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Knowing What You Want in Retirement

 Retirement comes for many of us sooner than we expect.  It is crucial to have a plan for this stage of life.  It takes preparation, self knowledge, discipline, and focus.  For those over fifty, it can be shocking how difficult it is to find a new job if you become unable to work.  We don't realize we have gotten  behind in technology, or that an  injury or surgery might set us back and change our physical abilities.

I think one of the most important pieces to the retirement puzzle is owning your own home.  Having a paid off living space gives you peace of mind.  You don't have to worry about your rent being raised, or being evicted.  Timing is crucial, and finding a place with affordable property taxes makes a huge difference.

Smaller is better, in my opinion.  One of my friends lives in a tiny home.  It is challenging in some ways for her.  She has to climb up into a loft and jimmy her way into the bed at night.  She has back issues and has had her hips replaced.  She told me that she plans to move to another model with a bed on the main floor.  

Hers also only had a bench for seating.  She said it was extremely uncomfortable to sit there at her age.  There is not room for a couch.  She now has a recliner and is much more relaxed when she is lounging, talking on the phone, or reading.  She can pay her bills, though.

I basically rehearsed  my retirement for decades.  I learned to live on less, wrote out a detailed budget, and planted numerous fruit trees, vegetables, and berries.  Since I love my antiques and vintage items, I didn't need to go out and make any major purchases.  What I own is very well made, and will last me the rest of my life.  I have been making final upgrades to my home so that I don't have to worry about things like a new roof when I am a little old lady.

Are you prepared for retirement?  Will you stay in your current location?

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I Got Vaccinated!

 Last week I received my first dose of the Moderna vaccine.  I went to Vons and had it done there.  I was surprised at how painful it was, even though I used my yoga breathing to relax.   I had just been kayaking for several miles in Marina del Rey, so that may have had something to do with it.  The nurse told me to relax my arm even though it was relaxed.   The injection reminded me of a novocaine shot.  It was definitely worth it, though.  I appreciate that we have these vaccines available and that they are free of charge.

I have been watching the Youtube videos of parents in their thirties and forties dying of Covid.  It is just tragic.  So often both parents suffer with severe breathing problems  and then leave the planet together.  I am very worried about all of the orphans.  Covid is such a frightening way to die.

My arm was tender and swollen for a few days.  Last night I also had some intnse pain deep in my hip joint.  It caused me to limp and lose sleep, but all is well now.  I iced it last night and took a hot bath in epsom salts this morning. 

 I had some lower abdominal cramping the day after I receive my vaccine.  It felt like when you are on your period.  I normally never got cramps, thanks to yoga.  I have read cases of women menstruating after having after the vaccine, even though they have gone through menopause.  I also developed some small pink spots on my arm, but they have faded.  Phew!

If you have been vaccinated, did you have any side effects?  

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Lining Up Contractors for Home Repairs

 Yesterday I received a beautiful, hand painted mailbox in the mail that I had ordered for my cottage.  The old one, (which was handmade,) needed to be replaced.    I ordered the replacement on Etsy from TheFlowerPicker@etsy.com.  I knew as soon as I saw her work that she was the artist for me!  The outside looks like a romantic painting.  I love the pastel shades and the exquisite detail.

I have  a representative from a vinyl fence company coming to take measurements to replace my very old and worn wooden fence.  Keeping it painted and repaired has been a hassle.  It's time for a change.  He asked if I want to install a picket fence, but I am going to stick  with the ranch style.   Its suits this area, where the neighbors have horses, chickens, and goats.  It also frames a small home nicely.    Simpler is usually better, I find.   I will have them replace the mailbox post, as well.  

I am also looking into having some masonry done on the outside of the cottage.  The paint tends to peel along the bottom of the house.  I think the stone work would alleviate that; plus I like the look.  I will even get a quote to see how much it will cost to cover the entire house with rocks.  Less work in the future as I age appeals to me.

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No Gas For a Week

 Last Wednesday, the gas was shut off at my cabin.  The gas company informed me that my usage had increased, and they were concerned that I had some  leaks.  I didn't smell gas, and my carbon monoxide alarms hadn't gone off, so I didn't understand where the leaks could be.  My intuition had told me that I would probably need to replace the heaters from the fifties very soon. 

My bill was about five dollars higher than last year at this time.  I checked the history and usage.  At first they thought it was the sauna, but that was wrong.  It turned out to be the gas lines under the house that went to the floor heaters and to where the dryer used to be.  

I may purchase an insert for my fireplace that will turn it into a wood stove.  That way the whole house will be heated.  There are small electric heaters in the bathrooms and pantry.  I am replacing the hardwood floors this month, so the timing is perfect.  They can place the oak panels over where the vents used to be.

The girls who did all the work were amazing!  They laughed together as they crawled through the crawl space, wearing their coveralls and knee pads.  I was so impressed with their talent, enthusiasm, and positive energy.  They went way beyond the call of duty for me.  They were delightful to have in my home.  Tonight I was finally able to take a bath and use the sauna again.  All's well that ends well.

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Sleeping Under the Stars, Walking Barefoot on the Grass, and Stepping on Wet Rocks

 

I have been implementing more of my favorite naturopath remedies and habits over the past week.    I have to say that the results are incredible!   A lot of these behaviors are things that many of us did naturally, as children.  

 As a little girl, I always wanted to sleep outside on the chaise lounges with my best friend.  I regularly  spent the night at her charming  home in Hillsborough, California.  It was surrounded by oak trees, and there was an abundance of wildlife in the area.  Raccoons, mountain lions, deer, and squirrels were frequent visitors.   We agreed to camp outside one night, placing our sleeping bags on her family's plush, redwood lawn furniture.  I loved it, the sound of the crickets, the fresh night air, and the excitement,  but  Karen decided that she wanted to go back inside, and sleep in her own bed.   She ignored my begging, and  I reluctantly followed.  I didn't want to get eaten by a wild animal, and was too afraid to stay out on her deck alone.  

Nudity is also an element of what some of the naturopaths teach.  In Europe, people are relaxed and comfortable with using the sauna, whirlpool, and cold plunge naked.  Sunbathing in the nude can be incredibly liberating, but you need privacy.  (or to be in a country where it is considered acceptable.)  Some balconies are built in such a way where you can't be seen.  They look like boats, and are usually upstairs, away from prying eyes.

When I was in Vienna with "42nd Street," I loved to visit Krapenwald, an outdoor swimming pool set in a gorgeous lawn, with my show friends.  The place was filled with swanky people, all very beautiful and chic.  It felt like a resort.  The women sunbathed topless, and the pool was surrounded by the enchanting Vienna Woods.  I remember watching some of the women, (who looked like models,) drinking buttermilk from slender milk cartons.  It was very popular with them.  Their bodies were smooth, feminine, and sleek.

The last time I was in Malibu, I pulled over to the side of Pacific Coast Highway, and climbed down on the large, black rocks that were stacked on the shoreline.  Lula and I listened to the waves crashing and absorbed the salty air on our skin.  It was hypnotic.  I swear the energy from those rocks charged me up in a way that I've never felt before in  my life.  They were huge, and felt like vast storehouses of life force energy.  

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Back To Natural Health

 For the past few days, I have been experimenting with some of the  natural health remedies.  Part of the change has been with diet.  Over the past year or so, I have developed a hacking cough.  It doesn't occur when I'm up in the mountains, but when I am down at the cottage it returns like clockwork.  I realized that it's my body's way of expelling mucous.  I sound like an eighty year old man who has smoked for decades.   Why?  I remember how I stopped having aches and pains when I eliminated lattes.  Hmmm...

I analyzed how my diet has changed.  I never used to eat ice cream.  My ballet teacher, Rosemary Valaire taught me that Dr. Bieler, (who wrote, Food is Your Best Medicine,) believed that it was the cause of disease in many children.  He said that eating a frozen protein is completely unnatural.  If I remember correctly, he linked it to the  polio outbreak.   Anyway, I had been treating myself to a scoop or two of vanilla ice cream each night topped with fudge sauce.  Why not?  Such a nice treat before bedtime...

I also realized that I started having a small glass of wine each evening during the pandemic.  Although I enjoy it, I'm not sure it's the wisest decision.  I am going to experiment and  see if I feel better without it.  

The naturopaths teach the importance of daily sunlight, fresh air, hydrotherapy, exercise, and eating mostly fruits and vegetables.  How many of us have rewarded ourselves for staying home by stocking up on all kinds of packaged treats from the grocery store?  I realized something else: I had started adding mozzarella cheese to my daily salads that I've eaten without it for decades.  That could also be connected to the hacking cough.  It wouldn't hurt to use less cheese.  That's easy to do.  

Have you developed any weaknesses with age that you could change through your diet and  habits?  

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Cooking Delicious Food

 Yesterday I made another batch of seasoned chicken wings and small drumsticks.   My mom used to prepare them as appetizers for her fancy dinner parties.  I don't know if women entertain the way she did anymore.  That was a different era.  People would get dressed up, and go to each others houses for drinks and supper.  She would cook the poultry with butter, salt, and white pepper.  It tasted amazing!  The flavor was perfect, and the chicken parts developed a lovely brown color on theirskin.  

I basted this batch in olive oil, and seasoned the meat with garlic salt, cayenne pepper, paprika, chili powder, and white pepper.  I used the spicy olive oil that was left in the pan as a sauce on a few baked potatoes.  Yum!  Absolutely delicious!  It really makes a difference to cook food that you love, and to choose the spices and flavorings that excite you.  It also feels good not to waste.  Normally, I would have poured the chicken drippings into a grease pan, eventually freezing it, and dumping it in the trash.  Using them on the spuds gave them an entirely new and a delightful  flavor.  My family has a long history of heart disease, so I felt better about substituting the olive oil for the butter.  

This morning I made my mother's tuna and noodle casserole recipe.  I wanted to get my cooking done early, so that I didn't heat up the cottage.  We are expecting a heat wave.  I even prepared my dinner salad before noon.  I ate half of it for lunch, with the leftover chicken from last night's dinner.  Cold chicken is one of my favorites.  

Have you been cooking or baking lately?  What's happening in your kitchen?

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More on Anacapa

 After climbing up the steep, steel ladder to the dock, I peeled off my wet bathing suit in the changing room and hung it out to dry.  I walked up the steps that rose straight two stories straight in the air to the hiking trail.  Once up there, all you could see were birds.  The island is a nesting sight for the seagulls.  They are EVERYWHERE!  It's unbelievable.  They had their babies with then, who were juvenile sized, speckled, grey, and downy.  

There are no trees on Anacapa.  I was worried that it would be intensely hot, but the temperature was very pleasant.  I hiked up to a spot with a gorgeous view of the ocean.  You could hear the sea lions bellowing, but it was hard for me to  see them.  One older woman standing near me described them as "looking like rocks, but moving." I spotted the four kayakers, paddling eagerly around the perimeter of the island.  I secretly wished that  I could have gone with them.  

I decided to return to the cove for one more swim.  When I got back, there were a couple of families in the water.  I had recommended taking a dip to one woman who was now there with her kids,  We had talked on the trail, and she told me that they were wearing their suits.  Treading water, she had a huge smile on her face.  Our eyes met and I nodded, happy to see her submerged in the salt water.  

The ocean felt amazing and powerful.  I am convinced that being in lakes and the sea is fantastic for our health, on many levels.  I sat and chatted with a woman who was staying there with her teen age daughter and husband.  They were camping in tents for a few nights.  She told me that they brought their own water with them, and packed some instant meals and lots of snacks.  They have a camper stove.  She explained that has a lot of backpacking experience.  (a foreign and interesting world to me.)  I just go for day hikes with a backpack.  It's totally different.  

I thought about what it would be like to camp there.  She seemed very relaxed and grounded.  Her daughter had long black hair that was practically down to her ankles.  She was leaning to the side, combing it, as I got out of the water for the last time.

On the boat trip back, we saw a whale.  It was a magnificent being.  We all gasped and cheered as it put on a show for us.  Once again, a pod of dolphins swam alongside our boat, and behind us, in the wake.  I sighed with contentment.  It was a rewarding and satisfying  trip.  

Once we arrived in the parking lot, I drove back on the 126 East,  heading home.  It was 7:00 p.m. when I pulled into the driveway, and I felt sleepy from the salt water and air.   I forced myself to fry a turkey burger and made a salad.  After doing the dishes, and washing out my swimsuit, I fell into bed, and slept deeply and soundly.  My  mind remembered the frolicking dolphins and that majestic whale.  Ah...

  The ocean is so healing.  I plan to spend much more time there in retirement.  (even if it's  just for the day.)

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A Visit to Anacapa, in the Channel Islands

 Last Tuesday I took the ferry from Ventura Harbor to Anacapa, one of the five Channel Islands.  I have always wanted to visit this part of California, and was excited to have booked a seat on one of Island Packers' daily boats to make the trip.

I left my cottage at 7:30 a.m.  There wasn't any traffic on the 126, it was a gorgeous day.  There were some light sprinkles on the windshield as I drove the forty miles to Ventura Harbor.  I parked in Lot 4, and checked in at the front desk.  All I had to do was give the woman  my confirmation number, which they had emailed to me.  You call in the morning to be sure that the weather is suitable for sailing.  If not, the trips are canceled.  Ours was a go.  

I waited in line for our boat, The Explorer.  Things were very well organized.  There looked to be about one hundred people on board.  I sat outside, and wore my mask.  I was glad that I had packed my handknit wool sweater, hat, and gloves, because it got cold and windy on the way to the island.  To our delight, over a hundred dolphins began swimming alongside us on our journey.  They were also diving up and down through the wake behind us.  We were all enchanted with their beauty, sleekness, and buoyancy.  The rhythm and show they put on was so uplifting.  

Once we had debarked, I watched  four kayakers who had brought their own kayaks.  They had to lower them from the dock with ropes.  I listened to the ranger's speech and  advice, and decided to kayak from Santa Cruz island next time.  They rent out sit on top kayaks, and they offer group tours.  It looks to me like you need two people to lift the kayaks and set them up in the water, which is quite a ways down from the dock.  He told me this group were all experienced with ocean kayaking.  My Oru Beach model is designed for still waters and lakes.  

Instead, I stepped into the simple changing stall, put on my bathing suit, and went for a swim.  I climbed down the steep ladder, into the 60 degree water.  Like the dolphins, I felt a sense of lightness in the salt water.  I was in a cove, and swam into one of the small caves.  The water was calm, and I was the only still there.  Everyone else had gone hiking.  The kayakers were out in the ocean.   It was such a healing experience.  I found it so easy to float.  The water seemed to make my body bounce, just like the dolphins.  

More on this adventure in my next post...the video below captures the beauty of the area.  It's near Santa Barbara, Califoria.  

Thank you for your comments.  They add so much talent and energy to the blog.  Please comment in English.  I'm sorry, but comments with links will not be published.  If you enjoy the posts here, please share them.  Comments may take a few days to appear; they are moderated.