My Tireless Retirement - Week 217

 

Good morning!  Can you believe we are sitting at the end of May already?  That is okay because life is good and getting better with each passing day.  I’m super happy with my decision to let go of my part-time job and fully embrace retirement.  The peace and calm that has taken over my life is indescribable.  As it sits now, I have no plans to find another part-time retirement gig.  I’m good!  And very grateful!

 

Gift card Trader Joes haul! 😀

I am sleeping so much better now.  I woke up Friday morning feeling well rested and ready to start my day.  With my Christmas gift card from Trader Joes I drove downtown and treated myself to a little bit of a shop first thing that morning after I had my coffee.  In the parking lot I visited with a kind, older gentlemen for a while before heading back home.  It was nice to just be able to do that without feeling the need to rush off to do other things.  I’m seriously in no rush to do anything.

 

A friend made me this card and the candle

A dinner get-together at my house was already preplanned for Friday evening and I felt no need to cancel or put it off, but I did change up the menu from a more complicated plan to a simple taco bar using home canned carne asada and pork verde, crisp taco shells out of a box, a jar of home canned black bean corn salsa (last one, need to make more) and tortilla chips.  For dessert I pulled out a frozen hot milk cake and some berries from the freezer for a super quick and simple berry shortcake complete with a can of the squirty whipped cream.  With the exception of the tortilla chips I already had everything on hand.  Perfect!

 

Saturday morning I got up and did something I haven’t done in ages.  I went into the craft room and worked on some doll rehab projects that have been sitting and patiently awaiting my attention.  I was able to completely transform one doll and finish another one I had already started.  It felt so good to get back to a passion project and devote my total time and attention to it.  I was so focused I was almost late to meet a friend for lunch.

 

I met a friend at a favorite pizza place where they serve a buffet and salad bar for lunch.  After lunch we went to Fred Meyer just to look around because we weren’t quite ready to quit visiting with each other.  I told my friend I wanted to see if I could find a cross body purse similar to hers and ditch because I no longer feel it fits my “new” lifestyle.  She agreed and we found exactly what I was hoping to find.  It is black leather with only a few compartments and a long strap so I can wear it across instead of just on one shoulder.  Best of all, it was on the clearance rack for $20.  We both agreed it was meant to be.  I love it!

 

Sunday was a more relaxed day for me.  I watered the garden, worked on my doll rehab project some more and then enjoyed watching a few shows on my new TV and the humming birds at the feeder outside my living room window.  Monday, also Memorial Day, and the rest of the week for that matter, was much the same.  Just calm and quiet and I can tell you the noise inside my head is leaving me alone as well, confirming further I made the right choice.  Our weather was a bit topsy-turvy and we even got a bit of rain which I appreciated very much.  It was just a really, really, really good week.  Nothing special or earth shattering happened, it was just nice.

 

I hope this past week has been very good to you and all is well and right in your world.  Do take care of yourself and let me know in the comments what has been keeping you busy lately.  And thank you so much to all of you who have left such kind and supportive comments.  It has been very much appreciated.