If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.

that's the only word for my current existence. when i imagined myself as a middleaged woman married to a man who had just retired, I really groaned at the image. I imagined him in my hair all the time, in too small a home with too much time on his hands basically making me nuts. and it has turned out quite differently.

 

 

 

First of all he did a magnificant job of squirreling away the bucks all these years so that he could retire earlier than many. and then he made sure we continued to have great medical care but then the greatest coup was managing the details of this move to portland. sure i unpacked a home and found medical care and friends and decorated many many rooms and supervised a kitchen redo but that all was  contingent on the amazing prep work my husband did to make this life so fine.

 

so essentially we have a week of saturdays. no bedtime because we have to get up early. no co workers adding stress to our lives. we eat and sleep and play when we want and when things need to be done we can move at a leisurely pace- like the kitchen is 90% done and we are taking our time  finishing up the last details.

 

today for example. Jim played tennis. I played in the yard while abi prowled as far as her leash would allow. after we took a bargh together in the two person jacuzzi- the daily ritual of discussing the news-  he heated up the grill, I made cajun black and blue burgers with the most delicious oregon blue cheese. then we played cards on the north patio while the sun set and listened to the water gurgle in the bird bath under the maples.

 

we have six distinct places to sit outdoors: one along the south patio near the pond, another under the trees in the back. on the top deck we can sit  in the butterfly chairs in the sun  or under the eaves behind blue canvas screens in the swinging chairs. The there is the dining deck off the kitchen and dining room.... it's covered and this summer jim is going to screen it in. and finally there is the north patio, all tucked behind japanese maples and camellis hedges. four teak adirondack chairs and a large coffee table let you lounge away with cosmopolitans and the breeze.

 

That's why I call it delightful. a portland evening is cool , bug free. the sparrows and swallows keep us company as the sun sets behind the hedges. yes delightful. very very very. thanks honey.