Funky Friday: Explore to Inspire

Google tells me that Pacaya is the bloom of a palm plant, and is used as a vegetable in Guatemalan cuisine.  Salted Jellyfish is used in Asian dishes. Foods from places I have not been, foods I have not tried. In  the case of Pacaya a food I had never heard of. 

Driving home from an outing one day last week we visited a recently opened international supermarket that is a couple of miles down US-1 from home.  Neighbors had mentioned it during our last First Friday gathering.  One person had found it overwhelming and left in a bit of a panic. Another found it simply fascinating. We had a nice walk around, exploring aslies of the routine and unexpected.  We didn't buy anything, but I will probably go back for a selection of things that inspire me to explore new flavors and textures.  

Many years ago (I was still living in Lexington so it was before 2009) I read a book on artists and creativity. One of her recommendations was to stop in stores you have never been in before. Explore stores that are totally unrelated to anything you have ever done, or are related but are shops you have never entered.  The author urged her readers to do this at least once a week. It can be planned, it can be random, but allow yourself the time to explore the unfamiliar. She was right, I find inspiration in it. 

Exploring is like reading things you are unfamiliar with. Readers fall into habits, I have at times read everything an author has published, or everything I could find on an obscure topic like the concept of time, or being alone. Others read romance novels, or mysteries, or science fiction, and tend to stick to that genre. I am primarily a non-fiction reader. On the way home from Toronto I was delayed in the airport longer than expected, I went into the bookshop and bought a novel. Far from the non-fiction I most often read, it was a story, with a plot, and predictable characters, and a little bit of a mystery, and of course an everyone lives happily ever after ending. Will it turn me into a fiction reader, no, but it might inspire me to add more character into my writing, something that is probably missing, especially in my professional writing. 

Exploring this market will inspire my play time in the kitchen, maybe leading to some interesting Foodie Friday posts. 

Then where was the toothpaste with Herbs and Barks! 

Foodie this week? 

On Saturday I made an eye-round beef roast.  I slow cooked it in the oven, with chopped onions, celery, carrots, mushrooms, canned diced tomatoes and cheap red wine.  After dinner, I used an immersion blender to puree about half of the overcooked veggies into a pasta or pizza sauce.  Sweetie Bear commented that it looked like it would be a good base for a soup.  

On Sunday I made a beef vegetable soup. I saute a chopped onion and  several chopped mushrooms in olive oil. Added to that the remaining veggies from the roast, plus chopped carrots and green beans. I added a partially drained can of italian white beans, and the remains of a box of pasta rings. I topped this up with box beef stock, and let it simmer for 30-45 minutes. I then added the left over roast beef cut into about  1/2 inch cubes, let that just heat through and served (the beef was super tender and if I had added it earlier it would have disintegrated in the soup.)  It was hearty, and delicious and used goodness that might have otherwise been tossed out. Soups are simple and oh so good.

I made a simple loaf of bread to go along with it, homemade bread and soup will warm the coldest hearts. 

On social media, news feeds and YouTube there are reactions to using induction cooktops. We had one installed when we had the kitchen redone and I love it. If I had a gas cooktop I wouldn't make the switch unless I was really worried about indoor air-quality. Gas will work with non-magnetic cookware - I had to part with a few old favorites when we made the switch to induction.  Induction is far superior to any other electric cooktop. It heats faster  than resistance coil electric cooktops and stops hearing immediately when turned down or off. It is not as infinitely adjustable as gas, but pretty damned good. Here in a highrise building, gas is simply not an option. Induction is far superior to other electric cooktops. If you want to try one, the countertop units can be bought for about $100 (IKEA sells one for less than $100 USD.)  

The Thursday Ramble: Developing as a Person

There is a debate going on about the value of higher education. In the United States college education has become expensive.  (A note for my international readers, in the United States college is anything beyond high school or secondary school. The institution maybe known as a University or a College.) 

Many argue that what we need are tradesmen, such as skilled painters, and a college degree is not going to teach you how to paint a house, or a car. A trade school or an apprenticeship will. Given a choice between a painter with a degree in art and one without, I would hire the painter with. Even a few art classes will teach color theory, color blending, how light works in a space. If I say I want something like a VanDyke Brown the art major will know what I am thinking, the trade school painter will go look in a color chart and likely tell me "we don't have anything like that." I want a painter who has taken some science courses, so they understand the chemicals in the paint they are using,  are the fumes harmful? If they spill or drip, do they understand the chemistry of removing the spot or stain. 

There as a huge push over the past 20 years to increase the number of graduates in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM.) Reports are that increasing numbers of STEM graduates are finding themselves working outside of their field of study.  There are two factors at play, there are too many of them, and many of them may be able to do run the numbers, but lack the ability to understand how STEM connects to day to day life. One pundit said, "a degree in computer science, is the fast track to a job at Chipotle" (a fast food burrito chain.) And you know what, I would sooner my burrito bowl be made by someone with a college degree than someone without. 

My journey to higher education started at a two-year junior or community college. It was on my drive to and from the office, classes were available in the evenings, and it was incredibly inexpensive (this was the early 1980s.) I after a year or so, I transferred the credits to a private liberal arts college.  

Looking back the liberal arts education changed me in profound ways. It opened my eyes to a much wider world. I had a sampling of many subjects, but all of them connected what I was studying to life. For all but one semester, I worked full time and took classes half time, mostly in the evenings. It took me almost ten years to finish a four year degree (there was a couple of years off in there for a failed marriage.) 

Along the way, I learned to do research. I learned to read for knowledge. I learned the basics of writing in various styles for various purposes.  I learned to understand other people and other cultures. I learned the lessons of history. I learned to speak. How to think and sound like an educated person. I learned how to understand models and apply them. I learned how to find the connections between seemingly unrelated ideas and experiences. I learned that there are things that are fundamentally right and wrong, tolerable and intolerable. I am proud to say, I became WOKE, I woke up to the concept of fairness in the world. A liberal arts education changed me as a human being. 

I was able to go on and earn a doctorate in law. Another experience that change me as a person. There are two major things in legal education. One is the development and application of rules. I learned to read past legal precedent, determine the basis for the finding, and apply that to a new set of facts. And I learned the importance of the precision use of words and punctuation. In the preceding sentence, there should not be a comma before the "and" because both the words and the punctuation must be considered. One of my professors had spent several years litigating comma placement in a contract with  millions of dollars at stake (her side lost, and several high rise apartment buildings were torn down rather than repaired.)

Higher education helps us develop to our fullest ability. It should be more widely available. It should be more affordable.  My BA was paid for when I finished, my three years of law school school, cost about what one year costs twenty five years later at the same school.  If the United States is to continue as a leader in the world, we need to address affordability of higher education. An educated workforce, makes a country stronger. 

I learned how to learn, and that learning is a lifelong experience. There is an old proverb about growing as a person that goes, as long as you are green you are growing, when you are ripe, you start to rot.  I am still green, still learning, still reading, and seeing, and hearing, and tasting, and smelling. I expect to have a stack of books in the process of being read, when they find me decomposing.   

My World of Wonders, aka, the Wednesday Ws, August 20,2025

 

Where have I been? Home much of the time, I took three days off to rest and get well when not feeling well. The farmers market. I made it back to gym for  treadmill walks starting on Sunday. Last Wednesday we went to IKEA and stopped for lunch on the way home.  Aldi and Target for a little stock up. And out to lunch at Chiplotte, the art supply store for canvases and a picture frame. 

Who have a talked with? My sweet bear, Ruth from down the hall, a couple of vendors at the farmers market. Giuseppe and Larry. 

Who have I reached out to? Doc Spo just to say hi. A couple of old work contacts. 

What is the quote of the week? "It was so quiet in the conference room at work, you could hear the cockroaches silently reconsidering their decision to be there." 

What have I been reading?  Growing a Feast, a memoir written by a farmer on one of the islands near Seattle about farm life, cows, and cheese making. (It is a slow read, you want to savor it like a fine cheese.) 

What have I been up to in the kitchen? On Saturday I made roast beef eye round, Sunday I made bread and soup based on the roasting veggies from the beef on Saturday. Home made guacamole. 

Where was the photo above taken? The Smithsonian Gallery of American Art. This part of the building was built as a home for the Patent Office, in the early 1800's, served as a hospital during the Civil War, Walt Whitman read the patients and wrote letters to send home to their families in this space. 

When is the next adventure? Hmm, ideas but the only firm plans are for next spring.  I should do a Midwest driving trip this fall, family and friends to see. And next February there is a conference with a couple of board meetings I should go to in San Antonio. 

What caught my eye on YouTube this week? Rewilding Jude, a 30-something English guy, who moved to very rural Scotland and bought an old stone house on an acre of land. He describes himself as burned out and grieving and wanting something different. He is a good content creator. Part of me wishes I had done what he is doing, then I remember that when I burned out in my 30's, I moved 800 miles north, went to law school and started an entirely new career.  

What is the weather like? Overcast and cooler. Sunday it was 93, Tuesday it was 70. The forecast for the next few days is cooler. It may be the end of the outdoor pool season for me. But it can easily go back into the 90's (f) in September. 

  

Travel Tuesday: Toronto

The pathway to the UP train, the train runs from Union Station to Toronto Pearson airport, hence the name UP. It is comfortable, relatively fast, and at my age $6.60 Canadian each way. A great way to travel. 

The fountain in Berczy Park. Just a couple of blocks from the hotel I stayed at. 

Above the entrance to the Hockey Hall of Fame on Front Street. 

Main hall at Toronto Union Station. 

CN Tower.  The wait for tickets was long, I didn't go in. 

TD plaza. TD Ameritrade and TD Bank have made major inroads the US market, what I didn't know, is TD stands for Toronto Dominion Bank. They have several towering office buildings around this plaza with the neat yellow tables. 

The lobby of Fairmont Royal York Hotel, the host hotel for the conference, I stayed a the Omni King Edward Hotel about five blocks away. 

Old City Hall. 

Lots of people live in the city, and new buildings are sprouting like wildflowers. 

 

Monday Mood: Treating Myself Well

I have had a summer head cold, stuffy, runny nose, you know the nagging but not really debilitating illness. We have probably all had one of these, most likely a rhino virus.  Annoying.  

As a kid, I would get a couple of days out of school, then be pushed back on the bus to school. The beginning of a lifetime of pushing through when not feeling well. There was work to be done, and I needed to be there. As an adult I often worked solo, if I didn't do the work, it didn't get done. I had to be almost dead, to not push through the and go to the office. I will admit that I went to work, many times when I shouldn't have.  Only once did a boss look at me and say, "GO HOME and take care of yourself!" 

This time, was different. I allowed myself to rest, to relax. To not do the things to do, but to allow the illness to run it's course. I didn't cook a couple of days when it was my day to cook. I skipped water aerobics a couple of days.  I skipped my daily treadmill walks. 

I see this is a step forward in my mental health.  I had a driven career, I mostly put work ahead of my health or personal life. Allowing myself time to recover should have been a natural behavior, and not a luxury.  The joys of retirement, I can allow myself this time and not feel guilty about it. And in the words of Martha Stewart, is a good thing. 
 

The Sunday Five: Finding Your Way Around

1: When was the last time you used paper maps when driving? 

2: What has been your experience with in-dash GPS systems? 

3: Do you print out maps before you travel? 

4: Do you rely on your phone for navigation? 

5: What is the most memorable wrong turn you have ever made? 

My answers: 

1: When was the last time you used paper maps when driving? Probably in Iceland 3 years ago.  I had GPS, but the paper map allowed us to look at a larger area. 

2: What has been your experience with in-dash GPS systems? One of our two cars has this, it sometimes takes us the long way around. In 2024 we rented a car in France that had in-dash GPS, we dug around in the settings and changed her to speak English. I returned a French car speaking fluent English. 

3: Do you print out maps before you travel? Sometimes, especially walking directions. 

4: Do you rely on your phone for navigation? I have had the worst luck with this. I try not to look at my phone when driving. When walking I find it hard to tell what direction is ahead on my phone. 

5: What is the most memorable wrong turn you have ever made? I missed a turn and ended up in France ten years ago, only for a couple of minutes. I made a wrong turn and was 15 minutes late for my parents funeral - my brother in law was 20 minutes late and he lived three miles away.

Please share your answers in the comments. 

Saturday Morning Post: 50 States in 52 Weeks North Carolina

Duke Chapel

North Carolina is geographically at about the center of the east coast of the United States. It is physically a very diverse state, from the windswept Atlantic Coast, to the Appalachian mountains in the west. There are two major metropolitan areas, Charlotte, and the research triangle of Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill.  Home to two of the best Universities in the Country, UNC and Duke. Those two areas are filled with educated cultured people, surrounded by the deep south, in many ways still recovering from the civil war and desegregation. 

Located just south of Virginia, North Carolina was often a drive through state for me, not stopping as I passed through.  

Worth visiting, outside of the two real cities, I wouldn't want to live there. 

Foodie Friday: Playing in the kitchen again

 

A couple of weeks ago, I noticed a can of pumpkin puree in the pantry, it had been there since last fall.  A few days later, on a Sunday I was thinking I would like something sweet. So I did a search for inspiration, and here is what I ended up with. A Pumpkin Raisin Loaf. 

Preheat oven to 350 F

Wet ingredients 

15 ounce can of pumpkin puree (or use fresh or frozen.)

2 eggs

1/4 cup melted butter 

1/2 cup white sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar 

Mix or whisk those together. 

Dry ingredients:

2.5 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda 

large pinch of salt (more if you use unsalted butter.) 

1/2 teaspoon ground cloves

1/2 teaspoon ground allspice 

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Mix these together and fold into the wet ingredients 

Then fold in 1.5 cups of raisins.

Bake in a well greased 9 by 5 loaf pan, for 60-90 minutes, until a bamboo skewer or toothpick comes out clean.  

Cool, slice, and enjoy. 

It makes a nice desert or breakfast. 

This could also be baked as muffins, the baking time would be greatly reduced.  

 

Thursday Ramble: How did this happen, and how do we move forward

 

Political Content Warning

I am going to talk about politics

If this upsets you, skip this post

I will see you tomorrow with something foodie. 

Like many of my readers, I am unhappy with politics in the United States. How did we get here? 

People voted, the difference was not huge, 1 or 2 or 3 percent difference in most states.  A few thousand more voters showed up for one side. 

How did Kamala not draw those few voters? 

I have talked with a few people who were unhappy with work her office did when she was attorney general in California, and felt that they couldn't vote for her. They would sooner not vote, than vote for her, some of them chose to sit the election out. 

I have talked with a few people who were unhappy that Kamala was not on the primary ballots when they voted. They felt uncomfortable with the way she became the candidate of the Democratic Party. They would not have voted for her in the primary, and would sooner sit the election out than vote for her in general election. 

I have talked with a few people who would not vote for any woman for President.  Sexism is still a part of our culture. 

Joe Biden was okay as a President, but the administration didn't leave a lot of people in awe looking for ways to carry on the work, when he was pressured to withdraw. There was a lack of enthusiasm. 

Personally, when I voted for Joe in the primary, I didn't think he would complete a second term, I was really voting for Kamala, expecting that she would finish the term, and then run for election on her own.  But many didn't share my feelings on this. 

Hence, just enough people, didn't show up. 

Slightly more than half of the people who did show up, are either core voters who would vote for a convicted felon if that was the candidate of the party, or voters who feel left behind or abandoned. 

Anger and helplessness leads to scapegoating, blaming what has happened or not happened in their lives on other people, government, or other countries. The real message in "Hillbilly Elegy" is about failure in working class middle America. The rage is real. And leaders of the past 50 years have done little to improve the lives of those impacted. 

In fact we have raised the cost of higher education, making it harder to climb the economic and social ladder.  We have encouraged businesses to lower the cost of goods, leading to offshoring of many working class jobs. Business owners who put their communities and workers first, were made increasingly larger and larger offers until they were bought out and despite promises to the contrary most of the jobs were shipped out of the country. At the same time other countries around the world encouraged industrial growth with expanding power grids, transportation infrastructure, and very low cost financing of industrial facility construction. 

Rather than insist that Congress update our outdated immigration laws, we selectively enforced or simply didn't enforce the laws. Congress left laying around on the books emergency authority that allows the President to set tariffs, that was passed decades ago at a time of need, and never repealed (and was poorly worded potentially allowing it's application decades later.) 

How do we move forward? 

We need to stay angry and motivated. 

We need visionary leadership - come on Pete. 

AND 

We need people to show up and vote, even when we are not perfectly happy with the candidate. The people who didn't show up and vote for Kamala, who also wouldn't vote for HWSNBN, elected HWSNBN.  Not voting, elects a person you wouldn't vote for. The margins were not that large. Turn out was the key. 

You can change this in the mid-term. Make sure you vote, and encourage like minded friends and neighbors to show up and vote. One on One, we can make a difference. 

My World of Wonders also known as (aka) the Wednesday Ws, August 13, 2025

 

Where have I been this week?  Toronto for three days, then home, the gym, the pool, into DC to have lunch with a friend, a stroll through the Smithsonian Museum of American Art and National Portrait Gallery, and headed off to IKEA today. 

Who have I talked with this week? Oh tons of people, Cathy, Amy, Bob, Erica, Tom, Eric, Loraine, Bob, Skip, a couple of  wonderful meetings with old friends. 

What did I hear that is quotable? "When he speaks, my toilet flushes itself." 

What was the best thing I ate this week? Eggs Benedict and Poutine. 

What have I been reading?  I finished the purple crayon book, and started into a reprint of the Frugal Housewife, the type is so small it is hard to read. Saturday my flight home was delayed, and I picked up a paperback novel in the airport shop, "The Mysterious Bakery on the Rue de Paris," it was fun - but so predictable and full of sexist stereotypes,  I started "Growing a Feast." 

What was flying and crossing international borders like?  I love flying, and the weather was great. There was a last minute gate change on the flight to Toronto, then it was delayed, then it was on time, then it was delayed, we left 30 minutes behind schedule, and arrived in Toronto 2 minutes ahead of schedule. Only airline math can do that. I used the ArriveCan app on my phone to complete the arrival declaration, scanned my passport, and the border officer asked me two simple questions and wished me well. The flight home was delayed about an hour. I have global entry and Toronto is a Pre-Clearance airport, you clear US customs and immigration at the airport in Toronto before you board a flight to the US.  The machine took my photo, the officer asked me if I had anything to declare (I didn't) and waved me through.  The X-ray machine at the security checkpoint in Toronto was being "re-calibrated" and it took about 15 minutes to get through the line. All in all, absolutely no hassle at the border. The flight I booked is notoriously delayed, late like half of the time. The flight itself was wonderful. On the return flight, the seat next to me was empty, I am glad I didn't upgrade to business class. 

The buildings top and slightly to the right of center are the Pentagon and Crystal City, on final approach to National Airport Saturday evening. Home is on the top right on the right side of the River, just past the bridge. 

What made me go, huh this week? See the top photo today. I don't usually ride the subway late at night, getting home on Saturday I didn't leave the airport until almost 9:00 PM, things are a little stranger at that hour of the night. 

What seemed strange this week? I know it is August and Congress is out of town, but the streets in DC were strangely unbussy on Monday. How quiet was it? UPS and Amazon drivers were able to find legal parking spaces along the curb.  I was surprised by how few retail businesses are left at street level (and I was surprised in Toronto by how many there are.) 

Travel Tuesday: Greenwich

Back in early May we took a boat up the Thames to see Greenwich. Recitals at the Music School were taking place, and we wanted to see the Painted Hall at the Old Royal Naval College. 

The theme for our end of the year arts show, is Reflections. I had this one printed, and the print is even better than the online version. The artist is inside, the photo was taken from outside with the building behind me reflecting in the window. 

Note the people laying on their backs on padded benches in the middle of the room, looking up at the ceiling. In the foreground is a mirrored table to allow you take photos of the ceiling while standing up.  

Moody Monday: Fresh Perspective

 A couple of nights in Toronto gave me a fresh perspective on the world.  People were nice, kind, and understanding. 

Toronto looks prosperous, lots of new high rise buildings, lots of independent clothing stores.  Tim Horton's on every other block, and a few Starbucks, but not many. Lots of good food. 

Watching television without pharmaceuticals advertising is a very pleasant experience.  And without competition from the drug pushers, even a few local businesses are able to afford television advertising.  

Toronto seems to truly embrace the vibrant diversity of the people who live and visit there. Being a truly bilingual country, seems to bring a tolerance of differing languages that I don't see at home.  In my morning of wandering around I heard French, German, Swedish, Spanish, Arabic, and Mandarin. 

There is a pride of Canadian grown, and Canadian made on display across the city.  A model for how it can be done.  And yes, I went into an LCBO store (liqueur control board of Ontario) and there was not a single product made in the USA on display.  I do hope this brings a renaissance of distilling in Canada. I would like to see more high quality offerings grown and made in a country that grows millions of acres of grain. 

It was nice to meet up with old friends, and make new ones (I was there for an American Bar Association meeting.) 

How did it leave my mood? It was great to see a city and a country that is doing well in global chaos.  One person said, "well Canada has had her share of politicians we were embarrassed by." People were nice, and Toronto blooming  is a world city. 

It was great to get away for a couple of nights.  It does a body and mind a lot of good to see the world from a different, fresh perspective. 

The Sunday Five: Is it funny?

1: I have a t-shirt that says, "I'd agree with you, but then we would both be wrong." Is it funny? 

2: Who was your favorite comedian of all time and why? 

3: I was really disappointed as a child, to learn that most "comic books" where not funny. What is or was your favorite comic or cartoon strip and why?

4: Does your local newspaper still print cartoons or comics? 

5: When was the last time you really laughed? 

My answers: 

1: I have a t-shirt that says, "I'd agree with you, but then we would both be wrong." Is it funny? I thought it was when I wore it to lunch with my oldest brother. 

2: Who was your favorite comedian of all time and why?  Bob Hope,  he was a master of timing and comedic twist. 

3: I was really disappointed as a child, to learn that most "comic books" where not funny. What is or was your favorite comic or cartoon strip and why? The Wizard of Id, it pointed out the absurdity of life, followed closely by Hagar the Horrible. 

4: Does your local newspaper still print cartoons or comics? Political cartoons only, very little humor in that. 

5: When was the last time you really laughed? Reading Oddball's Friday Funnies, Bruce always seems to find just the right things to share. 

Please share your answers in the comments. 

 

The Saturday Morning Post: 50 States in 52 weeks New York

New York City is what most people think of when they think of New York. I was 50 years old before I first visited New York City, and honestly I didn't really understand why people 💗 New York City, until I had been there.  It is an amazing city. When you have a chance, go see it, for the first time, or the 1,000th time. 

There is more to New York than the City.  I have spent time in upstate, the finger lakes district and Niagara. Places that will take your breath away. I need to visit Albany and the surrounding area someday, to see Sassy Bear, and a really great lawyer who was on my board. 

When you get a chance see New York, beyond New York City, go an enjoy. Seeing New York City and saying you have been to New York, is like visiting London and saying you have seen England.  You may have seen a great part of it, but there is so-so much more to see. 
 

Foodie Friday: Let the Pizza Out

Bread, cheese, sausage, olives, tomato, herbs, simple core ingredients, that create one of the most amazing foods.

Pizza is not hard to make.  Do a quick search and find a simple dough recipe.  I use 3/4 cup warm water, a dash of sugar, and a tablespoon of dry active yeast, mix that and set it aside for five minutes. About two cups of bread flour (high gluten or strong flour), a dash of salt, and a good drizzle of olive oil.  Mix those together, and knead with a stand mixer for about five minutes.  Let it rise in a warm place for an hour or longer.  3 or 4 hours will develop more flavor. 

Preheat the oven blazing hot, 450 F. 

Stretch the dough, sprinkle on the toppings of your choice. My biggest mistake is piling the toppings to thick, keep them thin. 

Bake until done, that might be 5 minutes, it might be 20. 

Then let it free, it is unhappy kept behind bars, and pizza should be happy.  Make it often, and enjoy it deeply. It is good hot out of the oven, and even better cold for breakfast the next morning. I still don't know what to think of shrimp and pineapple on a pizza, but whatever floats your boat. 

The Thursday Ramble: Retirement

This is not the ship we are booked on, her newer sister will be a part of next year's grand adventure.

A lot of people are afraid of retirement.  Some refuse to use the word, describing leaving the paid workforce as refocusing, reforming or retreading. Many fear the change in finances. Others simply don't know what they will do with their life without work. Yes, I felt all of those things, along with a great deal of stress and anxiety at the idea of retiring. But not nearly the level of stress and anxiety generated at work. 

Now being 18 months into retirement, I have to say, I really like retirement. 

We planned for it. A decade ago, we crunched the numbers, estimating income, and expenses and I was sure we would be okay. And yet as we moved into both of us being retired I worried about the money. I have to go back from time to time and revisit the numbers. The financial planners assure us if we live into our 90's (unlikely, but possible) we will still die with money in the bank. 

If you worry about money in retirement, sit down and figure out what it really costs to live and what income you can draw, make a plan to draw against your lifetime of retirement savings - you can't take it with you and your kids will likely fritter it away on new kitchens, new cars, and poker games (what my siblings and I did that with much of our inheritance.) Leave your family a legacy of your having lived a good life. 

For most of 50 years, I had a job description or list of duties.  To overcome the worry about "how will I stay busy and engaged" I wrote myself a retirement job description. I have actively worked to implement it, to do the many of the things I said I would do.  A couple of projects didn't work, and a couple of new one's emerged. One has been fermenting for a few months and I will get back to it someday soon. I feel engaged in life. I am doing things that I find meaningful and enjoyable. I am still working on learning to say no, or no thank you to things I don't enjoy or find meaningful. I was surprised by how fast I lost interest in some of the challenges I had worked on for 25 years. If you worry about what you would do in retirement, make a plan. 

I can't say retirement is entirely stress free or that I don't worry from time to time. But overall, in my adult life, there have been few times when I was this relaxed and at ease with the world around me.  

I do hope that if you haven't yet, you will make a plan to join me in a meaningful and engaging retirement. The best is yet to come.  

My World of Wonders, aka The Wednesday Ws August 6, 2025

 

Where have I been this week?  Aldi, the farmers market, out to lunch at our favorite Vietnamese place, Sur la Table for a new pepper grinder for the kitchen, have my hair cut, Amazon Fresh, the Mercedes dealer, the community center several times, the gym, and the pool, 

Who have I talk with this week? Lots of people. We hosted the first Friday LGBT gathering as a pool party, Ana, Susan, Rafael, Giuseppe, and Larry. I was at a couple of Arts events, Joan, Priteba, Jon, Guido, Kevin, and several others that I don't remember the names of.  At water aerobics Ruth, Paul, Renee and Warren. 

What have I been up to in the kitchen?  Ham - Mac and Cheese, pot-roast, pickles, and a pumpkin-raisin loaf. 

What made me go Huh! this week? The FDA issued a recall of 60,000+ pounds of "butter blend." The reason, it contained butter - more specifically milk was not listed in the ingredients. Wouldn't you assume that something labeled as butter blend, would contain butter? 

Where am I off to next? Toronto on Thursday for a very short trip. 

What have I been reading? Reading has been slow, Purple Crayons is the current book. It is okay, but not great. 

What have I been listening to this week? Streaming background music on YouTube. 

What travel am I planning?  I booked another hotel for next spring's great adventure.  I have not been in Paris in over 20 years.  I was still using a film camera the last time. I dropped it lens down on a stone floor in the Louvre and broke the lens.  I bought a replacement lens in a camera shop across the street from the hotel the next morning.  I still have the camera, the last time I put a battery in it, it still works. 

What made me smile this week? Trading emails with one of our favorite bloggers, and discovering the commonalities in our DVD collections.  Not houseboys as you might expect, but BBC comedies like Waiting for God, which one of us is more like Diana?  

Travel Tuesday: Leake Street Arches at Waterloo Station

In early May, we stayed in a Hampton Inn just south of Waterloo Train Station in London. In searching for directions to the Thames River Boats, I came across the Graffiti Tunnels, also known as the Leake Street Arches.  Off I went on one of my exploratory walks. It may be graffiti, but some of it is very good art.