Memorial Day

It's Friday, May 28th, And I'm at the Lake of the Ozarks. The official beginning of Summer in a resort community is kind of ------------hard to describe.

The Osage Beach Hy-Vee is huge-HUGE- and it's full of shoppers on a mission. The crowd reminds me of Christmas eve or the day before Thanksgiving, frantic. Combat parking in the lot! The shopping carts were almost totally in use at 1 PM. I could barely move in the store.The aisles were full of not only shoppers but employees trying to restock shelves. The store was giving away more samples of stuff than Costco on a Saturday, including (I'm serious here) wine and Margaritas.

I have to be honest, I did buy the wine.

I have met an interesting couple here in the R V park. They were married for 17 years, divorced for 23 years, then married again. I told the wife that she had a life story to make into a book, or movie, or maybe a situation comedy. She replied "Well, we do laugh a lot!"

It's Home

Sunday we made a trip to Kansas City.

We had tickets to dinner theater purchased months ago, not knowing we'd be retired and "on tour".

After a three hour drive we met our daughter Amber and son-in-law Jeff at their house. We played with our grandson Coen (but long enough) then went to the play. After the theater we took them home and played with Coen (but not long enough) and began the three hour drive back.

Two and a half hours later I turned to John and said "It'll be good to get home." HOME? HOME! Get it? This 5th wheel has become home! I don't know how or when it happened, but here we are.

Osage Beach

"Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things you did not do than the things you did...." Mark Twain

We are becoming accustomed to our new lifestyle, but still are disoriented at times. It's not unusual to think "When I get home..." or "I left it at home" or "It's back at the house". THIS is home, the house, etc. Hey, it's the whole estate!

We are in Osage Beach MO now, waiting out the rain. The dog and cat are napping on guard duty while we sit in front of the fireplace and laze away the day. The weatherman is predicting rain through the next three days, but that's fine. We're in no hurry.

All in all, it's a great way to live.

Misconceptions about retirement

I thought I'd have spare time, and a lot of it.

I thought the fifth wheel would be a model of organization.

I thought my fingernails would be an inch long and perfectly manicured.

I thought I would take Bella the dog for long strolls on nature trails.

I thought I'd have two hour lunchs sipping cocktails with my friends.

I still have my dreams.

You may have noticed I added a photograph. It took about 8 "candid" poses to get one this flattering.