The calendar shows it’s supposed to be fall. Outside, leaves are turning colors. Days are getting shorter. The time change happens this weekend. I think the weather is the only one that hasn’t gotten the memo that it’s fall. I’m past ready for hot chocolate, cozy sweaters and crisp mornings!
After a busy summer and early fall, I’ve become a homebody while waiting for the next episode of “This Life in Retirement” to load. Since retiring 4 years ago, I’ve knocked 6 bucket trip list locations off my list, pitched a read to a dog program to 3 different school districts, gone back to work part-time and left said job 18 months later when one district said yes to our weekly READ program. Sweet little school close to home, but they were unable to meet the READ program requirements for the following school year. A former colleague connected me with district number 3. We’re now in our second school year of a READ program with them. Life is good. FYI – life as a therapy dog mom means 45-50 visits with Sadie per year, which equates to about 200 hours of volunteer time.
With the READ program in place, therapy dog visit opportunities no longer automatically outrank all other activities. Shocker, right? Of course, we still like to make special visits from time-to-time, but I no longer feel a sense of FOMO if I don’t check the group opportunities calendar for a couple of weeks. Same goes with planning travel. I do my best to work around existing commitments (including therapy dog visits), but if a bucket list trip needs to happen a particular week (or two), we’ll go that week.
Indicators are that I’m about to enter my quilting and travel (sometimes together) era. My involvement with the quilt guild has increased ever since I chaired one of the quilt show subcommittees. New teaching and tech editing opportunities have come my way. Nora’s going with me to the Myrtle Beach Quilt Party, so I may have found a new quilty travel buddy. Hubs and I have revised our joint travel wish list and are planning our upcoming trips. Sadie & I have decided to take full advantage of my America the Beautiful national park pass by visiting all of the local spots.
