Monday Moods: A Year Well Lived

Little Bob, so called because he is about half the size of Bob, really enjoyed his time in France last spring.  He is a long time Francophile.  

I so agree with him. Scrolling back through the photos from this past year, it was a great year filled with grand adventures and quiet moments to remember and savor.  

I travel with a tiny penguin in my pocket or bag (Travel Penguin is less than 2 inches tall.) When we go to France Little Bob always goes along. Silly for two grown men, but we can be a silly if we want to.  We don't stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing.  

Having fun along the way, is living well.  

I have had a wonderful year of painting bad pictures.  Taking thousands of photos - with digital the marginal cost is next to nothing - we take many-many more photos in digital than we ever did with film.  

I have had fun in the kitchen.  I love to cook (and it shows!) With more control over my time, I have had more time to play in the kitchen.  A little more time for prep, a longer slower cook, working with ingredients that take a little more time.  I am so glad we had the kitchen updated before I retired, it is so much more fun to play in. 

I have had a few articles published this year, things that I wanted to write about. I have had a couple of book reviews published, one of the books was really excellent. I have read a record number for me of books this year.  My local library tells me borrowing books, rather than buying them, has saved me almost $1,500 this year alone. Property taxes are high here, but the services are excellent. 

This is the time of the year when I look back over what I have done. Looking back, I have enjoyed a year well lived.  I look forward to the next year.