home tired of talking, enjoying quietly sitting and having a few minutes to chill before I tackle supper.  Occassionally I hit the markets on Saturday  where lovely locals ply such treasures as home made perogies (buy lots - they freeze well) or butter tarts from heaven - which also freeze well.  We have been trying to be social - Fridays mean beer with the gang from work, which is fun!  And Mac has been found out by a local ham radio operator - so they are now conspiring.  I don't even ask.  His wife is lovely - so I predict more coffee time with those two. 

Now that I am old I wear glasses - prescription Progressives - yup, and they work and so far I have not had trouble getting around while wearing them.  The cat has been gonig outside to the front yard, when supervised, which makes her REALLY want out - a bit of a pain at times.  My computer at work died - the hard drive was GONE one morning - so that was a small hurdle now overcome with a loaner.  Yup - the year is whirring past us.  

Just to let you know how fast the year has gone - this weekend we are going to start making some candy to give away at....no, I can't say it until after November 11.  THEN we go mental in the townhouse, our wee abode will be all decked out. 

The year's gone by fast.  AND I finally paid my income tax just this week!!! Just in time to prep for next year....why am I laughing?? OMG here we go again.

Sunday we change back to...who knows what it's called, we just jump forward one hour.  Good - go to bed an hour later, get up an hour later.  Works for me.  And yesterday was glorious here - one day of brilliant sun and blue skys inserted into a really rainy few weeks.  Raining out now.  Oh well, it is good for the forest.  

Keep safe, to my US buddies, have a great Thanksgiving - sorry you had to wait an extra month.  

The sweet scent of summer

 Over they years its been a typical August long weekend or Family Day.  In Canada every month theres a Long weekend.  Victoria Day, Thanksgiving, and in August…well you get the picture.  Tradition says its spend on a motorcycle. 

 For 19 years it was a trip to South Dakota with the annual migration of bikers to Sturgis.  Every bike imaginable, great folks to share stories, drink a beer or 6, and look at what was ridden in.  The smell of 50wt oil, suntan lotion, sweat, leather and an underlying “eau de dead grasshopper”…all underscored by the roar of motorcycles.  It was another time.  

But now, in our senior years, its more like enjoying a sleep in, a trip out for breakfast, a morning visit to the farmers market and then home…feet up.  Our entertainment for the morning is a parade of yachts and small craft heading in and out, the sight of a hummingbird hovering at the nasturtium’s, and the lapping of waves on shore.  It is a different world.

Yes we have our bikes. Its calm and warm, but today..I’m plum lazy.  I am avoiding getting all the gear on, and going for a spin.  Macs bike is under the weather, his starter “shitting the bed” so to speak so it is going to the shop next week.  And today I don’t fancy riding alone.

I just read an article in Psychology Today that claimed “doing nothing is good for a persons mental health.”  I can support that theory.  Batteries need to be recharged occasionally and thats what I’m choosing to do! OK the coffee and chocolate while I sit here in the shade with feet up is like my “tender” making sure I hit Fully Charged.  My upcoming nap only makes me feel happier. 😎

  

1955 was a good year. Really.

 Yup, today I turn 67.  Good god.  And its the first time I’ve let age bring me down!  Ok its been cumulative, read on and lets see if I cheer up.

We are on the island, which is beautiful.  If you ignore the fact thats it has rained and fogged pretty much every damn day since we arrived.  Yup.  But no snow, which is a plus.  But seriously I could use some sunshine!

John is working too now.  A challenging job, but hey thats HR for you.  My job is coming along, hard to explain EcDev to folks who have no idea why you can’t  just make things happen, 9 to 5 Just Like That?  My fav is being asked at meetings “what shovel ready projects  have I got on the go?”  Um, yeah thats not how it works.  But I digress.

Since we got here we’ve had company almost every month, which is cool.  And we took a small vacation, to See/meet some of Johns cousins.  Which was nice.  But it was NOT the 10 day motorcycle trip we had planned.  Yes, we got 2 used Harleys, which are great.  But hubby didnt get enuff time off and two days before we were scheduled to leave, his starter “shit the bed” so now its How to get the bike to Victoria…6 hours hrs down island.  So we need to get our dealer to come get it! 

And so to celebrate being 2 yrs older than retirement, I bought my own birthday cake, invited a few friends for drinks and nibbles, and pouting that we couldn't be in Alberta with our buddies today, and getting ready to have a good day anyways.  Life is too short, or too long as it were, to be feeling sorry for myself.

When in Port Townsend last week, their 4th of July fireworks were amazing.  All around the bay gorgeous fireworks going off for hours.  John said how lucky we are not to be living where there are rockets and artillery going off, that it was a celebration not a bombardment.  

He’s right.  I am sitting here with my cat, in bed, listening to the fog horns, robins, etc, warm and safe.  I have food in the fridge ready to set out, cold beer and paper plates.  Lol what more can a girl ask for?  Ok maybe a few hot sunny days so I can ride before going back to work?  

Happy birthday to me. 😎🍰🍺