Thread Drift

[Catrin]

Congratulations on the wedding, that is great news!

[crazycanuckoz]

It's like old times round here kids! (I know the wording might be off but i'm taking a mental break from writing uni papers atm..)

I thought it might be nice to give an update on where i've ventured to...I'm still in love with trail running and have embraced my innnerrr weeeeeeeeeeee & feel happy when i'm out there.

I've basically finished my planning degree & only have my two electives left to do starting late nov. I'm impatiently awaiting my dissertation to be marked and my poor supervisor probably grew a few hairs dealing with my fears/tears as I typed.

I have a coolio run adventure next weekend and will tell you more when i finish it

We moved from Australia to Oman 2 yrs ago but i was back n forth to aust for uni as online classes drove me nuts.....I'm finally moving moving in 3 1/2 weeks..eeee! The driving is the hardest thing for me..! Great opp to travel to places neither of us have been for running or cycling.

Anywho, i'll venture along again to say howdy.

[shootingstar]

Big hello to Bleekergirl (and congrats. on the wedding occasion!) and crazycanuckoz. CC, you should blog about some of your experiences in Oman...so different. Best of luck for your running.

[Pax]

Hiya CC!

BSG, it looks like it was the year of weddings, congrats!! My honey and I tied the knot as well, feels pretty awesome doesn't it?

[Pax]

Freedom!

I'm having one of those small yet momentous days today. I've had my civil service earliest-possible-retirement date circled on my calendar for the last year. As of last Saturday (I did have to work today to lock in the time) I have my time in to retire. I can walk out the door of this place any time I want to now and they have to pay me my retirement pittance (and it is a pittance, but it's MY pittance) for the rest of my life!!! I feel very free all of a sudden.

Our plan is to work until May and then move to our little place in FL while my honey telecommutes for a while... but as of today we can go whenever the hell we want!!!!!

[Catrin]

Congratulations!

[OakLeaf]

Woot!

[lph]

Welcome back! :-D

[Pax]

Welcome back, Beth!

[OakLeaf]

Beth! Heya!

[Pax]

Uuurrpp!

[OakLeaf]

Tell me that isn't real ... (though I guess as a fan of Cel-Ray I shouldn't turn up my nose ...)

[Catrin]

I hear you Crankin, I an much the same way. This probably feeds into my overuse injury rate. As my hands are hurting too much for needlework I am broadening my reading topics for down time.

I was at Trader Joe's today and had a major problem getting the seal off a can of coffee so I could grind it. It was very obvious, and very painful. I noticed someone watching me, I hadn't realized it was so obvious. So very painful afterwards. As aggravating as all this is, it makes me think of those worse off than me. Even with the severe joint space restriction, the radiology report said my thumb/wrist/hand osteoarthritis is moderate. If this is moderate, I really feel for those with severe!

[Crankin]

I know this is a first world problem, but I've been feeling more isolated lately. I am in the process of changing my work schedule, which will not take place until the school year is over. My original intention was to work M, T, Th. But, there was no office space available for me on TH when I started, so the director asked me to go to Hudson HS, where we have a contract to provide services. I said yes, as it's my old district, I know the culture, etc. Not my old school. It took awhile to get my CORI check done for the district, so in the interim, I added a few clients on Friday morning. So, I am working more than I want, even though Thursday and Friday are half days, they often are busier with clients than my long days on M and T. Friday mornings are nice,a s most therapists don't work on Friday, and it is quiet. But I want to work 3 full days... not 4, with 2 half days, and I am resenting having to be at the HS at 7:30 AM! I get up early enough, but I have to rush out of here to get there for my first client. After 30+ years of that schedule, I don't like it, now that I can get up early, go to the gym or ride, and then not have to work until 9 or 10. What does this have to do with being bored? For me, it's a fine line between being too involved with my job and being so bored that i start obsessing on stuff that is not healthy. This is what happened when i stopped teaching. I really don't have any interests except the sports stuff I do, other than reading and theatre. I did my share of volunteering, and I came to feel that it's slave labor. It started to feel like work! So, by working 3 days a week, I won't be so work obsessed, because I worry that the same thing will happen to me when I cut down even more, like in 5 or so years. I feel like I need to make new friends. Except for the couple we do everything with, none of my other friends are as involved in outdoor stuff and are very sedentary. One of them, though, does ride and do Cross Fit, but she has a second home and is gone for most of the summer. She also is busier than I am, despite the fact she hasn't worked in a few years. I ride and hike with her, despite the fact she's slower than me, and a bit opinionated!
I used to be friendly with people I work with, but I don't do that anymore. There is one woman from my old school, that I still see, a couple of times a year. She's busy with work and has a 6th grader at home, so, she's not so available. On and off I have seen a few people from TE, for riding, but that seems to have calmed down. I've also cut all ties with the family I have here (cousins and an aunt), because I couldn't take their constant preaching at me, with their political views, which are radically opposite from mine.
I could increase my volunteering with AMC, which I do like, but most of that I do with DH, but not all.
I am rambling here, but, yes, there are always people worse off. I feel very lucky to live the life I have, but I have always been extremely social and something feels off.

[Catrin]

I know this is a first world problem, but I've been feeling more isolated lately...I am rambling here, but, yes, there are always people worse off. I feel very lucky to live the life I have, but I have always been extremely social and something feels off.

I am noticing the same myself and I've never been what you would call extremely social - I've been pondering this and from my observations it seems a more common trend. Unsure if it is because our society is so youth-centric or if the assumptions that people above a certain age are placed into rigid "holes" regarding our interests and activities. While I do have new friendly acquaintances my age that may become friends over time, I've noticed they aren't interested in physical/athletic activities at all. Those who do read, another of my interests, read very different things than I and don't seem to be interested in broadening their reading horizons. I find that I am interacting more with younger folk as I can't seem to find friends in my own age group locally who have similar interests. I am also 55 with no partner, children, grandchildren, etc - and this seems to be unusual in my circles. I am not holding my breath for holding for that first one to change (though it would be nice). So I get on with those things that I am interested in and am thankful for all that I DO have.

Perhaps things might change as more and more of the +50 crowd are Boomers, or not. Our rather large generation is now entirely over 50, so it will be interesting to see how things develop.