from the other side...

...still alive, and exploring the byways of non-wmeployment i.e. retirement...

I can't pretend that I've accomplished anything very spectacular. Even the office is not yet completely emptied; but I'm afraid if I blitz it and bring everything home at once, I'll just settle down among the cardboard boxes and become completely torpid. So I've been trying to pause and integrate what I've brought home more or less into the pre-existing clutter here, before I bring in more.

And keeping in mind that I'm not gaining on the too-much-ness of it all except by filling garbage and recycle bags. I was taking great delight in emptying book-boxes...and then realized that I had emptied two boxes and replaced them with six piles on the floor. So now I unpack with disposal bag at hand.

Exploring also the ramifications of budgeting on retirement income...rehabilitating the Very Small slow-cooker...and scanning the grocery flyers for the weekly loss-leaders. As I said to a friend -- re-learning how to be "pore" -- and rejoicing very much that I haven't forgotten how...buying in appropriate bulk, catching the discount-days...

Ideally I would do a monthly blitz on meat and staples and then just scoop up fruit and salad makings and so forth week by week. Milk comes to the door (I think I may have the last living milkman in creation); and I buy my bread in bulk quantities from the bakery-outlet as needed (if I catch their discount day, that's a bonus).

Thinking about gardening, come "the season." Growing things I might even like to eat...

Much to think about...and I'm going back to work! But only 1/4 time, which feels just about right.