I never imagined – back when – as I neared retirement – I would sometimes not remember what day of the week it was ! Nor – would I ever wonder – with the hours of each day – “HOW DID I EVER FIND TIME TO WORK”?
You want to stay Young ? You want to stay active ? To do that – at least I find – the way I remember – is that Monday night is put out the GARBAGE – and pick up is Tuesday ! Now – that I remember for some reason. Also – I know it is Monday – because that is the day Tammy – our daughter – closes her store up , Kids 529 Consignment shop ! So – she does not work that day – and in the school year – I do not pick up the twins from school.
Bode – Cassidy and Taylor- Tammy & Marcus little ones.
The rest of the week – each day – I go and wait in a car line to pick up the girls – and I get there early – so I am usually second in line – and the line when school is out is about 70 or more cars ! So – I am prepared – I take my water -maybe a snack- a pillow – and leave the car on – it is a Hybrid so it mostly runs on the battery. I kick the seat back and turn my favorite radio show on – 106.7 – the Sports radio show that covers the D.C. area.
Sometimes I even drift off for a power nap!
Cassidy – Bode & Taylor 8 – 4 – 8 years old.
That takes me up to Tuesday – garbage day and pick up the girls day. Wednesday is take the twins to choir day – and meet Granny -( Jennie )- Marcus mother – who picks up Bode every day from preschool.
She takes him home and when Marcus is done – he picks him up and then will come to our house and pick up the twins.
But – Wednesday is church choir and all three sing – even Bode who can not read but will memorize the words and they are good singers.
We now have covered Monday thru Wednesday . Thursday – I start preparing again for garbage day – but also recycle day – by setting everything out for pick up on Friday !
At National Harbor – Washington D.C. Sherry’s shirt says it all!
There are also days that we will journey into D.C. for special trips – taking all the grand kids – we took the two oldest – Maddy and Ella – and got off at Arlington – took in the Tomb of the Unknown soldier and then walked across the 14 th. street bridge and spent the day at all the memorials – walking the Mall and having lunch. We walked miles that day and they loved it.
So – that leaves Friday – the day the GARBAGE & RECYCLES are picked up. I count the days by that format – very seldom do I know the exact date – I can look at the top of the paper – or my phone.
On Oahu – North Shore NO CARES – NO WORRIES #livinglifetotheplus
But to be perfectly honest with you – being retired – it does not really matter – I also count down days by what we have scheduled coming up ! Yes -we PLAN- put it down in writing – search and research – add names of visitors to come – the dates and what we are going to do. Some people can not do that for whatever reason – but not us – WE DO IT! Such as so goes our life – we live life to the plus one day at a time – but we know what is ahead – after all – for us – that is part of the excitement – just like little kids – “HOW MANY SLEEPS ARE LEFT PAPA ” ?
And then the early morning comes and you head out – all part of that special time – now I look back – and I wonder – JUST HOW DID I FIND TIME TO WORK ?
RETIREMENT – YOU COUNT THE DAYS BY GARBAGE – the weekends – well they are just another day -most times you just do not care !
You cannot often call someone an almost lifelong friend – and still see them every four months or so!
I have known DOTTIE since she married one of my best friends – Jimmy – with whom I played softball in the mid-70s!
We have gone on family vacations – I carried her KATTIE back and forth on the beach – losing her little shoe on the way and going back so she wouldn’t burn her foot in the hot sand. She became my “LITTLE FRIEND” all those years ago.
We are both from Eldred, Pa. and she bonded with Sherry right away.
Many – many times we have taken in the Sun- Sand and Surf of beaches –
and having a “FEW” drink along the way!
Today is her “SPECIAL” day – and in a few weeks she will walk out the doors one last time into –
“RETIREMENT”!
Dottie – the best is yet to come – those little granddaughters – your new house –
and the trips you have planned –
And of course our ‘FRIENDS TRIPS” now that we all are retired!
Playing golf – sipping a few drinks – singing and of course “LAUGHING”!
THE THREE SENORITES! ALWAYS SO MUCH FUN WITH THESE THREE!
From the “GANG” to you DOTTIE – HAPPY BIRTHDAY to a beautiful lady inside and out!
SUN – SAND and SURF – TRIPS – GRANDKIDS – FAMILY AND FRIENDS ARE IN YOUR FUTURE!
PAPA’S WORLD – my site: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog
Sherry – Pam – Papa – Bobby – Bob and I went all the way from grade school to High School!
We played sports together – stayed at each other’s house – drank beer –
Hung around and grew up in a little town in the Alleghany foothills called Eldred in Pa.
While they reside in New Hampshire – they have been RVing for the past four-plus years –
leasing out their condo – they are on their way to Florida after spending last winter out West!
Their little dog Bo has been with them for over a year now – here we are walking around one of our ponds!
Walking the neighborhood – and looking at new builds – they will reevaluate after this winter – bringing to a close five years of life on the road to see if they want to put down roots or continue the Nomad life.
PAPA’S WORLD – WHEN OLD FRIENDS VISIT – my site: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog
We are living our dream – living on the N.C -S.C. border – close to so many really fine golf courses!
Our close friends live 35 minutes away and we get together often – golf and dinner.
We are so close to a couple beaches – 15 minutes and we are on the sand at either one.
We get to watch the change over every weekend – much as we did in our younger years when we vacationed at the beach – now we live it every day.
The footprints disappear only to be made over and over again each day.
No more snow and ice – yes it does get cold – but by midday, it is bearable to be out and about.
Living life one day at a time!
We have now watched our oldest granddaughter graduate from college – sad that soccer has ended with her – but happy that it continues with her sister in her junior year at college.
We have volunteered at the memory care unit and now the SEA TURTLE PROTECTION program for N.C.
Ocean Isle Beach – walking the beach and sitting at nesting sites.
WE ARE LOVING LIFE IN OUR NEAR TO BE MID SEVENTY!
Thanks for reading PAPA’S WORLD – my site: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog
The sun sets for this day – one of many – many we have enjoyed in our new life in retirement!
I worked 47 1/2 years for the same company – prior to that – I started working when I was going into my Junior year of H.S.
I decided when I retired – almost 50 years of working – was enough !
Me – Sherry – Steve- Elaine – Cindy & Buck
It was important to maintain our friendships – stay in touch – here are four of our closest friends.
Buck and I – NWPA – golfing vacation
It was important for me to stay active and play golf.
Our six grand children – 5 grand daughters and then Bode .
Family is very important to me , when we moved to NVA – Sherry’s daughters followed us there . My two sons stayed in NWPA – we see them when we visit. In the 20 years – the Va.family has grown – and being there – we see them often if not daily. My family I grew up with is almost gone – I have a niece – great niece’s – brother’s daughter – great – great niece and 2 great – great nephews – everyone else including uncles -aunts are gone.
We have a little side business –
We live in a very expensive part of the country – in fact – this county has the highest income per household in the country. We moved here 20 years ago for work and then Sherry retired almost 7 years ago – and went full time into that business of health and nutrition. I followed one year later – and – we have been into this for almost sixteen years!
North Shore – Oahu
We travel – we play golf – we see the country – but we also maintain a healthy lifestyle – eating right – and continue to inspire people to do the same.
You have to remember – retirement means Social Security – if you have a pension plan – 401 K – and whatever else you have saved. PLAN ” B ” – if you want to maintain – you have to have a plan.
The three amigo’s for over 38 years.
Family life – friends – and maintaining health are important for us. All three – with church and God – are our mainstays of life. Giving – helping – praying and attending church – go hand in hand with our life. But – having fun – seeing friends – and watching the family grow – is to me what retirement is all about.
Cindy and Sherry
My wife is extraordinary – a natural born leader – a certified health coach – along as being a true friend to many. She is my crutch – the one I follow on health and nutrition and the reason I am still alive today.
A typical dinner meal for me
Eating healthy – sticking to the plan – and taking my nutrition supplement – and following what she says and does are my secrets to life.
The TOWER GARDEN – we grow inside and outside – year round.
We grow our own produce – April through October outside with two Tower Gardens – anything that does not grow on a tree! And then as you see above – we grow inside our garage from November through March. Always fresh and no pesticides – we know what we are eating and growing.
Team Generations
Our team has grown over the years – conference time is twice a year – all over the Country – as is the team – simply sharing by word of mouth. Families – children – helping each other – maintain that healthy lifestyle.
Sherry -Debby ( QMND – soon to be NMD )
Our goal of maintaining our lifestyle in retirement with a PLAN ” B” has been met and continues – growing year by year.
We would love to share it with you – it is not easy – life isn’t easy either – but you make it what you want it to be.
It is up to you – we supply the help – the guidance – we are there.
http://www.sf.juiceplus.com is where you contact Sherry – and look at all the different video’s – both on the health and business.
I am writing this blog today – my only regret is that SOMEONE out there did not share it with us 25 years ago – I wish they had – but we found it 16 years ago and our own PLAN” B” has worked.
Thank you for reading – and remember #livinglifetotheplus is real –
Papa’s World – retirement – loving life to the plus doing it my way.
“JIMMY and PAPA” friends since 1977 – best buddies – friends – the same little town in NWPA!!!
Jimmy and I have played softball together – volleyball – golf – corporate cup competitions – family vacations – for years and years.
Friendships usually do not last that long – but this one is still ongoing – and he retired from the same company I did yesterday!
Dottie – Sherry – Cindy – Buck – Jimmy and Papa – friends all these years – neighbors – three of us worked for the same company – now all retired except Dottie who has a little over a year to go.
These friends go all the way back to 1980 – through thick and thin – NWPA and WNY – still going strong!
New years eve together for years and years – Cindy – Sherry, and Jim – starting off the end one year and the new one coming in.
Jimmy has been there since Sherry and I were married in 1982 – many vacations together with families – many times visiting each other – and soon – golfing together more often when Dottie retires.
A day on the ICW with all our friends and neighbors from back in WNY! Mike and Carol John joined us for a few days!
Thanks for reading PAPA’S WORLD – A tribute to one of my best friends – JIMMY BROWN – the best is yet to come!
