Replacing the much lamented 'On My Mind' profile option, this thread is for musings, jottings, whimsies, preoccupations and the rest of the thesaurus for anyone to jot down anything they please.
I can't remember what the maximum character count was before, can anyone else? But anyway it wasn't very many so let's keep to that.
An aside, mother passed in 2018 age 106 and there was no way I (POA) was moving here until she did. She had Borderline Personality Disorder and I needed to keep my distance. Being BPD no years were good though she had excellent health into her later 90s. It took more than a year to get the estate settled which was another thing that slowed me down.
I had colleagues from where I worked in Fort Mc but not many friends there any more. At my age they move, pass or get dementia. As I tell my kids "Most people my age are dead", if you get my drift.
My ideas in moving here were 1) the winters are not as long nor cold, 2) there are better health resources here - a bit of a laugh. It has been harder getting a family dr here than in Ft Mc, but the specialists are here, not that I need them yet 3) my offspring are gathering in this area - that's a bit of a laugh too as the ones here don't want to take on POA etc. they just want me to visit them and go out for meals 4) R has roots here 5) it's cheaper living 6) I have the lake lot which will be fun developing I think 7) I have lived in Edmonton for years long time ago so I still am somewhat familiar with it and probably more - like no forest fires.
I hear you mourning the loss of your friends which is so understandable. As I said, most of mine have gone one way or another over the years. In fact I had another post in mind which is about making new friends as you get older. It's happening.
I'm sure the kitty has helped She is part Maine Coon and very talkative but small. She's a good companion, but pets do take work.
Anyway that covers it I think. My situation seems very different to yours. I was more than ready to leave the house and the city to come here and despite the surgeries and injuries that R has had, he is still active and helpful. I am very thankful.
Yes, this property is going to be too much for me eventually. If we had decided to move one year later I doubt we would have chosen it despite its beauty and proximity to family. However, the wonderful things so outweigh the bad, and I have a ridiculous drive to create something here before I’m too old. Plus, I’m drawn to funky, charming houses like a fly to a cadaver!
I stumbled on this forum a few months ago with questions about my DH and his cognitive decline (which really started to rear its ugly head during our move). I got such helpful answers from so many wise and wonderful people! I feel blessed and supported here and very, very thankful!
Margaret, I feel for you. it has taken me 2+ years to get even close to comfortable here after our big relocation. I’ve talked about how important my friends have been to me and I had to leave them and my wonderful home behind. It takes a lot of time to work through that. I’m sending you a thick slice of pumpkin bread and some French roast with cream.
Thank you, Llama.
Eva - thinking of you and your dh on this Thanksgiving Day. Hoping things are better ((((hugs))))
Happy Thanksgiving to all Canadians here.🍁 🦃 🍁
We did the turkey thing in a turkey roaster. It was a bit of a fiasco but turned out OK in the end.
I'm going to make it the color of the Nero divergent awareness emblem.
cw - It sounds like you aren't enjoying anything you are doing now. Is there a little bit of depression that 5HT or St John's Wort would help? Or, heaven forbid, something stronger? No shame in that. I think a routine is good, but life is not good if you don't enjoy at least part of it.
Psue - anyone who can add "hypertufa" to a list (I had to look it up) must have an interesting life. You are a project person I see and have accomplished much. I'm sorry your hub got sick and you are now having to deal with a large property on your own. That sucks. Your property sounds awesome but maybe will become a bit too much for one person. Would you want to share more about your hub? You'll get support here. I saw you mentioned your mother in one post. Is she still alive? Mine lived to 106. I was 81 when she died.
It took me 6 years to adjust to retirement. I knew the list, as we all do, but it didn't appeal either, I know some of the suggestions could be helpful.
Send, I waited for "my passion" to strike and it didn't. lol
I simply stayed home in my household routine and appreciated not having to get up and brush snow off the car at 7:15 am when it was 35 below. I enjoyed my cup of coffee unpressured, as I still do. I liked being able to sit by my self and think and still do. I like the sound of silence. In fact I love it.
Margaret, you have just had a big move. I'm glad your senior's classes are working. I like the ad you quoted - that's me and deep housecleaning! It'll happen sometime! lol
Like Alva, I have a busy brain. It keeps me good company. I'm an introvert so I don't need much people contact. Technology does it for me too. I have things I want to do - growing more grass for my kitty, sorting apple seeds, germinating them, repotting the catalpa seedlings, reading more, sorting my closet, and so on. Mundane tasks but I enjoying doing some of them and the others I just like having them done. I could join the Friday afternoon get together in this building but "haven't had time" lol. The morning one at 9:30 is way too early for me.
R and I will celebrate a year together here tomorrow. It has been a good thing.
Always late to the discussions.
" blogs telling you to travel! volunteer! or the best one - find your passion! (oh please 🙄)."
I read your post in a hurry.
Thought it said:
"find your passport".
That's it for today, no time for social media.
Hello to all!
Later.....
Your right I have not seen SP on here in a While. 😔
Has anyone seen SP around? I am missing her or she isn't around? Today a bunch of old February and April messages that I had already erased started to appear in my private message mailbox; they were from when her sister was so ill. Reminded me I haven't seen her of late and so went to leave private message and her messaging is off.
Thanks all--hoping someone knows her and communicates off grid.
I consider a Rabbit on my right wrist, instead, but I like lol lizards. 😊
Margaret, I have family in Sydney. I don’t dare call them - I fear I am that stupid person you speak of!
Nacy, Fun! Well, OW first, and then fun. What made you choose a lizard? I’m not a tattoo person but my DD has 2 and they are beautifully done. I am not dyslexic but I always used my wedding ring to remind me…first marriage anyway. 2nd marriage I don’t wear one.
Alva, math makes me cry. I wonder if it’s the way they teach (or taught) it in the Bay Area. I grew up in Redwood City.
To all who are bored, I think some of us have more restless minds? I feel I have never caught up with all I have to do, tho some of that is taking on stuff such as fostering a dog. Otherwise, at 82 it is the garden, walking, shopping, cooking, the library, reading, an episode of Survivor, podcast by the bedside, and falling asleep like a baby. Oh, yeah, AC as well. That and FB good for a couple of hours in the a.m.
While I adore the "fantasy" of a coffee klatch I am not having one. I do the internet so I don't have to deal with real people! I can turn y'all off (and I am sure I DO) anytime I want. And you are easily rid of ME.
I am not reclusive in that I don't go "out" as I do the museums and such. I am reclusive in that I am a loner. It's just me and my busy brain and it is often too busy to fit people in. Next life I come back as "social". For now, the computer takes care of those needs very well.
I've considered this most of my life but thought it was stupid, now who cares how stupid it is or looks if it helps me
I'm getting a lizard tattoo on my left wrist so it's easier for me to remember my left and right.
The dyslexics on Reddit that did it , never regretted it and it made a huge difference in there life.
Now to figure out what I want and the artist I want to go to.
The time around the world finally made sense to me on the night of the Millenium. January 1st 2000 started more or less in New Zealand, then us in Oz, then all of Asia, then Europe, and more or less finished in the USA. Those fireworks remain a good memory to make sense of it all.
Now I'll have a genuine glass of red wine, but I appreciate your imaginary coffee!
Yours, Margaret
: )
Anyway, I know I’ve been supremely lucky to have landed in the right places at the right times with the right opportunities after having been somewhat of a stray myself.
I was just throwing out things I have found engaging over the years in case any would spark cw’s interest.
I also love to be alone but I’m pretty sure I’m going to get more of that than I want before too long.
I’m finding that joining two seniors classes has been particularly good, one exercise and the other aqua-aerobics. It helps if the person running the class knows and accepts that part of ‘good for you’ is the social stuff, because seniors can get very isolated – like you when a partner dies. Volunteering can be good, as long as you aren't sitting at a counter by yourself. At a regular weekly class you get to know the other people with no pressure or expectations, and can gradually have more to talk about, perhaps a coffee afterwards. Then if you run into them shopping, or at the library, you can stop and chat for a few minutes. It’s like an old shampoo ad, “It WON’T happen overnight, but it WILL happen”.
But as I said, I’ve been at it for 20 years and have had a lot of practice. I’d say start slow. Maybe sign up for a class in something you’re interested in. The most important components of my retirement (besides DH and our families) have been my dear and diverse girlfriends. Many of them are neighbors and women I’ve met in the classes I’ve taken. Sharing interests has led to sharing lives.
Keep us posted, you are in are thoughts and prayers
Passions honestly do help me. Gardening, cooking, filling up my freezer, is something I enjoy and more of a hobby. But that is all coming to an end, for this year, and I'm feeling a little antsy. My passion has been since I don't work, to be the healthiest me I can be, and to keep hubby there to.
And I'm 100 percent sure me not working has kept mom much healthier, getting her out and socializing, even though she is no longer my , main priority.
I wonder if I do end up getting a job if I'd be like, now I want to be home. So honestly, I don't think there is a good answer to my issue.
Being excited about something, having goals, really does help, and is important.
When I went to my uncle's funeral, the things he did with his life between 60 and 90 were incredible, I left his funeral feeling very inspired, that I can do just about anything I want to do if I put my mind to it
I to think it's the time of year, I'm in a bit of a funk myself also