What I Wish I Knew Before I Retired
I must confess, my pen and paper notes started to become a bit sloppy at this time. Our days (although each unique) began to blur together. I do remember starting this day by climbing 200 meters over two kilometers and then descending 300 meters over the next four-and-a-half. Although there was a cool photo op… Continue reading Day 5 – Zariquiegui to Lorca (27.1 K): Building Community
Because we had pushed on past Roncesvalles, we were not on the typical path of ‘stages’ for the Camino Frances. That meant we stayed in smaller towns most nights--which worked perfectly for us. The downside was that during the hottest part of the day we were walking sections of the trail that were much better… Continue reading Day 4 – Larrasoana to Zariquiegui (25.7 K): We Should have Listened to the Bartender!
Somebody lied. Or else I honestly was not paying enough attention. I had (repeatedly) heard that Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port to Roncesvalles was the most difficult part of the entire Camino Frances and after that, the path was much easier. Visions of flat, smooth trails danced through my mind. For me, that conception could not have been more… Continue reading Day 3 – Espinal to Larrasoana (30 K): Somebody Lied!
When we left Orrison early in the morning with a planned 18 kilometers ahead of us, I felt like a true pilgrim, a great explorer…I knew that I was about to take part in an incredible quest. Walking through orchards, past quaint country houses, looking up to the mountain meadows, knowing that I was in… Continue reading Day 2 – Orrison to Espinal (24.3 K): Getting the Hang of It!
Being the research nerd that I am, I spent countless hours reading a multitude of details about the Camino Frances and watching YouTube videos of the trail. (I know, in a previous post I said I wouldn't over-research, but you already knew that I wouldn't be able to stop myself, didn't you?) I had repeatedly… Continue reading Day 1 – Orisson, France (8 K): Should We Stay or Should We Go?
My husband and I recently walked 200 kilometers of the Camino Trail, in eight days, from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port in France to Najera, Spain. Although I originally had lofty notions of blogging daily ‘live from the trail’, creating an iMovie, or iMovie trailer, these plans were quickly dashed. Without my computer or iPad, and with infrequent WiFi… Continue reading Day 0 – Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port: Greetings from The Camino Frances!
My husband started it! Early in our retirement, he threw down the gauntlet and wanted us to preserve defined weekends. I pouted…just a little bit…okay, a lot! For years I had been totally sold on the concept that during retirement every day would be Saturday (or Sunday). To me, it was now like saying there… Continue reading Retirement: Everyday Is Saturday–Or Is It?
This past week, I hit the one-year mark both of being officially retired and of living back in Canada. With a full year behind me, has it been all that I anticipated? Yes and no--in equal measures. I remember a conversation that I had with one of my daughter-in-laws the day that we arrived back… Continue reading Reflections on Retirement – One Year In
I’ve been surrounded by thoughts on irrelevance. A blogger, that I recently began to follow, shared that she was overwhelmed with feelings of non-importance as she completed her final term of full-time work and prepared for retirement. While I was mentally composing a reply, I glanced at a television program that my husband was watching.… Continue reading Does Retirement Equal Irrelevance?
We have now completed our 4,900++ kilometer road trip from Parksville, British Columbia to Winnipeg, Manitoba and back. The primary purpose of our trip was to visit my niece and attend the interior design exhibition that was part of her master's program. The time spent with my niece, as well as the exhibition, were both… Continue reading On the Road Again: Traveling Through Canada’s Western Provinces
Retirement Reflections 