D33 - Moving Truck Day ~ Empty House

Plans are just that and they're meant to change. With everything set for movers to come on Thursday morning, we were requested to have them instead on Wednesday. This meant we had to expedite the remaining packing.  It also meant that the movers were coming on the same day we were taking the Audi to the shop and signing closing documents on the house.  This of course had followed a Tuesday that was emotionally difficult, as it was saying once again goodbye to Mitch & Michelle when we delivered the washer and dryer, spending time with Courtney and ultimately having to say goodbye, and finally returning home in time for the appointment at the veterinarian where I had to put Hoover to sleep. 

There we lots of moments I didn't think we were going to be able to get everything done.  Things started to go downhill first off when we ran into a problem with the Audi and had to drive it in reverse all the way back to the house. We were blessed to have Joe Schrum come to the rescue told that you his garage where he'll have the opportunity to take a look at it.  We were able to reach out to the title company and go in early to sign the paperwork which was fortuitous because the movers arrived at 9:30 versus 10:30. The number of papers we had to sign at the title company was significantly smaller than I expected and that whole process only took about 10 minutes tops. Fingers crossed now that everything continues to go well and closing happens on the 9th as expected. 

Back home and after what felt like 10000 pieces of paper that had to be signed and learning that you can't ship anything inside of cabinets like hope chest or dressers, our wonderful group of Movers had all of our household belongings loaded on the truck. They were absolutely wonderful and I'll have a separate review blog dedicated to their service in case anybody needs to hire a moving company .  Of course the cubic footage was far larger than we expected but it is what it is.

 

 At this point we were in a holding pattern on the transport truck for the Shelby. We were so busy with everything else that we missed emails that the original transport truck had been involved in a accident at a truck stop and was out of commission. By the time they got ahold of us they had figured out a new plan that required the Shelby to be picked up on Wednesday in the afternoon.  That was fine until we got a call from that driver to tell us that she had broke a leaf spring while driving on I-70 in Denver and had to take the truck to a repair shop but anticipated he might still be able to make it that day. As the day went on it became apparent that they weren't going to be done with his repairs so we came up with a contingency plan where we would drive the Shelby to him in Denver rather than waiting until he could pick it up in Fort Morgan. 

An empty house and cleaning for the new occupants fill the remainder of our evening knowing that we would be able to get on the road no later than midmorning on Thursday.  Our last night in our home was bittersweet. 

D24 - When Reading Meets Obsession

 

When the amount of time you spend organizing and analyzing one of your habits or hobbies surpasses the amount of time you're spending actually doing it, does that mean you might have a problem? I'm asking for a friend . . . okay that friend is me!

One of them my favorites activities to participate in is reading. I consider myself to be a voracious reader and would rather he found curled up reading a book then doing just about anything else.  In a slow year I read about 150 books and in my highest reading near which was 2019 I read 244 books. Yes, I realize that's a lot. Yes, I realize that's not normal. Yes, I realize that I read more in a year than some people have read in their life.  No, I won't apologize because reading truly is my escape. 

That sheer volume of books is what leads to the problem that comes with over organizing.  I have to date marked 1,912 books as completed reading.  I use the Goodreads application to maintain an accurate list of the books that I read. It does a great job and I'm very pleased to be able to search quickly to determine if I've already read a book.  Nothing annoys me more then to get 15 or 20 pages into a book that sounds familiar only to realize that I have wasted precious time reading something for the second time.  I know there are some people who will read the same book multiple times but that is not me. I love the idea of being able to immerse myself in a book and I find it difficult to do that if I already know the ending. I'm also that person who would never flip to the back of the book to find out how the story ends, that's practically blasphemy. Ha ha.  On a side note, of course I'm not comfortable enough with just having Goodreads track so I have a spreadsheet with multiple tabs that keeps an accurate list of all the books that I've ever read. I know, I know but what's a girl to do.

With the challenge of keeping an accurate record covered, the next problem comes with what to read next. Another hard-and-fast rule that I have for reading is that if you are reading books by an author who has multiple books in a series, you absolutely need to read the books in order. I don't understand how reading books out of order doesn't drive a person crazy. It would ruin it for me to know what's going to happen when you read out of order.  Yeah yeah, that's just one of the things that's odd about me.  I find myself at this point getting obsessed with researching what books are available for checkout, keeping list of books in series, and taking the time to make sure I make recommendations of books for purchase to the electronic libraries that I have cards for check out.  This becomes the great time sucker for sure. One search leads to a series of rabbit holes and next thing I know hours have gone by the wayside. I always think that once I have a plan of attack on which books and what authors are next in the queue then I am pretty much good to go for 6 to 9 months. Yeah right!  Ironically if I had just randomly selected the next book I would have had even more time to enjoy reading. Of course that would mean I would have missed out on having some of my OCD needs met in the process.

Gone are the days when I could just go into the library and browse through the stacks until I found something that met my fancy.  In fact with the advent of electronic readers, I find myself choosing print versions less and less often. That however is a topic for a completely different blog entry. 

D22 - Real Relationships???

EVALUATING RELATIONSHIPS: 

 Not For The Weak At Heart!

 

(https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/ralph_waldo_emerson_100740)

I find myself wondering about the timing of this message that seems to be weighing on my heart.  I wonder about whether the subject is something that needs to be broached and if so what are the consequences.   I ponder if enough time has transpired to truly have a good grasp on the questions and the feelings. 

I've always considered myself to be the kind of person that what you see is what you get. In no way do I consider myself perfect, in fact quite the opposite, but I have always thought relationships with others are based upon genuine feelings and trust.  This however tends to set people up to be disappointed in human nature. Not everyone that we come in contact with will adhere to those same values, and in fact some have mastered just the opposite, which has left me discouraged and disillusioned. 

When we're busy dealing with the day-to-day bump and grind we often just go through the motions when it comes to relationships.  We respond often times without even putting much thought into the words or the delivery, let alone how they're going to be received.  Divided loyalties can put us into a position of having to decide how to behave.  When in reality just being honest is always the best.

Having time on your hands gives you time to "evaluate" for lack of a better word, the relationships you felt you maintained over many years.   When you don't provide value tangibly it can become apparent that the seeds of those relationships may have been planted very shallowly and the substance of the relationship doesn't appear destined to stand the test of time.  It's a confusing conundrum to say the least, not so much because of feelings but rather of wonderment.

How people treated you and how you thought they felt becomes somewhat of a puzzle.  I find myself digging deeper into comments, actions, conversations and even some written words and wondering just how naive I may have been when I opened myself up to people.

I'm conducting an experiment of sorts to test out a theory that I have.  It seems to me that people always make light of relationships on social media as opposed to real life relationships.  I've heard people state that online relationships are shallow and insincere.  So far I'm finding that far more of those relationships online feel honest and authentic. Online people have the option to scroll on by if they choose, rather than that which happens in person when sometimes people merely placate you with platitudes.  I often wish life came with a crystal ball that allowed us to see others intentions, but that's not how life works and we are accountable to give without having any expectation of anything in return.

If you've gotten to this point in the entry I hope you aren't thinking badly for me, or feeling sad for me because I'm personally not feeling either of those but rather I'm feeling enlightened. I would suspect there maybe some that read this will wonder if it's addressed to them, to which I would say that we each need to search our own hearts and consider daily our personal motivations for actions.   I for one am trying to not let this jade me about interpersonal relationships.  We're all human and prone to survival of the fittest instincts. 

For me, I'm moving into this new stage of life secure in the knowledge that I already have or I am in the process of letting people know how I feel.  Some relationships that I've had for decades may go by the wayside but isn't that just part of life.    I'm choosing to continue to do things that make others happy and to love others regardless of whether the feelings are mutual.  It allows me to wake up every day with hope. 

Thanks for taking the time to read this if you've made it all the way to this point.  

D21 - REVIEW ~ The Art Spot, LLC (Fort Morgan, CO)

 MAKING MEMORIES . . . AND ART TOO!

The Art Spot, LLC is a quaint Art Studio located in Fort Morgan, Colorado.  Launched by the great owner Darlene Segelke Ruyle and assisted by local artist Maria Cisnowski, they have launched a unique and well-loved business that provides so much more then just an art project.  Their mission statement on their web page says it all.  

The Art Spot is a happy creative place where you can have fun with art and connect with friends, family, co-workers, or team members. We'll share our passion for all things creative and in the end you'll go home with a finished piece of artwork and a warm heart.  

I personally have had the opportunity of attending multiple classes with them in a community event setting but my personal favorite has been the last couple where I've had the opportunity to do them with family.  There is so much more to that experience then just painting on a canvas or other medium, it's the camaraderie, the silliness, the nervousness, and ultimately that support amongst classmates who are mostly all there as people who believe they have no artistic ability yet manage to create a personal masterpiece. For me it's a time to just relax and enjoy a slower pace of life doing something that's just fun. How many of us don't take time and our busy lives every once in awhile to "just have fun".  The opportunity I just had with my kids Mitch, Michelle, Courtney, and Brad creating "Patriotic Outdoor Signs" turned into a chance for each person to put their own spin on what they wanted their sign to look like.  And that's truly the beauty of this class and this studio is that there is no right or wrong way to create art. They merely give you the supplies, the basic ideas, and then a big nudge to just create.

The Art Spot offers such a broad range of classes multiple times a month at very convenient times for those people who work.  They have a wide selection of projects such as a series on gnomes, a series with an old truck, seasonal tree paintings, fun yet silly characters, and so much more. They have started branching out into painting on items such as fabric bags and wine glasses.  Don't want to go to a class with strangers? Problem solved, they can do a private class for individual groups with enough people and allow you to select the project that you want to work on together.  All of this at prices you just can't beat.

I personally want to say a huge thank you Darlene and Maria for helping create some memories for me and my family before my husband and I make our big move away.  As I make trips back to the area after our move this will definitely be one of the things on the to-do list with my kids.  This is what quality time is really all about. (Insert tears here 😭)

  

https://www.theartspot9.com

D18 - REVIEW ~ Topgolf (Colorado Locations)

 Topgolf Is Top Notch

(https://topgolf.com/)

MY REVIEW 

TOPGOLF is a MUST do activity for people of all ages. This venue provides a day of entertainment that includes good food, good drinks, good ambience, and a great bonding experience for everyone. This is definitely not just for people who consider themselves to be golfers but rather for anybody who enjoys having a good time.  We frequented two of the three locations in Colorado and have been please with both experiences.   It was a great family outing for us and our adult children. Imagine driving golf balls from a three-story building at targets in an enclosed area. Better yet don't imagine it go check it out.  Fair warning, Topgolf is extremely popular and you will want to make reservations with plenty of time in advance.  Theoretically you can just walk-in but my understanding is the wait can be very long.  With locations in 29 States this is an activity that you can do almost anywhere. It is definitely worth the drive to the nearest location.  See below for links to locations and some other information from their website.

What is Topgolf? 
It's a sports entertainment complex that features an inclusive, high-tech golf game that everyone can enjoy. Paired with an outstanding food and beverage menu, climate-controlled hitting bays and music, every Topgolf has an energetic hum that you can feel right when you walk through the door.

How does it work?  
Topgolf offers a wide selection of games that utilize micro-chipped golf balls and Toptracer technology (select venues) to keep track of every shot. Player's shots will be relayed back to their bay screen showing the accuracy and distance of each ball. Our giant targets make it fun for everyone – Guests of all ages and skill levels can score!

Plan an Event!
No matter the occasion, make it more eventful at Topgolf.

Locations in AL, AT, AZ, CA, CO, FL, GA, IL, IN, KS, LA, MD, MI, MN, NB, NC, NJ, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA

Find one near you at:  https://topgolf.com/us/locations/

FACEBOOK - https://m.facebook.com/topgolf

D17 - INTENTIONAL Time

(https://portland.momcollective.com/)

I'm a firm believer, especially these days, of the importance of intentional time. There's no area in your life that's more important than family.  We all go through the motions of sending text messages, commenting on social media, or maybe even taking the time to make a phone call.  However, none of those methods holds a candle to truly spending quality or intentional time with those that matter to you.  Life gets busy and we all have so many things vying for our time but I highly encourage taking this time.  The nssxt step is when you are in the middle of those moments to truly make sure you're present.  I never really thought much about what it meant to be "present" but I've found my greatest joy in the last 6 months when I take the time to sit back and watch what's going on.  My mama heart is finding the unimaginable happiness in watching my children interact with each other, laughing and picking at each other in fun ways, and watching as they interact with parents. Those moments are priceless and now stored away in my heart forever.  I may be a little partial but I think I have a pretty amazing family.

In the last week or so, I've had the great pleasure of spending time with most of our children all-together. Spending time in a semi competitive arena at Top Golf with my husband and five of the seven of our kids was so much fun. While each of them is competitive in their own right, I was really touched by how they supported each other and truly just enjoyed each other's company. It's a rare time when we can get that many of them in the same place and the only thing that kept it from being perfect was that the other two children and our granddaughter we're unable to be there.  Fast forward a day and having the chance to spend several hours together at a painting class with four of the seven was a completely different environment. Gone was the competitive nature of sports but the proximity of being at a table painting while using the complete opposite side of the brain from the day before showed a completely different side of each of them.  

As the days countdown to when we leave Colorado for Florida, while my heart is heavy I truly do believe that those trips home or when the kids come to see us will be filled with intentional memories, not just those that are fit in amongst all of the busyness of daily lives. I've had a front row seat to see just how great our kids are and how they are all on such amazing Journeys in their own personal lives.  We couldn't be more proud where each and every one of them is at and how their individual personalities have shaped them and made them into the amazing adults they've become.

I am committed to making sure that we find creative and interesting ways to stay in touch across the miles in between in person visits.  I am definitely grateful to live in an age where technology is going to help us with this.  

LISA'S WORDS OF WISDOM!  Embrace the time you have with loved ones and do not take any moments for granted.  MAKE INTENTIONAL TIME for your little kids, adult kids, spouses, significant others and parents .  

D14 - To Knee or not to Knee

 That is the Question

Taking An Active Stance (Pun Intended)

Today, after contemplating what surgery might look like for my knee issues and the fact it will probably be October at the earliest drove me to start searching online four options that don't require surgery. I'll be the first to admit I frequently believe that I have a medical degree that was granted to me by the University of Google.  I fully know that when something's wrong we shouldn't necessarily consult WebMD or other internet favorites because we can come away with some tragic horrible disease when in fact we just have a common cold.

That being said, when I consulted numerous sites there is it definitely a movement in the physical therapy world that recommends a regimen of strengthening exercises that even if they don't help with the meniscus and ACL problems they set me on course for better success after a surgical procedure.   

I came upon several YouTube videos by Jessica Valant specifically designed for physical therapy for meniscus and other knee pain.  Videos demonstrated nothing crazy but rather just simple exercises that if done daily strengthen all the other areas of the knee the quads the hips and other parts of your leg that are designed to relieve the pain. I fully intend to begin these exercises daily to see if I can't strengthen everything else between now and the time we're settled in Fort Myers.  Who knows maybe this will be a solution that makes it so that I don't have to have any surgery at all.  THAT would be fabulous!  While I was surfing around on her YouTube channel and website I found that she has videos covering a broad range of subjects from headache relief & bedtime stretches to body image and of course killer Pilates. I included a link below in case you want to check her out. I found her very motivating and that's what I need.

Jessica Valant Pilates

I am cautiously optimistic that I may be able to start doing something productive. I feel like I've been giving it time to do some healing and allowing the inflammation to go down.  I'll continue to be careful and wear the brace as the doctor recommended. I'm also considering seeking the services of a physical therapist once we get to Florida.

I'll keep you all posted on how things are going - wish me luck!

D12 - Mosaic Kids

 

Tonight I had pleasure of speaking to the young people that attend our Weekly Mosaic Kids Wednesday night summer program at Morgan Nazarene Church.   The purpose of this program is to strengthen the bonds and the spiritual formation between the generations.  The intention is to share your testimony, about your family, or about your job.

My basis of my message tonight was about the importance of meeting people where they are, not where you think they should be. When you work in a job where you help people there are lots of times when people need assistance with things you don't think they should or things you've told them about or taught them over and over again. That can be frustrating. Have any of you ever taught or told someone something and they just didn't get it? Have you ever been the person who just didn't get it? Or have you been the person who needs to be shown things many times? What is really important when you are helping, and this is where my Christian beliefs come in, is that you do the job with kindness.  It would be easy to get annoyed or frustrated and to let them know how you're feeling. But how would that make them feel? It would make them feel bad, and as a Christian we should treat everyone with love. Even when it's frustrating I have to remember we don't know what it is that's going on in their life or if there are other things bothering them that are making them distracted? Another reason is that we are all different and we all learn differently. Not everyone is good at the same things but we are all special in our own way. I choose to meet people where they are in life. God's blessing on my life has made me a helper and I believe that when I live my life being a positive example I am being a disciple for God by how I live. I hope people see me and want what I have - JESUS!  What can each of us do today and every day to be kind and more like Jesus? Remember we all are special in our own way and we can't let ANYONE dull our sparkle. 

It truly was a blessing to me to be able to share this final time before we move. It has been such an honor and a privilege for me to have taught these kids over the last several years. My heart is full when I think about the difference we're making in these young minds on a daily basis.

D12 - BEEP - Computer Work Makes Me Tired

 BEEP - THIS GIRL IS ON AN EXTENDED COFFEE BREAK - DON'T LEAVE A MESSAGE

(Reddit.com)

Having spent my entire adult work life in Information Technology (IT) and spending the last 19+ years in a Support Desk capacity has meant that at the end of the day at home the last thing I ever wanted to do was anything technical.  That included things like fixing the WiFi connection,  troubleshooting any kind of issues, or figuring out how to install new things like printers or scanners.  Sometimes even learning to use new apps on my tablet or phone was just TOO MUCH.  

On a personal note, several years back about two weeks after I got my new laptop the "7" key popped of, slid across the floor, and was scarfed up and swallowed by the dog....GONE FOREVER!  I spent years typing awkwardly with my laptop getting slower and more painful to use until I basically complained every time I used it.   My husband came to my rescue and provided me with a new laptop.  Problem solved RIGHT?   Or not because as I said above,  the last thing I want to do at home is computer work.   Migrating everything was more than I wanted to do.   Then comes the BIG MOVE and the push that came with that, so I definitely didn't have the time or motivation. 

Fast forward to the first couple weeks of retirement.   Going from constant questions and tons of work to "NOT SO MUCH" took away my excuse for not setting it up.  There is no reason to take two laptops across the country, that would just be silly.   I set up a work area and begin the process which should go quickly.   It becomes obvious that "should be" is the operative word.    The new version of the operating system meant the transfer utility wouldn't work which required downloading a new LARGE software on both machines (did I mention how SSLLOOWW the old machine is).  This wad not a smooth process but an hour later I'm ready to run the utility.   I kick off the utility which proceeds to spend 45 minutes "ANALYZING" before informing me it is ready to transfer the data.   It lets me know the expected time is over an hour and not to have anyone else streaming or using bandwidth during the transfer.   It judges my timing of wanting to do this task by pointing out that MOST PEOPLE do this overnight.   THANKS utility for the judgemental comments.   I verify with my "work from home" husband that the timing over lunch works for him.   Yep he says ....queue image on me clicking the YES button.   True to its guess, 60 minutes later all my data is copied and my new laptop is ready.  Fantastic right,  except now I've forgotten what I wanted to do on a laptop in the first place and honestly I'm tired.  Did I mention being retired?  HA HA

That was my entire morning doing computer work.  And before you ask IF I MISS WORK?   NO!  I do not miss the phone calls,  pages (I hated the beep the PA system made before each one - PTSD), and TONS of emails.   I DO miss being able to help coworkers do their job more efficiently and those moments I felt appreciated for what I did. Retirement is definitely the better GIG 

In the future will you see me setting up a network at home... ha ha ... that's funny.   The most complicated thing I intend to do that is technology-related is the purchase a high-speed high quality scanner for organizing documents and scanning photographs.  However that's more of an organizational necessity and I'm sure I'll hate the setup process.  If the Wi-Fi stops working or any other problems arise with anything technological I'm just turning to my husband.   

YOUR CALL IS BEING TRANSFERRED 

PLEASE HOLD!

D9 - Taking Control Of My Own Health

THE FIT BIT TELLS NO LIES

(Fitbit.com)

Today has me thinking about physical health and what that looks like in this new chapter.   I'm a big fan of my Fitbit and I've spent many years using it to help me see trends.  

SLEEP

When it comes to sleep, that's an area I know I do not excel Over the last 12 months my weekly average hours slept is somewhere between 5:15 and 6 hours on a good night.   Often times that average came after days with 7 or 8 hours followed by minimal sleep.  I function exceptionally well on small amounts and feel pretty good.   I'll admit that there were times though when I would get to work and not feel tired until I looked at my sleep score and according to it I didn't sleep well. The power of suggestion immediately made me feel more tired than I was 5 minutes ago.   One of the things I've heard people purport about retirement is not having to get up out of bed if you don't want to and being able to sleep in.  I realize I'm not far enough into this journey but my internal body alarm has me waking up before my work alarm would go off with the expectation that it's time for the day to start.  As time goes on I hope to be able to post a follow-up to this entry to report back on if that's changed.  

STEPS

An area that I prided myself in over the years with my Fitbit is tracking of the number of steps that I take in a day.  My job required me to be on my feet pretty much 70% of the day back and forth across the office helping people which meant I got a crazy amount of steps in every day just in the building.  FULL DISCLOSURE for anyone I'm not coming in contact with personally, back in January I injured my knee, but of course did not go to the doctor because why would I do that LOL.  Life continued on with me having a slight limp and annoying pain until in March when my knee gave out when I was going down the stairs and I slipped.  At first I thought I might have fixed the pain on the inside of my knee because that pain subsided temporarily, until 24 hours later when it not only came back but I also had pain on the outside of my knee. You would think at this point a trip to the doctor would have been in order but as I said before why would I do that LOL.  Fast forward to the middle of April (more pain and limping) and you find me on a walk to the park with my granddaughter.  As I was walking down the sidewalk my knee gave out and I fell forward while carrying her but praise God I was able to protect her and took the complete brunt of the fall myself.  Apparently the third time was the charm and it drove me to the doctor's office to find out what was wrong. Come to find out it appears I have micro tears on both my meniscus and my ACL.  Surgery is definitely in my future, however that's not a possibility until after we get settled in our new home late September.  So ... I have a lovely black brace that restricts my mobility and keeps my knee from giving out.  It won't heal the problem but it should protect it from any additional damage until I can get it repaired.  It does however keep me from walking the number of steps I'm used to taking which used to range between 10,000 and 15000 steps a day. The doctor highly suggested I cut that down in half but when you're trying to prepare for a move that's not always possible.   It's kind of sad though because it used to make me proud of myself when my Fitbit would celebrate when I reached my daily walking goal, now I kind of cringe because I know the doctor wouldn't be pleased.  

HEART RATE/STRESS MANAGEMENT/MINDFULNESS 

The last couple of fun features of my Fitbit that I've been monitoring are the heart rate, stress management and mindfulness tools.  I'm finding not surprisingly that I now have time to practice mindfulness activities which didn't happen previously.  My Stress Management indicators are in the calm and neutral range as opposed to the stressed and very stressed range which was the norm.  But possibly one of the most surprising areas that I hadn't been paying attention to was the trends with my heart rate.   Over the last 12 months my resting heart rate was in the high-70s to mid-80s.  Studies indicate that resting heart rates over 76 can be concerning and an optimal rate is in the low-to-mid 60s.  My results show that in the time since I decided to retire and after making that announcement, my resting heart rate has continued to declined with my high numbers being in the low 70s now.   Definitely moving in the right direction

Clearly there is room for improvement and I think active focus on what that takes will be far easier with a more relaxed lifestyle.  I look forward to being able to participate in outdoor activities, spend time swimming, and just in general having a healthier lifestyle.  Sharing those activities with my mother-in-law and husband will provide me accountability partners.   I'll even post some before and after pictures/statistics so that all of you can be my accountability partners as well.  I congratulate you if you've made it this far in this post and are still reading it.  I'm writing much of this so that I can have base lines over time.  

Good luck and I hope you all stay on journeys that allow you to live a more active, healthy and exciting life.  God Bless.

D7 - Trust Me!

 CRAZY TRUST FALL LIKE SITUATIONS

(https://www.skipprichard.com/10-laws-of-trust-build-the-bonds-that-make-a-business-great/)

A big part of the changes I find I am going through as I am begining this journey into retirement is having to relinquish control and learn the importance of putting TRUST in other people and situations.  

EXAMPLE  #1 - When you tell your amazing real estate agent that you're feeling a little anxious and the response comes back "try not to stress, that's my job"!  

LESSON #1 - Being anxious about things that are outside of my control is a useless waste of time and energy.  When you choose people to work with like we have that are exceedingly competent and have your best interest at heart there is no value come over analyzing the situation.  

EXAMPLE  #2 - When you're worried about not being able to attend an inspection on your new house in Florida

LESSON #2 - Brainstorm with your husband on a great solution where he and my incredible mother-in-law will go.  Remember to trust that they have more than enough skills and will do a great job.  Genuinely be happy for them and the time they will get to spend together over a long weekend.

EXAMPLE #3 - Having anxiety and apprehension about what the future is going to hold.  Will I still see my children living here in Colorado as often as I'd like?  What if people don't like me or I don't fit in?  And many other bizarre thoughts!

LESSON #3 - As for seeing my children as often as I'd like, this is truly my biggest step and requires most Trust.  I am choosing to believe the heartfelt comments by my husband that anytime I need, he will put me on a plane to come home to visit.  As for my concerns about people not liking me or not fitting, it seems to merely evoke laughter from everyone when I share.

By nature I am an anxious person so this is a new experience and I will honestly say it makes me uncomfortable.  With that being said, I know that I'm required to take this step out in faith to position me where I know God is leading.   I'm choosing to take these new exciting yet scary steps.

D5 - Lessons From A Serial Retainer

 WHAT DO YOU MEAN I CAN'T TAKE IT ALL WITH ME?!?

For me, retirement comes with a move in our future.   The process of purchasing a new home in another state, going through 22 + years worth of accumulated items, and selling our current home is a lot.  Today's advice would be that long before you find that you are in a similar situation begin the downsizing process. If you just take one room at a time you will find that you won't have to do it all at once.  Although I will admit that when you're looking at a daunting task like downsizing an entire house you find that things that you might have thought you absolutely needed to keep don't seem quite so necessary and they're easier to part with.  It literally took months to go through all of the things that we have, two garage sales, multitudes of listings on buy and sell sites, and more trips to Goodwill and other thrift stores then I'd like to admit.  My kids have been recipients of many things they wanted and probably some things they didn't want.  In the end, we have succeeded in paring down to those things that are either making the move or are necessities for everyday living.  I absolutely do not recommend following my path because it was extremely stressful and put a tremendous amount of pressure on our relationship.

Now for some lessons learned from this seasoned professional (I gave myself that a title):

Lesson 1 - Paper Avalanche  (and photo)

Full disclosure here, I find that one of the things that I am inclined to retain (those are pretty words for borderline hoarding LOL) is paper.  I attach a lot of emotion and memories to tangible things that I can touch.  I have years worth of personal journals that I'm sure contain amazing nuggets and insightful words (ha ha).  If I had it to do over again I would definitely be purchasing a great scanner that would allow indexing of documents and keeping them electronically.  I would have made sure it had the ability to scan the sheer massive volume of photographs that I have as well. Of course I would never have had the time to scan them so there is that.  Of course I don't have the aforementioned scanner so I have boxes of photos and papers that are making the move.  When I arrive on the other end I will be purchasing that scanner if for no other reason then to get all of the photographs scanned so they can be shared with the appropriate people. I have many old photos that I want to make sure get shared with family and doing it electronically will make the task much more effective.

Lesson 2 -  Don't try to understand

People will buy the strangest things. People will pay money for things that you don't think are worth it.  People will not buy things you think you have that should be valuable.  People will drive incredible distances for things they "can't live without".  You can't understand people so don't even try, you will make yourself crazy.  

If you make enough trips to the local thrift stores they start to know you by name and stop asking you if you want a receipt.  Share the wealth, especially if you have the opportunity to donate to entities that provide items to people in need for free.

Lastly, if you are a couple I offer some sage words of advice.  Do your best not to question your spouse as to why they have kept things they have over all the years.  You won't understand their reasons and they may not even know why themselves.  Doing this will help with the above stated pressure on your relationship.

Lesson 3 - Memories 

UGH, MEMORIES!  During this experience I not only had to wade through accumulated items but I also had to go through items that came to me after my parents passed away.  At the time I emotionally couldn't bring myself to go through the boxes so instead I stored them away for many years.  When we began this, I made the conscious decision to start with those boxes because my philosophy was that if I could "get through those" then the rest of the stuff would be a piece of cake. That proved to be an accurate assessment but doesn't mean that it was easy.  I consider myself fortunate because as my husband was helping me navigate this emotional minefield, he gave me a priceless nugget of advice that when I took it I found that it has truly changed my perspective on "things".  His simple words were that the memories aren't attached solely to the item, but rather they're in my heart.  He reminded me to physically hold on to the item and to let the memories come but then realize that because they are in my heart I can let the item go.  For those things I might want to be able to look at again I took pictures of and then let the items go to a new home.  I never realized how wise he is (chuckle)!   All of that being said, I want you not to put going through these emotional items until you are under the pressure of a move, do it now.

I'm proud of how far we've come and the many things that we have allowed to go to good homes.  I look forward to designing my new home with intentionality, avoiding the gathering of so many items going forward.  I'm not a minimalist in any way but I'm looking forward to the calm that comes from a lack of clutter.  I hope you learn from my experiences but if you don't I'm confident you will navigate your minefield in your own way.