Passages

[Pax]

Crankin - isn't it interesting the way our lives evolve??


We see our lives as taking two possible forks in the next five years, so much of what we do will hinge on which path we take.

Path One: We are going to Key West for a few months starting next Spring, if we love it then we'll move there. Pay is really bad in the Keys so it'll be one of those enjoy-what-you've-got places to live.

Path Two: Decide KW isn't for us long term, come home, go back to my job. Look for an RV and travel like crazy every minute we get. Retire at 55 (the soonest I can draw a pension at my job), hit the road and workkamp around the country.

[Velocivixen]

Sounds like you are making a "mid-course correction". I have an am currently doing that. It is so fine to let go, refresh, start anew.

[roadie gal]

Funny, I was thinking about this just recently.

After 5-6 years of training for triathlons I've given myself a break this summer. I've only been on my bike about 4 times. I just haven't felt like riding. I've been out hiking a bunch and I've been on my new paddle board, so I haven't been sitting around. But I just don't feel like biking. I figure it will come around again, maybe next year, maybe the next. No pressure.

The more you push yourself to do something you don't enjoy the more you'll end up hating it.

[OakLeaf]

I'm kind of doing the opposite - regretting things that got left by the wayside over the years. Music. Writing. I want them back, but there's so much emotion between me and that place now.

[shootingstar]

Oak, hope you'll get back to either music or writing at some point. It might come back --transformed. Maybe a new instrument or whatever.

Writing- I abandoned this a few years after university. Then returned to it 25+ years in the form of....blogging. Now am in overdrive...writing for 4 blogs, of which am blogmaster for 3. (I have a full-time paid job outside of blogging also.)

Sewing- Abandoned since I got back into cycling. Gave away a whole box of fabric to friends and family. But kept my sewing machine...handy for doing alterations.

Cross-country skiing- I was never good at this. Dropped over 15 yrs. ago. But haven't given away skis yet.

Painting- Temporarily abandoned for last 4 yrs. But haven't tossed out new art supplies, new canvasses yet. For now, it's been replaced by photography which is used for blogging.

So it takes me a LOOOOOOG time to abandon anything forever. Because I see cycling as a long-term passion but not forever at the same intensity because there will be a point in life, several decades away where I will return to some of these activities more regularily because I won't be able to cycle for many hrs. / kms.

So I see all my other passions as insurance for me...to remain balanced, give me happy other options if cycling passion changes abit.
For now, cycling feeds my blog writing and photography which helps keep my creative fingers active in a way.

Whew, what an explanation.

[Pax]

Thought I'd update this thread and see where everyone else is.

We see our lives as taking two possible forks in the next five years, so much of what we do will hinge on which path we take.

Path One: We are going to Key West for a few months starting next Spring, if we love it then we'll move there. Pay is really bad in the Keys so it'll be one of those enjoy-what-you've-got places to live.

Path Two: Decide KW isn't for us long term, come home, go back to my job. Look for an RV and travel like crazy every minute we get. Retire at 55 (the soonest I can draw a pension at my job), hit the road and workkamp around the country.

These paths have shifted since my mom got sick. Once she's well mended we'll continue along with a slightly different trajectory.

The goal is still Key West, but I'm 2.5 years out from being able to retire from the university and can start drawing the tiny pension at age 55 (3.5 years), guess it makes sense to stay until then and keep saving money.

My SO changed jobs into one that may allow telecommuting in the next couple of years, that would put us in a fantastic financial position to live in the Keys, so we're keeping that around as option one!


How is everyone else doing??

[smilingcat]

forced into early retirement, moved to Portland Or. and loving every minute of it. I turn on the radio in the morning and listen to all the traffic congestion. Nowhere near as LA congestion, and I feel bad for those commuting while I'm thinking my goodness I'm glad I can just play with my cats and have a cup of chai tea.

[shootingstar]

I still have stuff in another city..of which some I will spend a few hrs., dumping paperwork.

And going through photo albums..to salvage, if I can some precious photos for scanning. Hmmmmm.

I can't buy more artwork. I have my own stuff that I made, store and display across 2 locations.

Limewave about your lack of motivation right now to draw...maybe this phase will go on for the next decade. And come back again when children are grown up.

I can't believe that I haven't read a novel in several years. My undergrad. degree is in English Literature. Most of the stuff I read now is non-fiction.

[Crankin]

I looked back at my original comment.
I did end up joining a gym, but not the personal training/spin place I had mentioned. I joined the cheapest gym in the area, mostly for the 5:30 AM core training/circuit training class 2X a week. Otherwise, it's not that great, not a lot of classes at times convenient for me, and the people seem cliquey, although after 5 months, they talk to me now! I used to belong to a pricey, full service health club/swim/tennis place with tons of classes. It's a case of you get what you pay for. But, I don't need something like that. I need to find something else for next fall.