Living the Dream in Retirement
A few years back, I was lucky enough to take the most amazing trip to Europe with Spence. It was one of those “bucket list” trips for me. Not Spence’s first trip there, he was in charge of making decisions about how I should experience it – and he did not disappoint. It truly was the trip of a lifetime and I long to return there, frequently (and wistfully) scrolling through some of the 2000+ pictures I took. It occurred to me that I’ve only featured a few of them in the blog to date. Here are some of my favorites……encompassing scenes from Switzerland and a French Farmer’s Market.
I hope you enjoy them – stay tuned for more favorite photos from this trip in future posts….
The BUGS (Blogging University Graduates) bi-weekly prompt is to track our 2015 New Year’s Resolutions at mid-year.
I still have the following things to complete be they resolutions, goals or simply my to-do list:
I’d love to hear how you’re doing with your resolutions…….leave me a comment!
Twenty Third thing: There is a website that never ceases to make me happy. It has forever changed the way Spence and I travel. My lifelong BFF was the one who turned me on to http://homeaway.com She and her husband had taken a trip to the California wine region. Renting a fully furnished home, they’d do vineyard tours and wine tasting, bringing back bottles of great wine that they could share back at their “home” each evening. I was intrigued. How many homes? Where?
The answer: Countless homes and EVERYWHERE!
So far, we’ve stayed in a log home in the Smoky Mountains, a historic home adjacent to Forsyth Park in Savannah, a condo overlooking the mountains in Canmore, Alberta and a zen villa in the Red Rocks of Sedona. The appeal for us is living as “locals” in a beautiful fully furnished home with all the amenities, no noise from neighboring hotel rooms, no maids in and out and the convenience of a full kitchen if we want to eat in.
I’m back to the 59 Things – my series on a random assortment of things that make me happy to commemorate my recent 59th birthday.
Twentieth thing: Okra. Yup, you read that right. OKRA MAKES ME HAPPY.
I can imagine some of my followers screaming “What? Say it ain’t so!”
Calm down, let me explain. I’ve always prided myself on trying all food. With few exceptions, I like or love most everything. However, a few years ago while traveling, Spence and I stopped off at a little roadside spot for a beer and a brisket sandwich in a lovely outdoor setting. When the owner brought our food, she said, “Y’all like pickled okra?” As I looked down, there it sat on my plate, one piece of pickled okra. For about a minute. Then I discreetly put it on Spence’s plate. “Here ya’ go!”.
Spence took a bite of his, then placed mine back on my plate. “Trust me, you want to try this” was all he had to say. Even though I was certain I didn’t like okra, I took a bite. Then I proceeded to finish it off. Spence just laughed. Clearly I’d liked it. After lunch I found a local vendor and bought 5 jars to take home to Michigan, under the misconception that I could only find this in the south. Thankfully, I was wrong, it’s not difficult to find.
While traveling recently, I saw fried okra featured as a side dish to bbq ribs. I enthusiastically ordered it, confident I would love it. And I did. The reason I wanted to include okra in my 59 things is that it proved an important point. Never assume you don’t like something you’ve never tried, you may miss out on something terrific!
A few days ago, Spence and I did something that we’d never done in 24+ years together. We went panning at a gem mine. And I’ve got the pictures to prove it.
We paid $10 for a bucket of “sand” (though we could see some crystals peeking through) and a little spade. Directed down to the waterfalls, next to an old mill, was the panning area.
By the end of our experience which was truly enjoyable, we got quite a haul including some really gorgeous crystals.
Once rinsed and all debris removed, here is our treasure! Fun, sun and a bag of gems for $10. Memory of good times with my guy = priceless.
Thirteenth thing: Waterfalls always make me happy. Sometimes you expect them – as in Niagara Falls. You know you’re going to see them upon arrival and they are magnificent, powerful and unrelenting as they flow and crash without a pause.
Other waterfalls have presented themselves by accidental discovery such as during our travels years back, in Costa Rica. Our friend Carlos had an incredible piece of property – ranch, mountains, caves and he promised, waterfalls. To get to those falls, we would have to go on horseback, then tie up and hike in. These hidden, private falls were pristine and we sat in pools at the bottom, letting the cascading water refresh us from the long, hot ride to get there.
Another couple (Americans) that we met in Costa Rica, were renting a home up in the mountains, very secluded. Don and Dale had chosen the location because they were nudists, (we opted to pass on trying that when invited for the weekend – “no matter” said Don). Driving in their open jeep, on increasingly smaller “roads”, through streams and over rock slides we finally stopped. Following Don, we hiked, hearing the falls before we could see them. Again, it appeared that we were the only humans who’d made this trek and for the next hour, we floated and marveled at the spectacular majesty of these waterfalls. The splendor of nature.
In our travels recently, Spence and I returned to a place where we’d found not only waterfalls but a place where you could enjoy them while enjoying an ice cold beer. And they didn’t disappoint.
