Monday, December 10, 2012

Retirement

I know I've said this before, but we've finished most of the projects we could manage and are now faced with TIME.  I've worked at a job, not a career, most of my life and am figuring out who I am.  You'd think by now I'd have it figured out.  I'd love to garden, but my attempts have been futile.  My brother sent down lots of flower seeds from the States and absolutely none of them germinated.  I really miss my trailing petunias, pansies and lobelia.  The only bedding flowers that seem to thrive here are zinnias and impatiens.  I am thrilled tho' with my hibiscus and bougainvillea.  Being from Oregon, these are so exotic. 

I'm also in a quandary about cooking.  I'm not a great or inventive cook and I really miss the foods that I knew.  We definitely have gringo tastes.  Strange that we don't get peas down here.  I finally found some frozen and won't make that mistake again.  The package was hard as a rock and when thawed the peas were grey and as ugly as canned.  Ick!  I've tried to grow a vegetable garden, but the bugs and critters defeated my efforts.  I'm going to see if I can cobble together some kind of a raised garden and give it another try on a very small scale.  

I think right now I'm just missing family and familiar things.  We have a few wonderful friends, but I think about how either of us will handle the farm if left alone.  Not a lovely tho't, but realistic.  I have also talked to our oldest grandson and he's graduating from high school a little early (January) and has enlisted in the Air Force.  He's such a treasure.  We spent several years with him and his brother with us much of the time and now he's grown up.  I know he'll do wonderfully in whatever he chooses, but we miss them all so much.  Be prepared, if you choose to move away from your family.  Emails are wonderful, as are phone calls, but they don't replace hugs, laughter and shared moments.   

Well enough of this sitting here on a lovely day and feeling blue. I have to take the old Trooper in for repairs and then back home and maybe dig in the dirt.   We are blessed, I just have to remember it.


3 comments:

Corozal Dave said...

I've been following your blog for a couple of years now. Loved reading every word of it. You've been through so much and have always maintained such a great attitude. You sound like such wonderful people.
Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and the best in the new year

Jon said...

Are you following the John McAfee ordeal? He is painting a very different picture of Belize....one that is dangerous with a corrupt govt.

JustPinMoney said...

I have not read through the entire blog yet, but I will! I've read the very beginning and then the most recent few posts.Im planning on coming to belize, specifically the Corozul area. Also considering the "IL: Live & Invest" conference in Belize City in March. Did you and your husband initially attend that before moving there and if so what did you think of it? If not, what inluenced/educated you to make that decision? Im hoping I wont be too shocked and will want to stay for a awhile and hoping to find something to rent cheaply. Say under $500 mo inc. internet and utiliities. Do you think that it possible? Also I'm curious what your answer and knwledge is to the comment posted by Jon. if you could answer me privately via email I would appreciate it very much. thank you.kathryn at justpinmoney@yahoo.com