Whittling

Ahhh, retirement.
Have you  joined us yet?
Most VK friends have either retired, are approaching retirement, or are pedaling fast as they can 'cause it's just around the corner.

It ain't quite what I thought it would be.
I already knew it wasn't gonna be like "Andy of Mayberry", with all the guys gathering down at Floyd's Barber Shop to share gossip about who was brewin' a batch of hooch out in the holler somewhere.
But I had no idea it was gonna turn out the way it has.

Sara Jean is wonderful about remembering to set up the coffee pot before we hit the sack at night.
We rise shortly after the sun comes up, let Lucy out to take care of business, and grab the morning newspaper. I open the blinds overlooking the Gulf, pour coffee for both of us, carry coffee and newspaper to my recliner, turn on my reading light, then sit back and enjoy the morning while reading how much politicians are improving my life.
Wind, sun, cloud types and thickness, moisture level...
All change the way the surf looks as it crashes ashore, so my view is different from one morning to the next... check that... from one MINUTE to the next.

We still have to "work"...
Part of that work is checking the Wednesday and Sunday papers for the latest, greatest deals.
Grocery stores and restaurants compete for our $$$$$. Where can we go to get the most for the least?
(Winn-Dixie runs a strange promotion here called "Fuel Perks". Using their "Rewards Card" you can buy certain items and get 5, 10, 20, or even 30 cents off per gallon of fuel, up to twenty gallons. When I go buy fuel this week I'll get a $1.80/per gallon discount!)

And then there's travel, and PLANNING to travel.
We drove to Arizona last month to visit Big Bubba and help him move into his new home.
Twenty-five hours on the road, followed by a week of unpacking boxes, hanging window coverings and towel racks, and fixing a now-and-then leaking commode.
We're planning a return trip for Christmas/New Year's and will stay two weeks, enjoying that warm, dry air. (Are ya ready Clint?)

I had a dream two nights ago...
In my dream I received a call and HAD to go back to work.
It disturbed me so much, I woke myself up to rid myself of it.

This ain't whittling in the city park with a bunch of friends...
It's better.
Back home, they're whittling in the snow.