Passages

[GLC1968]

Amen sister! I got invited to the Old Girls game (where the old gals play the current college team), they asked me to play!!!! I laughed really hard, smiled and said "since I have to be able to walk tomorrow I'll pass, but thanks".

LOL! I'd have done the same thing. I can't even imagine how much pain I'd be in!

[Owlie]

I need to stop trying sports. Seriously. I pick all the expensive ones. Speaking of which, I thought of another one that dropped out of my life: Fencing. I was really into it in high school and the first half of college--competitively. I was only mediocre at it because I wasn't fast enough. I ultimately ended up dropping off the team because of academic and personal reasons, and the fact that it aggravated an old ankle injury really prevented me from getting back into it. I need to find a way to get rid of my old stuff, because I doubt that I'm ever going to pick it up again.

[Pax]

I need to stop trying sports. Seriously. I pick all the expensive ones. Speaking of which, I thought of another one that dropped out of my life: Fencing. I was really into it in high school and the first half of college--competitively. I was only mediocre at it because I wasn't fast enough. I ultimately ended up dropping off the team because of academic and personal reasons, and the fact that it aggravated an old ankle injury really prevented me from getting back into it. I need to find a way to get rid of my old stuff, because I doubt that I'm ever going to pick it up again.

There should be local gear swap centers in every community, a place where we could leave our old stuff when picking up gear for the newest endeavor.

[malkin]

See, my problem is that I still love doing all of my previous hobbies and of course I've added many more. While my time is limited, I just can't say 'done' about any of it because I do love it all.
...
I still want to do these things even though which ones get priority does shift from year to year...

This is pretty much my style. Maybe some day we'll go light and get rid of everything and live in someplace like those tiny IKEA demo rooms. For now we just moved and have double the square footage, so at least we can muck around in our stuff, see what's here, and think about it.

[Miranda]

It's been an interesting journey, I am so NOT a packrat but my SO is. She realizes she's got too much stuff now so she's getting ruthless with the cleaning out, it's fun to watch.

We've also pulled old junk out of jewelry boxes and sent it off to a buddy of mine (a retired chemical engineer) who buys gold and silver... so far we've gotten $1600 back!!

That's great! On both accounts.

Besides physical junk, other things in our life can be "clutter"... like our activities we no longer love as you say... relationships with other people... anything really- that no longer serves you today.

I've got some old gold stuff too... I said I was going to sell DH's baseball card collection and he about had a wetting accident lol... sooo that one is not quite there yet.

[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.