Cactus in bloom.
I’m having one of those weeks where every single day I have an appointment or something I have to do. Hair, doctors, a fundraiser for trafficked women and men….Every single day it’s something. Sometimes it’s more than one thing. Also, my appointments are 45 minutes away in downtown Scottsdale, so while I make the drive, I make a list of what I can get done while I’m in civilization. With the price of gas, I might as well take advantage of a big drive and hit Trader Joe’s.
Yesterday I left the house at 8:30 a.m. Plenty of time for my morning pages, prayers and walk. But then I didn’t return home until 6:30 p.m. because of appointments and stuff to do and big gaps between my appointments 45 minutes from the house.
After a relaxing visit to the beach, I can handle it. I just don’t know why sometimes everything stacks up in one week. My son and I were talking about it. He’s been busy at work, doctors, socializing. We both agreed we’d prefer to socialize with friends once or twice a month! This weekend I’m having people over Friday and going to friends for dinner on Saturday.
I guess I should be thankful for the energy to get through the week. And the blessing of a good night’s sleep to get through the day’s activities. Sometimes I wonder if it’s the past few years of solitude that make it harder to be social or getting out of the house for activities and appointments?
This is one of the cacti I photographed last week covered in buds. It’s blooming nicely!
What are your thoughts on being busy versus quiet time at home? Do you think the COVID shut downs have changed how we view our solitude?
Beautiful flowers EA. I think after 3 years of enforced anti-social behavior, we do find it difficult to get back into the habit
I think that’s why it tires me out.
It’s the same here with me.
Such beautiful flowers! As I get older, I value quiet and peace more highly than the adventure and social inclusion I used to look for. I’m an introvert, and need time to myself because that is how my batteries charge. Are you the same? Maybe our batteries need more time to charge these days? Is that part of aging? Haha!
I’m an introvert too. Once I’m in a social situation I enjoy it but I worry about it in advance. Yes I need my quiet time to recharge.
It sounds like we’re a lot alike.
It does!
I like busy. Covid showed me how much I like busy. That being said, some of my busy is doing fun things that I enjoy…
Your weekly roundups show how busy you are! I think my issue is having to drive so far.
Driving would crush me…
My son mentioned when we moved after living one block from the center of town in Palm Springs, that people who could walk to everything stayed younger.
I like walkability. It’s good for me
I like it too, but we are where are.
You have other great things now
Yes! And that includes affordability 😊
I know I prefer to stick close to home, but then I’ll have an unexpected moment where I just want to go- which usually involves more money than I want to spend- so I end up staying home 😉
That’s me too!
I like being near the home but everything is very accessible within minutes to us in Florida, even my trip to the PT (25 minutes) away. I grew up far from civilization, so I tend to stack up chores like groceries, finding tahini for making hummus, etc. a walk around the center for exercise and getting steps in. Right now my focus is on my novel being published and daily online work from home. I like the home and the accessibility of all to us. When we have time, we may take a trip if we both feel like it for a short stay away.
It sounds like you’re in an ideal place.
It really is an ideal location for husband’s VA appointments, university, grocery. We can even walk to stores if need be. We had no idea years ago when we bought.
👍🏼
MOst people don’t realize how beautiful cacti can be. It surprised me when I first moved to CO.
I didn’t realize there was cacti in CO.
Oh yes we have them, but mostly prickly pear and Whipple’s cholla. A few ball cactus and also the lovely claret cup like one of yours. Is the other one an organ pipe? What a beautiful blossom!
When we drive to Mexico we drive through Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument and take a rest stop at the visitors’ center. The organ pipe cactus I see there look different than this one. They are tall like saguaro but thin with many arms. Maybe this is a young one? I’m not sure.
Oh yeah. Lots of prickly pears
I had no idea.
That’s a long day and busy week. I think I prefer to lump all my meetings/appointments to a day or couple of days. If I can have one day without anything scheduled (even if I have a lot to do), it looks like heaven.
I’m grateful that you are feeling renewed and have the energy!
Thank you! Yes, having a day with zero appointments sounds good right now. Tomorrow may be such a day for me.
Being retired is hard work.
I don’t consider myself retired. I’m doing what I’ve done for the past 30 years. It’s just that the kids don’t need to be driven around anymore.
I’m glad when all my stuff gets crammed into a day and I make one trip into town. I have to create downtime, otherwise I would just work all the time.
I think my issue was three days in a row with trips into town!
Pretty flowers. I like the colors.
What are your thoughts on being busy versus quiet time at home? Next week I’ll be having a busy one like yours this week, but overall I prefer to have my appointments spread out over the month, not all together in a week.
Do you think the COVID shut downs have changed how we view our solitude? I’d hope so, but extroverts had a difficult time embracing an introverted lifestyle– and seem to have immediately gone back to their busy, busy ways.
I like having things spread out too. Also I agree that extroverts jumped right back to their normal routines.