Exploring the World as a Roving Retiree

I've gone from preparing my house for lots of strangers to not having any strangers in my house-- or even friends. I got a label maker in case someone doesn't see where the minimum water line is on the electric tea kettle or cannot tell which is hand soap and which is dishwashing detergent. I basically tried to idiotproof my house and now I am the only idiot living here. I don't need the labels but I sure am using the fluffy new towels and I will use the new sheets...because who knows what the future holds? A pandemic encourages that attitude! "Who knows" is so frequently my answer to questions about my Big Trip. We can't do WHAT? We can't go WHERE?  I bought a unisex robe for guests and I bought a mattress cover, just in case someone has some kind of accident. I thought of many things though I refuse to get a carbon monoxide detector when there is no way I could have carbon monoxide in the house since everything is electric.  Will I need any o...

Which of the 5 stages of grief have you gone through with this pandemic? "The five stages,  denial ,  anger ,  bargaining ,  depression  and  acceptance  are a part of the framework that makes up our learning to live with the one we lost. They are tools to help us frame and identify what we may be feeling." I think I am stuck at anger right now, wavering between depression and more and more, acceptance. This is the New Normal, I'm afraid. We get used to incredible restrictions on our freedom of movement until we have the police state that POTUS would like, so he can be a dictator like the men he admires. I grieve the (temporary?) loss of my former freedom. Being able to go anywhere whenever I wanted (although being a woman, I am more likely to be victimized by men)! Hugging people I barely knew! Indulging in being the "groupie" that I am, always seeking groups (to a certain extent, until I get antsy in crowds). Being newly retired, I have few...

"Dear Friends, Well, it just went from BAD and STRESSFUL to WORSE and TOTALLY SURREAL…. BUT I like to keep things in perspective.  YOU WILL NOT DIE if you don’t get a new pair of earrings." This was from Danaca Designs in the U district in Seattle.  I like her attitude! Also, my friend or her friend has coined a new word for us: we are APOCALOPTIMISTS It sounds cooler when you say it aloud but obviously,  it is optimism in the face of probable apocalypse.  I feel lucky to not have to worry about my job being shut down or losing my income unless, of course, it applies to Social Security and the downfall of that institution.  Trump, in all his wisdom, wants to continue cutting benefits for people. This man is unbelievable and the people who support him are equally unbelievable! So I don't feel smug, not in any way. I am giving my small contributions to small businesses like Book-It Theater which might go under in the recession that is sure...

Every day brings dramatic and shocking news. It reminds me of the early days of this horrible orange president.  Disbelief. They are closing WHAT? So my last post seems naive to me even though it was written only a few days ago.  Of course, I can't go on my trip; of course, I have had to cancel (or shall we say postpone it to the fall but that means that I will have to cancel my trip to Mexico, planned for October & November). Of course, all my preparations to have my house as an Airbnb are for naught.   I decided that Ireland wouldn't be Ireland with pubs closed and museums closed and even churches closed and the same for the UK. I could see relatives but there is so much I couldn't do and I might as well be home in my nice comfortable home and keep the garden up and play guitar,  maybe work on some comics and family tree research, all things I wouldn't be doing in my trip (heretofore referred to as BT, the Big Trip).   I feel sad abou...

Life is depressing enough these days without canceling my trip. Yes, I'm still planning to go unless they don't let me. It has to be better than being here at the epicenter of the virus. I am canceling trying to have my house as Airbnb  because who the hell's gonna come to Seattle?  Besides I'm sure I would lose a lot of money, not just for rescheduling my flight but rescheduling or canceling 16 reservations and payments for lodgings! And tours, etc.  Stephanie and her husband Scott are in a worse position because they were going to take a 3 week repositioning cruise from Argentina to Italy and after 4 hours on the phone they got credit for the cruise but they don't know where they're going next! They are away for 8 months total so it dwarfs my measly 8 weeks!  Of course, I am worried that pubs might be closed and museums might be closed in Ireland and the UK, just like here, but they have so many fewer cases that it seems like it would be a better place to be f...

My retirement seems to have coincided quite closely with the COVID-19 crisis. What timing! January 30th was my last day of work though the 31st was the official last day. From the CDC:  On January 30, 2020, the International Health Regulations Emergency Committee of the World Health Organization declared the outbreak a “ public health emergency of international concern  external icon ” (PHEIC). On January 31, 2020, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex M. Azar II declared a public health emergency (PHE) for the United States to aid the nation’s healthcare community in responding to COVID-19. I would have preferred my retirement coincide with a more wonderful event such as the fall of the current U.S. president but I don't have that choice, unfortunately! Now that I am free on Thursday nights and can go contra dancing, will they cancel the dances?  Am I taking this a bit too personally?  As John Oliver says, if you're drinking bleach, calm the F___ down! Please cal...