Perhaps it's not the number of miles . . .

When I was growing up, summer vacations were trips to the rural part of the state where my grandparents had a farm. I loved this farm and the memories that it continues to hold for me.
One of these memories occured when I was about 15 or 16 years old. We went to call on an elderly couple that lived about 30 miles down the road in a neighboring town. I vaguely remember sitting quietly and listening to adult conversations and drinking lemonade.
For entertainment, the wife played the piano and the husband played the spoons - what an incredibly delicious memory!
The house was very comfortable and very old and it was mentioned that the gentleman had been born in this house, later got married and continued to live there. In fact, the couple had never been further than 75 miles from that very spot!
I felt a sadness at hearing that, for even at my young age, I truly believed that the world had so much to offer for anyone willing to find it. And maybe that's the key . . . a willingness to look and really see.
Harry Chapin said in best in one of his songs: "You can travel on 10,000 miles and still stay where you are."

Places to see . . .

For me, a lot of the joy in living is sharing the experience or even the planning of the experience with others. Hence this weblog! In telling others about my upcoming travels, I have been inundated with with suggestions, ideas and "You absolutely must see _______ [fill in the blank with any city and country of your choice]."
Looks like I'll need to be travelling for several years, because every place that had been mentioned to me sounds incredible and not to be missed!
One of the best retirement gifts I received from a friend is Patricia Schultz's book, 1,000 Places to See Before You Die. In flipping through the pages of this book, I was overwhelmed with how much is truly 'out there' and just waiting to be experienced. I was also a bit comforted in seeing that I have actually been to several of the locations noted on these pages - p.655, Arthur Bryant's Barbecue! [Among others . . .]
I guess I need to buy a package of stickers and start marking the pages - thanks for the suggestion, Jim!

Creature Comforts

As I get closer to my flight departure date, I'm getting lots of advice on what I should or shouldn't be taking with me. I keep in mind, that whatever is decided on, I will be responsible for toting along with me. Traveling light is definitely the key.
I also know that there are some things that will be with me, regardless of their necessity or value in anyone else's eyes. These are the items that truly give me comfort when I can't quite get a handle on the craziness going on around me.
I have a very dear friend who travels across continents on a regular basis and has the knack for traveling 'light' down to a find art. She also carries a manually operated cappuccino maker.
No doubt, as my travels continue, what provides me comfort may change - especially if it gets too heavy to drag along!

'Tis the Season

I've often commented that I'm not a shopper - I'm a buyer. I always manage to find something in a store that I'm sure I need. It doesn't make any difference what the store is: hardware, book, grocery, etc.
This time of the year, it's especially challenging because in the process of buying for others, I find treasures for myself!
However, I have recently discovered a store that I really feel good about purchasing, whether for myself or others. This store provides fair trade merchandise from artisans world wide. Knowing that the money I have spent goes back to the craftsman is a great feeling. I'm happy to report that I have provided extra Christmas joy to people all over the world!

Out of Ruts and into Grooves

With the sale of my house and moving temporarily about ten miles further from work, I've discovered that my normal morning routine needs to be thought out a bit more! I'm either very early arriving to destinations or, depending on traffic, quite late.
As I was speeding to an early morning meeting, a few days ago, I started rememebering how quickly a "routine" can become a mindless habit.
Those moments when you're driving along, suddenly come into consciousness and realize you have no memory of how you drove across town.
Or having accumulated enough points to qualify for full-retirement, and wonder how in the world I got here so fast.

In less than three weeks . . .

I have heard it said that most people will change careers or at least places of employment a minimum of seven times throughout their adult work years.
Hmmm . . . having worked at the same place for over 30 years, it's understandable that getting ready to leave [in less than three weeks] brings on an incredible array of emotion.
This has been the longest 'relationship' I have had in my life time [with the exception of my parents and siblings].
I suppose I am truly one of the lucky ones - to be leaving a place that I continue to love and value, with co-workers I can honestly say I have looked forward to seeing every day! However, I also know it's time for me to move on.
I wonder if there has ever been a study to calculate the length of time expended to 'disconnect' emotionally from a job, compared to the number of years employed there?

Houseless . . . not really Homeless

One of the first 'sayings' I remember reading as a child, was a ceramic plaque that hung in the kitchen where I grew up. On it read, "Home is where the Heart is."
This has taken on great meaning for me, as I have recently sold my house, disposed of 90% of "the stuff" I had in the house, and have moved in temporarily with a good friend.
There's a grand design here [somewhere, I hope!], that is allowing me perhaps a last chance in this life time, to literally and figuratively, clear out the clutter and 'cumberances' of years of accumulation.
In about one month, the security of my former day-to-day existence will be finished as I head out . . . for lack of a better or more clever phrase - parts unknown. But not without my heart.