Ordinary Beauty

Some people want to know what will I be doing, once I “retire”–which at this point is 7 working days from now!

First, I have to mention that I like Michael Meade’s term for this new section of my life: ReFirement. And the playlist I have been working on for my “retirement” includes many songs that celebrate fire and new beginnings.

To my husband’s confusion, I have been spending a great deal of time thinking about this next part of my life. I have been working with Ellen Newhouse to sort through my feelings, fears, and exhilarations about not having a day-job anymore, and having so many hours of the day (and night) open up for me to do with them as I wish.

My dear husband thinks I ought to chill and let my new life unfold. I agree. But as I suddenly realized, I have too many options–so many options that I am overwhelmed. So, I am setting my sights clearly on some things that I want to do with my life, in the near future.

• I am going to aim for Peru. June, 2009. Study a bit of Spanish language. Study a lot of Peruvian history and culture. Ask around for words of wisdom from those who have traveled there.
• Maybe get off my sorry a*s and learn some yoga. Yoga is a large component of the trek to Peru.
• There’s the stuff of my inheritance that still sits in my big-a*s moving truck: that’s got to be redistributed, some to my home and some to other folks. October 10 is my self-imposed deadline for being done with that chore.
• A book. With Robby Pellet. More on that as it comes together.
• Garden. Garden. Garden. Weeds. Schemes for a pond and placing large rocks. Weeds. Bird watching. Weeds.
• Volunteering with Heron Habitat Helpers.

A few more focuses. Perhaps I will visit my brother and sister. Perhaps I’ll see my cousin. And there’s a pair of skates in the back of my closet that really miss me. Plus, fersure, a trek to Wesley and Wiktor’s naked pool party, in August.