Packing

Ok I’ve started packing!!!! … for my temporary 3 1/2 month (or longer) move to Tampa. Been holding off because if I started too early, then I’d pack too much. And no matter when I start, I will keep packing until it is time to leave.

So I began with sheets (for two beds) and books — that was three boxes. Priorities, right!? I am packing far more books than i would ever read in three months. But i want choices. And also books are a decorative item! Who would I be without a full bookshelf!

I’ve also packed towels, hair stuff and toiletries (as in all the backup stuff and such from under the sink that I never remember I have. Maybe I’ll use it up now — skin care and all that. Threw out some stuff as I went too…). I even packed toilet paper and boxes of kleenex ‘cause we have so much here in this big house and it helps lighten the boxes of books.

I packed greeting cards and address book so i can get back to sending out cards! I have missed it!

I packed two bags of board games — along with small baggies and my label maker so i can label/organize these games.

I have even packed three bags of canned soups, pasta and cereal from our pantry.

I think that is enough packing for today.

I am not packing every single thing because I will be back and forth to West Palm Beach and I will need clothes and toiletries here too. And if i forget anythung or change ny mind in anything, sean and I will be back and forth every few weeks.

I need my bread making stuff!

What’s saving my life

1. Making bread
2. Savoring time with friends
3. Lists
4. New mirrors
5. Eating less
6. Audiobooks
7. Good moisturizer
8. Stretching
9. Evening walks

Small Joys — questions and constitutions

Day 211

Random number 126

Start weekly photo challenge on FB

I asked for Photos of clouds yesterday. Have scheduled photo requests for next few weeks.

My contribution:

Day 212

Random number 472

Get a copy of US constitution

Done! Ordered 10 copies from ACLU. I’ll give them away.

Things I learned this weekend

Things I learned at Grato, a restaurant in West Palm Beach, this weekend:

1. N’duja is spicy sausage,
2. Guanciale is a cured pork from the cheeks of a pig,
3. Mezcal & aperol is delightfu & pretty,
4. My son likes peaches, but agrees with me that burrata is overrated.

Things to do in central Florida

List of activities in Lakeland, Bartow, Winter Haven

Saturday musings

I’m enjoying my far less-planned-out weekends and weeks. We socialize far less than we did pre-Covid, and then even less this year as we have prepped to move.

Only thing on my schedule today: lunch with friends

For tomorrow: manicure

Ahhh. Bliss.

With all this free time, I’ve really pared down the endless To Do list. And there’s just less to do with less planning and coordinating for socializing and going out.

Watching old and new movies with Peter and Sean. Crafting. Reading. Baking. Oh yes, all the things I’d been saying for years I wanted more of.

Going out less means less to post on social media and that is also a *very* good thing.

This move to a new town is naturally reducing our material things but also shifting our perspectives on everything. A new place to live and a slightly modified *way* to live.

Of course other reasons we don’t go out and do as much anymore: germs, guns, MAGAts, disquieting unease with other citizens who seem unaware of the growing darkness of the world

Small Joys — lunch & clothes

Day 210

# 422

Have lunch with friends

Had lunch with Barbara, Kevin and Susan. Friends for 30, 25, and 17 years. Wow! We went to Howleys on Dixie Highway. We all were wearing the same shirts from Flamingocon because we’d just dropped off a donation of games. As a consequence, we had two people ask us about the event and we talked it up and gave out business cards. It was a good lunch.

AND

#116

Take photos of outfits of the day

This was for an Instagram challenge. And today I wore 4 different outfits!

walking the dog:

Giving away games as part of Flamingocon:

Out to dinner at Grato with Peter:

And now my wrinkly cat-fur-covered pajamas!