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Have you ever come across a clever idea, and kicked yourself because you didn’t think of it first? Well this is one of those times for me. Tom Walton is the retired editor of my home town newspaper, and one of my favorite writers. Tom writes a humorous article for the paper every other Sunday. A recent piece hit home and cracked me up.
Among the thoughts he submitted, is the idea that, if your age begins with the number eight, the can of shaving cream you buy today just might be a lifetime supply. Even at the tender young age of 73, I am well aware that the opportunity for a mid-life crisis has passed me by.
So, what is this 37 year old trapped in a 73 year old body going to do?
While the go-go gods still smile upon us, I’m taking Chrissy on a SKI trip (spending kids’ inheritance; they keep telling us that they don’t need the money). Between now and August 1st, there will be a cross country trip to California, three concerts, two Broadway Plays (bus and truck tours stopping in Toledo), day trips to the Lake Erie Islands of Put-In-Bay and Kelly’s, and maybe a Mud Hens game or two. Lunches and dinners with friends and family are always on the calendar. Beyond 08/01, we just purchased tickets for the next season of Broadway in Toledo. I’m hoping that’s not a lifetime supply of Broadway Plays.
What’s everyone else doing for fun this summer?
Keep those encouraging articles coming, nice work. I lived 72 years in Chicago and then moved to the warmer climate in TX. Guess What, during my first year in TX, the Cubs won the Pennant in 2016, she travelled back to a game, for me, my son and son-in-law, Cubs won the whole thing, First World Series Win in 108 years, and sure did not want to miss it. This year is my 80th Birthday so you guess what, back to Chicago to celebrate with Family and Friends. We love road trips but those 2000 to 3000 mile trips we took back in 2016 no problem, but our longest trip was to the Pacific NW, Crater Lake, down to Yosemite, then Lake Tahoe and a whole lot of other places traveling 8410 miles over 28 days, now that was our longest road trip. Now the trips are more like under 1000 miles, or day trips. Love the open road, although I must say more cars and trucks than ever!
I never get bored in Chicago. As for the west coast, I’d like to fly to San Fran, rent a car and drive up to Washington, and fly back home.
Suzie and her dad made that exact journey three years ago, after a family wedding in San José.
My wife and I are avid travelers. In fact, we just return (today) from a 14-day cruise (Boston to Quebec and return to Boston). This wasn’t planned but our travel agent told me there was a last minute “sale” (almost 70% off) that I couldn’t pass up. This two-week cruise cost the same as the airfare for one person for our trip to S. America earlier this year. We always wanted to cruise down the St Lawrence River. Since we had been to all the other ports on this cruise except for Quebec, we didn’t spend much on excursions since we were happy to just get off the ship and walk around. It was our first time in Quebec though and we did a nice excursion there.
About a month earlier, we had returned from a month-long trip to S. America (a cruise from Buenos Aires to Santiago, around Cape Horn). It was supposed to be four weeks in duration (including pre and post cruise options) but due to bad weather on our return and a mishmash of errors by the airline, we got delayed in Miami for six additional days. Instead of fuming about it, we decided to rent a car and spend the next five days at Disney World (without the grandkids). We made good use of our Lightning Passes (twice). Believe it or not, we still enjoy a good rollercoaster ride (and Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind was an interesting ride where each car can spin 360 degrees while traveling on the rails).
This will be the first summer we plan to stay at home, though. We have big plans for June (wife’s birthday) and the 4th of July (where we do plenty of fireworks). I’ll be able to tend to our gardens for the first time in years, too (a task I’ve had to hire out since we haven’t always been around). We have a 1.5-acre Japanese garden (with a 5,000 koi pond) and a vegetable garden as well.
In October, we head out to Hawaii for a week (visiting our friends) and then on to Japan for a two-week cruise around the island (plus Busan, S. Korea). This is their iconic fall foliage cruise. My daughter will be accompanying us – her first visit there. She had just returned from an African safari trip to the Serengeti. For the past several years, I try to arrange one trip with one adult child (and family) to take them somewhere that is mutually agreeable. Last year, my son (and his family) wanted to go to Disney World during spring break and this year my daughter wanted to visit Japan. With my frugality period over, we travel first class, too. It makes “getting there” more pleasant.
Last year, we had about 12 weeks of traveling as well. We are 76/78 and still going strong.