My Musings & Lists

Monday, July 6, 2026

Retirement questions

what are your hopes, dreams, goals for retirement?
What does your ideal day loook like in retirement?
What are projects you want to do before being physically restricted?
What do you want life to be like when physically diminished?
Who are your role models for a well lived retirement?
What is a new hobby or activity you want to take on in retirement?
What will you do to socialize?
What activities do we enjoy together?
How do we let each other have me time and our own activities?
How much are we willing to care for grandchild(ren)?
What medical issues need to addressed?
How do we become more conscientious about taking care of our health?
What are new activities we could take up that would improve our health? Physical, mental, social…
What would we need to age in place in our house?

Side quests for July

estate planning — meet with lawyers, get trusts set up
Italy trip planning — figure out cities, research flights, consider itinerary, dates
Theater in Tampa — 3
Hanging up art — front hall, travel art
Joining Y and doing strength training and aqua aerobics
Daily stretching — make a chart, set a regular time
Cross stitch — getting set up space in house, buying standing lit magnifier, make progress on Italy scene

My funeral — notes for my husband

preference: cremated, and interred somewhere people can visit, preferably near other buried family and/or living family.

But I don’t feel strongly. I won’t haunt anyone if circumstances change.

Episcopal service if you choose to have a church service or even if elsewhere. A priest experienced with funerals can help give the event structure. I would like some formality; it helps the attendees, makes the event more serious and set apart from every day.

Funeral poetry and songs: have friends read, assigned or if they don’t know what else to say:

“Sunflowers (instructions upon my death)” by Harry Baker. Change Margate to Lakeland. Take out the couple lines of his favorite song etc.

“Let Me Go” by Christina Rossetti

“All is well” by Henry Scott Holland

“She Is Gone” by David Harkins

“Keep Me in Your Heart” by Warren Zevon (play this song, don’t have someone read it)

Things I’d like to be remembered for: mother of Peter and Eleanor, wife of Sean, friend, daughter, niece. Hostess. Reader. Baker. Collector of trivia, especially presidential and USA history. Board game enthusiast. Puzzle solver. Craft never-finisher. Amateur art historian. Jane Austen enthusiast. Occasional poetry enthusiast. Lover of knowledge. Researcher. Word lover. Future reincarnated otter.

Sunday, July 5, 2026

Gratitude - life is good

I am grateful:

To see my college pal Joan & meet her husband Mike
To allow my husband time to spend with his old pal Patrick
To get a lot of reading done and start a new cross stitch project
To take a multi-state train adventure with hubby
For my son Peter taking care of things at home
For losing weight & making healthy choices
For limoncello cream, blackberry hard cider, fresh strawberries, crab dip, salad, and “healthier” Cheetos
For air conditioning!
For my fave blue duffle I’ve had for 35 years
For Mark’s garden