First impressions of redefining retirement and life on the east coast… well, let’s narrow it down a bit to first impressions of life in an vertical community apartment and the surrounding neighborhood business district.

The Road to Retirement

In 7 1/2 days we drove Big Betty approximately 3,109 miles and she sucked down approximately 448 gallons of gas.  Big Betty did her job well, we had no problems whatsoever, but I gotta tell ya I was more than ready to say farewell when we dropped her off at Home Depot.

The Road East – Day 7

For the past 9 years I’ve been driving my little ’05 Honda Civic Hybrid (a.k.a Hazel) and I could zip, zip, zip around town and easily access any parking space.  I loved that car and was sad to say good-bye to her when we left Ashland.  Driving Big Betty is a bit different than driving my little Hazel.  I can’t tell you how many times I’ve attempted to look in the rear view mirror that doesn’t exist, or look over my left shoulder before changing lanes, only to see a wall of yellow truck over my shoulder.

The Road East: Day 6

Here we are in Frankfurt, Kentucky watching our absolute favorite show, The Big Bang Theory.  Please tell me you think it is hilarious.  I’m trying not to be overly panicked worried concerned that there are flash flood warnings scrolling across the bottom of the screen.  I think I heard the word tornado; we are in the midwest after all.  No worries.  Only (only?) torrential rains and flash flooding.

The Road East: Day 5

The shrill scream of the hotel’s fire alarm bolted us out of a sound sleep at 6:00 a.m. this morning.  It was the ultimate rude awakening. We dragged ourselves out into the hallway and sure enough all of the guests were evacuating – including a young woman wrapped in a towel – so we headed down the stairs, with me dressed in jammies and bare feet.  I guess that was better than being wrapped in a towel though.

The Road East:  Day 4

We were about 50 miles into our drive across Nebraska when it suddenly dawned on us that we’ve actually never been in Nebraska.  We’ve been in the surrounding states, South Dakota, Kansas and Wyoming, but not Nebraska.  And guess what?  Nebraska actually gave us a really good day.  Who knew?  Yes, it was a l-o-n-g drive, flat and very straight, but surprisingly our road to retirement is actually green and full of fall colors.

The Road East: Day 3

Day 3 dawned this morning with clear beautiful blue skies and we were on the road to our retirement by 8:00 a.m.  And our first stop is what I’m going to label as step 4 on my 12-step retirement program.  Treat yourself to something yummy for breakfast, even though you know it’s really not good for you, because sometimes it’s just fun – and yummy – to do so.

The Road East:  Day 2

I think there should be a 12-step program for major life changes such as retirement.  One day you’re working full time, the next day you’re not.  There should be some kind of phasing out period.  Don’t you think?

The Road East: Day 1

You know how people say, “If you had told  me 5 years ago that I’d be doing x, y, z, I would have told you were crazy?”  Yeah.  It’s like that.  I took stock of what Abi and I have done in the past 5 years and I kinda don’t even believe it, but here we are on the road to retirement.

On the Road to Retirement

Sometimes, when you’re trying to figure out how you’re going to get it all done, an angel comes along and loans you her car.  Not only does she loan you her car, but she tells you to keep it until the day before you leave.  Sometimes, “thank you” doesn’t even begin to cut it.