09/19/18, Sunday

Sometimes, the door just opens and you have to walk through ! I have been feeling less independent since I sold my home last year to move to resume my six year relationship with Chuck after he took a new career opportunity and bought our current house. I felt blessed to have sold at my asking price and was content knowing I could live comfortably as we moved forward in our relationship without a formal financial obligations to a house if we didn't work out the challenges. DC's (Dear Chuck) PTSD and medication issues have required me to develop an informal safety plan and underscored that if I ever had to leave, I'd initially be "homeless".

DC and I love traveling and exploring new places. I absorb and appreciate varied destinations and their associated activities. My grown DDs are on either coast and still open to following job/life opportunities not bound by geographic location. With DC's disability retirement, we wanted to be able to take the two dogs and visit the girls, spend time at beaches (ocean, river, lake), mountains, deserts, canyons, redwoods, prairies with the comfort of home. Solution... I bought a 2018 , 31 foot, Forest River Sunseeker RV ! ! It has all of the comforts of home and makes life portable. I am putting everything in my name and this fulfills my need for Independence and security. I could easily live this lifestyle indefinitely ! I camped growing up, but this will be NOTHING like that ! More details to come !!

Weight: 137.2
Macros: Cals - 1,376, Carbs - 122, Fats - 41, Protein - 108, Fiber - 20
Sleep hours: 8
Vegetable/Fruit Servings: 4
Exercise: Walking
Meditation: Yes

Good Sunday morning, everybody. :) I hope your beaches, lakes, rainstorms, gardens, puppies, loved ones, meals, exercise, sleep, meditation and prayers are all rewarding you.

DianeO, I'm thrilled to hear about your new RV for ALL the reasons you wrote about. What an exciting new chapter in your life you've just opened. I think it's a great decision! I'm going to go look online at your new rolling second home. :)

Here at home I'm getting back into the groove, and it feels good. Today I'll eat more veggies, since I finally got to the grocery store yesterday.

Starting tomorrow I'll be back in aquarobics and yoga classes for the first time in several weeks. While traveling I've focused on walking 10,000 steps daily and will continue that.

And DianeS, you will appreciate that I'm finally starting to declutter. I'm starting very small -- only 5 minutes a day. But it's a startling how much crap I can throw into the hamper for the hospital thrift shop and/or simply toss into the garbage in only 5 minutes. In this great big house there's a LOT of decluttering to be done!

Finally, a quick book report ... I'm not yet through with The Goldfinch (it's long!), but am loving it. Our book club will meet this Wednesday night, and it's going to be a great discussion!

Today's theme: Stay on my own mat.

Calories 1650, weight probably up. This visit is killing my routine. They want us to stay until tomorrow morning, but I can't fall asleep at night and DH is awake too early so isn't functioning well. It is nice weather here today so I think we will stay thru dinner but then drive home. The traffic should be minimal at that point and it will get us home between 9-10. That way I can more or less have my normal routine tomorrow and go to yoga before our company arrives late tomorrow afternoon. What a week!

DianeO, great news about the RV! That sounds like a perfect decision both for your independence and fun traveling. I always wanted to do that but DH was never interested. He would always say that camping was in a tent period. So once I didn't want to do that kind of camping, our vacations morphed to renting cottages.

I need to go get some ice. Have a super Sunday!

Good morning my lovelies! 137.8 (I think) today. Going down! Funny how a new relationship can do that. I'm not even hungry! Yesterday I ate a protein bar for breakfast, some cottage cheese and pineapple for lunch and about a 4 oz. grilled hamburger patty with a little mayo and handful of Goldfish crackers for the entire day! I'm still not tracking but will probably start again soon. I'm also getting in lots more exercise. DS#2 and I went walking yesterday and I put on 15,000 steps! Yay!

I have my 4th date with Kevin the widower today/tonight but we talk/text every day. We have both decided to only see each other for right now - me because I don't like dating more than one person at a time and him because I think he is really into me ; ). So far things have been going well - great conversation, common interests, mutual attraction, and it just feels natural and easy. Plan to take things slowly even though the make out session last week woke up some hormones! I think we are both worth the wait!

I have pink eye in both eyes and am suspecting it is from my permanent eyeliner appt. last Thursday. Yuck! Got the drops so hopefully it clears soon. No long make out session on today's date since it is highly contagious!

I'm enjoying more regular exercise and am feeling better for it (of course!) Have some Senior photography sessions scheduled for this week, always fun but a lot of work too!

Diane O - I am thrilled with your new plan for traveling in the RV and the security it gives you if you need it!

Liz, sorry traveling with DH had been a little hard. I think you 2 will be able to find your groove though!

Ann, I love the stay on your own mat theme! You are so very wise!!!!

Wasn't able to read the boards the last several days so can't give personal shout outs to the rest, but do know that I love each of you and value you so very much!

Huge well wishes to you stepping into the dating pool!

Hello all,

DianeO! I saw you posted first with RV INFORMATION. I ran for my coffee, gathered Buster, computer and toast and then I spent time touring your new home!!! Beautiful!!!! So very excited for you. We have rented RV's only twice but loved both experiences and DH routinely talks about one as part of our retirement. I would love it, too.

I'm assuming the PNW is on your short list of places to go. See ya soon. :)

This is our last morning at the beach. It was overcast yesterday and DH decided not to go walk on the beach at all. AOK, of course...it is his vacation, there are no rules, and we can smell/hear the waves from the rental. But, I wonder how things like a potential RV in retirement would work....one doesn't always have a perfect experience...in fact it is kind of rare.

As I find myself thinking about retirement, I find myself looking at both DH and myself and finding us wanting! And...maybe more in me than DH. What would I do with myself in a place like this? Walk the beach, do balance exercises, walk the beach? Maybe I break into people's houses and organize their pill minder boxes.

I found myself exploring the local residence's lives as we chit-chatted. In contrast to us, they seemed multi-layered individuals that had commercially viable creative talents. And fun to talk to. One, before I could even work "health care" into conversation, brought up that "when I got cancer, I received the best care one could hope for from the oncologist our hospital." Of course, it is cancer care I wonder most about tho I randomly think "what if I need open heart surgery?"

So, they have an oncologist. She also pointed out they don't have an endocrinologist so she and DH (both diabetics) travel for that care. So....they don't have all specialties. But still.....good to know. I bought much glass jewelry from her.

(DianeS, besides working in glass, she now does whimsical paintings inspired by books she likes. As I examined one with a unicorn, I thought I recognized the face. I asked her "are you the unicorn?" And she laughed and said she likes to insert herself into the story. Then, I couldn't stop unseeing her face in all of her paintings and even some of the people in her glass windows. She is a charming imp. I imagine you two conspiring together to make wondrous art.)

Finally, as the only people that would understand, I want to point out that the last time I was here, I was SMO. Lots of comparing/contrasting has popped into my mind. I'm grateful to be here....I don't know how long one can weigh an extra 200 lbs and not have something irreversibly awful happen. I am also more relaxed about food. Maybe too relaxed but it hasn't been sneaky behavior so that is an improvement.

Ok, must hit the beach. It is out there! Poor Buster is still tired from yesterday.....but he will not want to miss out so I'll bring him, too.

I'm really, REALLY looking forward to DianeO's travel show!

Shel

Topics have been multifaceted since my last post. Every time I try to catch up on the posts I go to sleep. The last addition to my med list is a fail. Too sleepy on 1 third of the dose and I have gained 10 pounds this past month. The Tesla powered train snuck up and ran me over.

Looking over my past few post. They were not sent. Probably went to sleep waiting on the internet.

Last week I got to visit with both grandkids at the same time. Got lots of hugs and a head cold that Adalyn and I have had most of the week.

A week before we had more family time. DS#1 / DDIL#1 s cabin and DS#2 and DDIL#2 up from Florida. It has been a couple of years since they moved to Florida. Nice to see everyone. Went out on the river one day. Beautiful setting. DS#1 is a good cook. Last night smoked pork, spicy beans, scalloped potatoes. Grilled hamburgers one night, steaks the next. Hard not to over do but ice cream in the freezer remained in the freezer. We stayed at the cabin for 4 days.

Neurosurgeon appointment on the 21st. The pain management has been a fail. Seeing if we can just fix the problem with surgery.

Baby Adalyn is feeling some better with the tube placement. Tubes or no tubes she has me totally wrapped. I am enjoying the grandpa duties. Swinging her in the swing, walking in the stroller and generally seeing to her every need. During the time we have her. DD#1 started a math class this week so may get her more often. She hopes to start a nursing program in January.

Grass seeds are planted. More fields to plant but it will be a cheaper seed. The farm is really shaping up. Next up is a bigger more portable chicken coup. The hens are starting to lay small eggs. We butchered about a dozen roosters last week. There is one rooster left. Got to be the happiest rooster I have ever seen. He crows all the time. I think he is saying he is great full to be alive with 40 hens.

I have been trying to keep up with the daily conversations. I try to post then get distracted. Should do short bursts.

Anyway, more later, David

Greetings Sunday Adventurers

Still at 149. Today will be a less than ideal food day since there is a Scrabble party filled with hippie pot luck food. I love all the gloppy quinoa veggie cheese casseroles. I am bringing hummus - store bought of course. Used to make my own. I don't think I will get fat on the quinoa provided I skip the organic brownies and sea salt chips. Its foggy and downright cold today so we won't be playing outside. Maybe there will even be a fire in the wood stove.

Got some studio time in yesterday and unloaded a kiln which amazingly puts about 2000 steps on the fitbit. Its astonishing how much stuff fits in a kiln of about 8 cubic feet.

Diane O, how exciting on the RV and travel plans! I looked up the model and it looks like a dream. Enjoy and be sure to get our area on your list. This place has RVs come through all the time and there are lots of places to visit. Lots of dog show handlers have those and go on the road with them. Can't wait to hear about it. And its always good to have an escape plan if only for the peace of mind it gives.

And Paula, we love hearing your "adventures" too. Sorry about the pink eye and hope it clears up soon. And congrats on the healthy eating.

Hey Dave Pop Pop, so glad you are heavily into the grandpa act. Glad your family is together and getting in some good home cooking.. Wishing you better success with pain management. Little Adalyn may be the best medicine. But you have got to be able to chase her when she gets mobile!!!!!

Shel, glad you are thinking of retirement. We sort of stumbled into the place we live in. I was worried about who I would hang around with but joined a couple of clubs and found it easy to make friends. DH had a harder time transitioning but he now has some buddies and such. I do wish he would volunteer reading to kids or something like that. Can you get to your mountain hikes easily from the long beach area?

Ann, glad you are enjoying The Goldfinch. I can't remember how it ends so no risk of me spoiling it. DH was invited to join this book club but they only read this serious non fiction stuff like "Hot, Flat and Crowded". I downloaded a book called "When Bunnies Go Bad" that looked like fun but haven't read it yet. Thinking of getting the Aretha Franklin biography. I truly worship her. I used to have license plates on my car that said "RESPECT". Sirius radio has an all Aretha channel right now.

RESPECT to all. And good coffee. Diane S

Diane, thanks for the Sirius Aretha channel tip. I'm going to go find it right now! That's so cool you used to have a RESPECT license plate. Respect! ;)

Sirius channel 49. normally the soul station.d