What can I say? That seems to be a reoccurring theme around here. Maybe I should make it a regular feature. I wish I was organized and had regular weekly themes to write on, like some of my favorite bloggers do. Helen, Shelley, and Vickie all have weekly themes that they write on. It seems so organized and grown up. Maybe when I retire I will be more grown up??? (Which, BTW people, I have nine shifts left!!!!!!!!!)
Well, here’s a bit of this ‘n’ that. Yesterday my friend and I drove down to the bay area to pick up my dad’s roll top desk. It is a beautiful LARGE desk. I live in a 650 square foot cabin. Can you say, what was I thinking? We got home and I looked in my living room and I thought, all my furniture is large. What is wrong with me? Maybe when I retire I’ll re-do my living room. (Can you see a reoccurring theme here?)
Well, at least we make good use of the giant couch here at casa debby.
I talked to some missionaries I like very much on Sunday. They work to support a Christian school in Thailand for the hill people. It started out especially for the girls who were in danger of being sold into the sex slave indurstry, but now they have little boys in their school too. This guy is a go-getter. He gets these kids into college, and then he fights to get them a job, because there is a prejudice against them over there. The wife asked me when I was going to visit, and I said, “maybe when I retire…”
A couple of nights ago I was reading my How to Retire Happy, Wild, and Free book, and they recommended Elderhostel as a way to travel economically. Evidently Elderhostel has grown up and is known as Roadscholar. And they now offer travel experiences to all ages–they call them intergenerational. It is a fascinating website. Most of their trips are billed as educational experiences. I love that they are all-inclusive (meals, travel, and accommodations.) I definitely plan to use this service when I retire.
Last night I watched my favorite internet quilt show. The featured quilter was about my age, height, and weight (just guessing by appearance.) She had some great quilts and was an animated speaker. But my favorite part was at the end when they talk about the other interests of the featured quilter, and she talked about her passion for bike riding! She talked a little about how she sometimes has trouble balancing her love for biking and her quilting. I loved that! Because I’m a little worried about how I’m gonna fit all this in when I retire… oh,and I checked her out, and how about that? She’s a fellow blogger!
Laura mentioned her favorite flip flops. Has anyone else tried these out? I think I will treat myself to a pair….when I retire.
A while ago Vickie turned me on to the Happiness Project, where you get a ‘moment of happiness’ quote of the day in your email. I have to admit, I don’t always open them up, because for goodness sake, I’m just not that stinkin’ cheerful every morning. But I almost always like the quote when I do read them. Here is this morning’s quote, by one of my favorite guys. If only we would all aspire to this.
“Finally I am coming to the conclusion that my highest ambition is to be what I already am. That I will never fulfill my obligation to surpass myself unless I first accept myself, and if I accept myself fully in the right way, I will already have surpassed myself.”
— Thomas Merton
debby weighs in 
Nine more shifts . . . that’s great. Obviously you’re giving a lot of thought to what you’ll do when you’re retired. I like the Elderhostol/RoadScholar option. They used to have art classes at a post private school just north of Newport RI every summer. I’m not the least artistic, but I was tempted. I’ll have to look them up.
Your retirement is gonna be exhausting! Hahahahaha! I am so jealous. I wish I only had 9 more shifts.
I think you should definitely travel more when you retire. What a great experience/opportunity!! Do you really think you’ll go to Thailand? That would be interesting.
I want some of those flip flops!! They look really comfy and a lot of the reviewers mentioned they had theirs for a long time, so the money is probably worth it. I’m all about the comfy footwear these days.
I am in LOVE with the bird quilt on Cheryl Lynch’s blog. I mean I really love it – the colors, the composition, everything. So pretty!!
nine more shifts? squeeeeeeee!!!!!!
I asked Laura and she said hers lasted 3 1/2 years–definitely makes them worthy!
I JUST BOUGHT A PAIR OF THOSE FLIP FLOPS LAST MONTH WHILE I WAS IN CALIFORNIA!!! Sorry, I got so excited there! Debby, BUY THEM. They are by far the most comfortable pair of not only flip flops, but SHOES, that I’ve every worn! I wore them on our epic shopping trip to Ikea, where we went twice. Walked around all day on concrete floors. No feet issues at all. Worth every penny (and I paid $60, which at the time I wondered if I had rocks in my head, but now I’m feeling pretty smug about).
So, when you retire…IN NINE SHIFTS!!! Sorry, I got excited for you! Looks like you have many opportunities and adventures awaiting you (and yes, I look at rearranging the house as an adventure!). Hope you will be taking us along for the ride. 🙂
Oh goodie–I was hoping for a positive review, and from someone with ‘foot issues’ too!
And of course you will be along for the ride. I might actually have something interesting to blog about LOL.
I have to say – living by myself – in a 650 sq ft house sounds wonderful many a day. . .
I also, often think of little house on the prairie with two pegs on the wall, one for night clothes and one for the change of clothes not being worn.
loved the furry book ends.
You’re right, Vickie. Most days I feel very blest. I am not looking for a bigger place to put more stuff. Just have to work on simplifying. And, believe it or not, I have the pegs, and that is exactly what is hanging on them most days!
Do you think the quilt show is worth the money? I’m trying to decide to join.
I sent you an email, Liz!
9 more shifts! We need to have an internet retirement party for you 😀
And theme, schmeme. Post whatever you want. Haphazard can seem organized if you look at it the right way.
Re: Thomas Merton, I have a motto, which is this: I am allowed to be myself, but I have to be my best self. Not the self who blobs around the house with no agenda and eats unstructured and unworthy snacks, but the one who waters the flowers and bakes rosemary bread and reads good books and writes letters. Seems fair to me.
NOT SUGGESTING any of of US make this to eat, looking for the recipe for my under weight extra girl. She loves the Naan bread (indian flat bread) from the store. I figure if she loves it from the package, she will eat twice as much straight out of the oven.
the ingredients on the package are – Wheat, Buttermilk, water, canola oil, roasted garlic, eggs, sugar, baking powder, sea salt, wheat gluten, dextrose, ghee, cilantro, dextrin, vinegar, vegetable fiber, yeast
I tried trick of putting the ingredients in quotes and then typing the word recipe, But only got a link back to the manufacturer.
Ideas on how to find a recipe as close to this combination of ingredients as possible?
My recurring theme for comments is ‘honestly’, as in…
Honestly, theme, schmeme…I like bits and pieces posts. It’s how we get to know you (and as writers, how we often get to know a bit more about ourselves.)
Honestly, I don’t know how I had a job and how I’ll handle it when I start working more hours. There’s so much to do and explore.
and honestly, I’ve been working (re-working) on not only accepting the frailties of being me, but celebrating them as joys, so your quote was especially timely. 🙂
I have heard that retirement is when you wake up every day with nothing to do, and by noon you’re already behind.