November is a pretty significant month for me this year. On the 15th I celebrated my first full year of retirement! And what a year that it's been! So many people asked how we could consider retiring at our ages. I guess that all depends on what you think retirement is supposed to mean. I always said that retirement for me meant doing what was important for me. It means time for myself, time for us as a couple, and the freedom to do what we want. In a lot of ways we have succeeded. We only have one clock in the house (and it's really for decoration) and days of the week don't have a lot of significance. We sleep when we are tired, eat when we are hungry, act lazy when we feel like it and make no apologies. Now, when I want to take on a project in the yard or house I don't have to wait for the weekend or push myself until late in the night and feel exhausted at work all the next day. It's about freedom.
This past year has also been about healing. Don't ever get me wrong about life in the North. Fort Nelson provided a wonderful life for me and my family and I have left a part of my heart there forever. But that prosperous life came with a price, too. Now that we've been away for just over a year I feel like I can reflect. We worked too much. Work always got the best hours of my day....family came second. We spent too many hours locked in the house trying to keep the cold and dark winters at bay. We attacked summer with such intensity because it seemed like winter was always just around the corner. And it usually was!
Life comes at us more slowly, although I think that has as much to do with living in the tropics as it does retirement. The culture is different here and I think that we are absorbing it. I've realized what a small world that we live in. Belize is so diverse and that's a real treat for a small town, Northern girl. Retiring at 45 certainly isn't for everyone but I've got to say...it suits me just fine (for now!).
Mom is here for another week or so and then she heads back to the Canadian winter. Well, she lives in Parksville so winter isn't that fierce! I think she'll do just fine! We tried another 'first' this week. Frisbee golf! I don't think that I'll trade my regular clubs for a frisbee but it was fun. A little scary every time that we had to go into the bush for a stray frisbee...spiders and snakes and all that kind of stuff! A round of frisbee golf did get Adam and I motivated to get out the real clubs and hit some balls in the yard. The weather is cooler so we are going plan a day for a couple of rounds. Our nearest course is about 40 minutes drive. Not far, but it's been too hot to consider golfing until now.
This past year has also been about healing. Don't ever get me wrong about life in the North. Fort Nelson provided a wonderful life for me and my family and I have left a part of my heart there forever. But that prosperous life came with a price, too. Now that we've been away for just over a year I feel like I can reflect. We worked too much. Work always got the best hours of my day....family came second. We spent too many hours locked in the house trying to keep the cold and dark winters at bay. We attacked summer with such intensity because it seemed like winter was always just around the corner. And it usually was!
Life comes at us more slowly, although I think that has as much to do with living in the tropics as it does retirement. The culture is different here and I think that we are absorbing it. I've realized what a small world that we live in. Belize is so diverse and that's a real treat for a small town, Northern girl. Retiring at 45 certainly isn't for everyone but I've got to say...it suits me just fine (for now!).
Mom is here for another week or so and then she heads back to the Canadian winter. Well, she lives in Parksville so winter isn't that fierce! I think she'll do just fine! We tried another 'first' this week. Frisbee golf! I don't think that I'll trade my regular clubs for a frisbee but it was fun. A little scary every time that we had to go into the bush for a stray frisbee...spiders and snakes and all that kind of stuff! A round of frisbee golf did get Adam and I motivated to get out the real clubs and hit some balls in the yard. The weather is cooler so we are going plan a day for a couple of rounds. Our nearest course is about 40 minutes drive. Not far, but it's been too hot to consider golfing until now.
It really has cooled off. We saw 13C this morning. Still pretty nice but a little chillier than what we are getting used to. Had to put a big blanket on the bed! But honestly, the sun in up high at about 7:30am and it warms everything right up. Nothing to complain about. We are still outside all day. Picking oranges, limes and bananas from our own trees. Planting new flowers in the yard and still getting in the pool on the odd day. Life is pretty good.