I read somewhere that retail sales have been surging on lipstick, dresses, and shoes. I imagine this is because, following a year of mandatory masks and lockdowns, contrasted with vaccinations and lower infection numbers, the entire world has decided to reschedule...

One of the many blessings of retirement is the opportunity to help out my son and daughter-in-law.  Now that I’m retired, whenever they need a Nana to “stand in the gap” they know they can call.  If my schedule is open, I’m there! As working parents and with all of...

During our desert southwest road trip, on the day we took a break from golf, my husband decided we should take a 14 mile hike to the Kolob Arch.  Yes, you read that right, Fourteen Miles! Zion National Park is huge and the main event, so to speak, is the famous part...

One morning on our road trip we took a break from golf and went to Snow Canyon State Park in Utah.  Just about 20 minutes from the town of Saint George, Snow Canyon is an overlooked gem of a park. https://stateparks.utah.gov/parks/snow-canyon/ They're many different...

A good friend of my husband generously invited us to share his condo in Saint George, Utah for a week in May.  Now that I’m retired and not tied to a work or vacation schedule we decided to do something that we haven’t done in years, a “Road Trip”. In addition to...

I’m finding that one of the challenges of retirement, especially if you are the first of your friend group to retire, is that everyone else is working. At this age, it can be hard to make new friends who share the same interests. My most pleasant surprise is how much...

Because Canada was closed last summer (and still is as of April of 2021) due to the pandemic, we weren’t able to use our timeshare week in Whistler, British Columbia for 2020. We were fortunate enough to trade our unused vacation to Orange Tree Resort in Scottsdale,...

I love to plan.  I worked as a planner for my entire career. I often get just as much or more joy out of planning something then I do experiencing the actual event. Of course, in real life, things don’t always go as you have planned, so sometimes there can be a...

When gas was around $4 a gallon and I was commuting to work each day in a carpool, I needed a new vehicle.  In the summer of 2015, we were all looking for more economical gas-efficient options.  My carpool partner had a huge diesel truck but fuel for his big rig was...