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The Importance of Sandcastles

Wednesday Aug 19 2009

By Shae Hadden | Bio

Friends and family have been stressing the importance of taking vacations with me for years. I have somewhat deliberately avoided the conversation as much as possible until now. End result: a lifetime of little travel, lots of work and limited 'fun'.All work and no play makes for a dull life. I've been beginning to wonder if perhaps[Read More]

Written by eldering at Health

Tagged with: health travel vacation

Experiencing New Things

Wednesday Nov 28 2007

I am always a little amazed and delighted when I discover something that I didn’t even know existed. The older I become, the more delighted I seem to be. For example, this week I’ve been having a vacation at home. Basically that means playing the tourist in the city where I live, going to new restaurants and generally wandering around. Someone recommended a new movie called “Across the Universe”—a musical about the 1960s written round the music of the Beatles. I never heard of the director, Judy Taymor, and all I can say is WOW!! The movie was a masterpiece. I can’t begin to fathom the mind of its writers and creators and Ms. Taymor is now at the top of my list of creative artists not to be missed.[Read More]

Written by eldering at Retirement
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Tagged with: geocaching movie musical umoja vacation

Idleness

Thursday Sep 27 2007

Darlene and I have spent a couple of lovely days in Seville. I am learning about Spanish history—which is pretty bloody over all, but also has produced some incredible art and architecture. It is always amazing to me how we require a few days ‘off’ before we begin to unwind, relax and really ‘be’ on vacation. Having the Internet is a bit like cheating, but I am beginning to let go of other commitments for a bit and just take each day in stride.

We were having a conversation this afternoon about retirement. Darlene’s officially retired at the end of this month. She is torn between “getting clear about what she wants to do next” and just relaxing and allowing something new to appear. In reflecting on my own future, while I don’t intend to retire in the near term, I have begun to imagine what life will be like for me when I do officially retire my career.[Read More]

Written by Jim Selman at Retirement
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Tagged with: commitment idleness retirement vacation

Out of Town

Wednesday Sep 26 2007

Perspective really is everything. When Barb and Jim tell friends they’re ‘out of town’, they’re not necessarily where you might expect them to be. They may actually be just down the street or in a neighbouring community in the cosmopolitan city in which they live. To this retired couple, being ‘away from home’ translates into days or weeks spent in someone else’s home, soaking up the ambience of the neighbourhood, re-creating days spent in foreign cities, immersing themselves in the local culture while they take care of pets, plants and possessions.