š Because life doesnāt follow a theme ā and neither does this blog
If youāve been reading Around Dusty Roads lately, youāve probably noticed that there isnāt exactly a theme happening. One day itās cats, the next itās a local adventure, then a recipe, then some random daily trivia. Thatās retirement for you ā footloose, fancy free, and no longer tied to a work schedule or those precious two weeks of vacation.
These days, I just enjoy jotting down whatever crosses my mind and sharing the little slices of life that make me smile (or roll my eyes). And for you youngsters out there, consider this a preview of what might be waiting for you when you finally escape the daily grind. Whether thatās a good thingā¦ well, juryās still out.
š± Projects, Experiments, and the Things That Didnāt Quite Pan Out
Iāll admit it ā Iām still a little disappointed that Welcoming Haven didnāt take off the way I hoped. It was a solid idea; I just didnāt have the budget to push it where it needed to go. Same with my brief Etsy printable experiment. Letās just say Iām much better at buying cute printables than designing them.
DoorDash had its moment too. It was funā¦ until it wasnāt. Once I factored in gas, maintenance, and the joy of climbing to thirdāfloor walkups with arthritis, the math stopped mathing. When I took a spill on a delivery run, that was my sign to wrap up that chapter.
So for now, no side gigs. Just me, my home projects, and the cats supervising everything I do.
šø The Great Photo Tagging Marathon
One of my big undertakings is the massive photoātagging project. Iām working backward from Now and have made it to May 2021. Considering my media library goes back to January 2011, this should keep me entertained for a while. Maybe longer.
š§¹ Decluttering: The Adventure Continues
Then thereās the decluttering saga. Iāve got boxes to donate, boxes to sell, and boxes that are destined for the trash ā all currently cluttering my living space. But the cupboards are looking pretty good, and AARP swears Iāll be done in a few weeks. Iām choosing to believe them.
Part of my motivation comes from watching my sister deal with the mountain of stuff my mom left behind. I still have boxes from that era that I havenāt opened. Someday Iāll tackle themā¦ probably when I reach the dining room. Until then, yes, the place looks a little like Iām auditioning for Hoarders: The Prequel.
š¶āāļø Health, Mobility, and a Dash of Pride
Now for the big topic: mobility. My arthritis has been getting worse, and while the hip replacement went well, Iām not eager to repeat the experience with my knee. I lost 25 pounds hoping it would help ā and while I look better, my walking hasnāt improved much.
Iām seriously considering a walker. I still have the one from my surgery, but itās not great for strolling around parks. A new one would let me load my camera on the seat and get back to exploring. The cane works, but juggling that and a camera is a circus act.
My pride is the real obstacle. I donāt want to admit Iāve reached the āwalker stage.ā But as the saying goes, pride goeth before a fall ā and in my case, that might be more literal than Iād like.
Future Me?
š¾ And Through It Allā¦
My days are full ā projects, decluttering, mobility puzzles, and of course, the cats āhelpingā every step of the way. But one thing remains constant: Iāll keep sharing my rambling thoughts here on Around Dusty Roads.
Thanks for sticking with me through all the twists, turns, and experiments. And if youāve got advice, stories, or your own retirement adventures to share, feel free to jump in. Even if I pretend I donāt want advice, I usually enjoy hearing it.