Retirement Countdown 2025

Move your body!  As I navigate retirement, I try to find ways to maintain my health and find ways to keep my workout regiment interesting, worthwhile, and effective in keeping yourself in good health.  This past Sunday, I signed up for an exercise class at the local 24 hour fitness gym. I signed up for Zumba. 24 Hour Fitness describes as  "Zumba® fuses hypnotic Latin rhythms with easy-to-follow moves to create a dynamic fitness program. The goal is simple: to want to work out, to love working out and to get hooked. Zumba® fanatics achieve long-term benefits in one exhilarating hour of calorie-burning, body-energizing, awe-inspiring movements."   Getting ready for class workout I couldn't agree more. As a first timer, I was met with a warm welcome applause as the instructor asked if anyone's first time. It was early Sunday morning, I didn't realize quite of few attendees were up and enthusiastic at a 9:00 am start time. The attendees appear to be mostly women, old...

I'm taking in the stormy weather we've been having in the Northern California area to stay in to do a little writing. It's been a few days after Christmas and I'm really feeling the sense that my desire to retire in 2025 is literally around the corner!  As I select July 1st as my last day in the office, standard protocol in submitting a retirement/resignation to my employer is generally 3 months. This allows all the paperwork to be processed just in time before I walk out the door. So starting in April I'm letting my director know I'm leaving.  Personally, I still feel the anxiety and wonder if it's the right time, will I make a mistake by retiring too early, all these crazy thoughts start to surface in my head and making me second guess my decision.  But as there is constant rain pouring outside my window, I'm given some calmness that all my preparation has been more than enough. I've crossed all my T's and dotted my I's, and it's really...

I clearly remembered the day my manager informed us that we needed to leave work that morning to get provisions and shelter in place for the next few days. A local and national announcement was made that everyone needed to head home as a rising case of the Covid-19 virus had begun to climb in numbers infecting people across the country and globally.  Initial reports stated that the virus outbreak started in China in a wet market where several people were diagnosed with a flu-like symptom of Pneumonia. In the ensuing weeks, we were getting reports that the virus reached the United States. We were unable to contain the virus reaching our shores. It was a moment many of us had no idea what was really happening until, the death count began rising. Mask and social distancing became the new norm to avoid any infection and the further spread of the virus. Fast forward to today, Wednesday, September 1st, and I'm reflecting on how far we've come in trying to be safe and contain this vir...