While it might sound like I am complaining - I am not. Life is fabulous and wonderful. I am finding my new job challenging and rewarding, my colleagues have both impressed me with their competence and supportive manner and my new boss has made several comments that she is pleased with my work. I finally have my condo on the real estate market and a late November move in date for my new digs seems likely. None of my adult children are having serious issues. I am in the early stages of a dating relationship and it is so nice to have a bit of spice in that area of my life even if for a while. I could not ask for more. Certainly, I have everything in place for a great fall and winter and should be happy with that.
Somehow though I am thinking of the next phase - when I can ease off work and spend more hours at play? There is so much more I want to do and see and with 50+ hours a week at work there just is not enough time. I really do work too hard. But I am doing this for a reason. I am saving my shekels for my sabbatical.
Sometime in the next few years I will take 4-6 months off and do a bit of a travel sabbatical. Today my thoughts are on that day. I am envious of my blog sphere friend Fram, who sits in his lake house in his "command centre" writing, reading and thinking and plotting where he might like to go for the winter - I am sure it will be Poland, but for how long? Anyway, me - I will be doing the 9 to 5 thing for sure all of this year (actually it is more like the 8 to 6ish thing, but you get the idea.)
Today, as I busy myself with chores at my Collingwood Shangri-La having just come back from my little paddle around White's Bay, I am wistful for summer and wishing I were in my next phase and planning some adventures. Instead I will make do with planning some smaller holidays and also some other adventures in my personal life which seem to be on the cook. (wink, wink, say no more!)
I tried to coax Bella into going out on the lake with me. She got in the kayak just for a moment and then decided the dock was a better place for a dog. I guess she was right. She waited patiently on the dock while I did my thing.
The water is really very warm this year and while there was a bit of a breeze it was not cold. I had a great paddle and got both some exercise and some mental R&R.
This song by Metallica really suits my mood. Particularly this version with the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra. The lyrics resonate with today's mood.
Nothing Else Matters
Songwriters: Hetfield, James Alan;Ulrich, Lars
So close, no matter how far
Couldn't be much more from the heart
Forever trusting who we are
and nothing else matters
Never opened myself this way
Life is ours, we live it our way
All these words I don't just say
and nothing else matters
Trust I seek and I find in you
Every day for us something new
Open mind for a different view
and nothing else matters
never cared for what they do
never cared for what they know
but I know
So close, no matter how far
Couldn't be much more from the heart
Forever trusting who we are
and nothing else matters
never cared for what they do
never cared for what they know
but I know
Never opened myself this way
Life is ours, we live it our way
All these words I don't just say
Trust I seek and I find in you
Every day for us, something new
Open mind for a different view
and nothing else matters
never cared for what they say
never cared for games they play
never cared for what they do
never cared for what they know
and I know
So close, no matter how far
Couldn't be much more from the heart
Forever trusting who we are
No, nothing else matters
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Well, Peggy, you touched on some of my favorite things today: Me (that is supposed to be a joke); how to live the life of a wastrel without actually appearing to be one; gliding through the water in a personal way, in my case, that would be a canoe rather than a kayak; and a touch of the rock & roll.
ReplyDeleteAnything might happen between now and the end of November to cause a change in tentative plans, but I think my paddle might slip into the waters of both the Pacific and the Atlantic oceans between now and the end of the year. Then, maybe, Poland.
You had a neat, thoughtful, introspective post today. In enjoyed reading it very much.
That is a cute picture of Bella in the kayak. I'm happy that you have been able to get away at least to your Collingwood Shangri-La during the summer months. I'm glad that you are able to squeeze in much-needed downtime.
ReplyDeleteFram, I am following your blog quite interested to see where your plotting and planning leads and now will wait for hints of your thoughts on a Pacific coast trip. I am earnest when I say I am quite jealous and in fact, I am taking notes on how to "how to live the life of a wastrel without actually appearing to be one" - as I fully intend to join those ranks. LOL...
ReplyDeleteJoking aside, there should be some value (non monetary no doubt) ascribed to indulging one's creative and/or intellectual side and to geographical exlorations rather than thinking of those as "a wastrel's life".
I hope you do keep in touch through your blogs more often than you did last year. I am very much enjoying hearing about your quiet sojourn at your southern Minnesota Lake house.
Yes, this blog is not typical for me in that it was very introspective - I don't often share that side of myself in my blogs, perhaps I should do so more often. Thanks for your kind words, it is nice that you came to visit.
Linda, thanks for visiting. Yes, Bella was quite cute in the Kayak. I also had a few amused bystanders as I sat in the Kayak dock side trying to coax her into my lap. I was not expecting to get her to do more than sit there for a moment before leaping back to the dock (which she did), but wanted to give it a try as you never know. She has been more interested in the water this year than others and perhaps she might have been ok with it.
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting!
I loved your post. It vibrates, resonates and shakes. And Metallica to round things up! Great.
ReplyDeleteGreetings from London.