Get a job!

I know! I know! I'm not turning out to be a very prolific blogger. Mea culpa!

I'm not feeling like my life is very interesting at the moment. Retirement is about filling your days. The fun is that you can do anything you want. The challenge is you can put off to tomorrow what you don't get done today. And time just seems to fill, easily. I usually like having only one thing planned for a day. One appointment. And it seems like that day is filled up. And the appointment may only last 30 - 60 minutes. But there's getting ready for the appointmentt. And driving to the appointment. And driving home from the appointment. And since I'm out of the house, I'll run an errand or two. Whew! Hours have passed. Busy day!

And I have massage appointments and cold laser appointments and attorney appointments and financial planner appointments. Gotta get my affairs in order before heading out on the trail for another 6 months. So what does my financial planner tell me: Get a job! You've got to be kidding, right? I'm retired! Retired people don't work. They play. I'm playing. I've finally adjusted to the idea that I have no purpose on this earth. That mine is just to exist. (And not spend any money doing it.) So is she serious? She can't be. Who would hire me at this age? I'm 60 for crying out loud! (And I do, whenever I think about how old I am!) Washed up! Over the hill! And besides, I wouldn't want to take the job from a younger person who needs is during these difficult times. Oh, I need it? But I can't. I'm retired. I can't even imagine having to be some place on a regular basis. Talk about tying me down. Then I wouldn't be able to just up and fly to Florida to visit my daughter. Or go west to hike the Pacific Crest Trail. Or volunteer at Shalom Mountain. Or dream about biking around the world. Or help daughter #2 open her coffee shop in St. Augustine. Or...or...or... (you fill in the blanks.)

So...the challenge is: how do I start earning an income but not leave retirement? Hmmm? I'll have to think about that one. Guess I could do that while I'm hiking for 2,650 miles. I have nothing else to think about all that time. Out of the box. Something creative, inspiring, easy, flexible, portable that generates cash flow.

But for now, I'll think about hiking in 100 degree heat with no water; hiking across glaciers and glacial streams; hiking through millions of mosquitos; hiking in a magnificent mountain range; hiking with new friends; sleeping out under the stars on a mountain top night after night; eating everything in sight and still losing weight; being dirty, grubby, smelly and loving every minute; being exhausted, in pain, bored, and beat but not wanting to quit; yea! I'll think about hiking the PCT.

Get a job? Not in the near future because I have other plans. Life's too short to not live every minute as if it's your last. And I have things to do, places to go, and people to meet. I don't have time to get a job. Have to figure out what Plan B is, that's for sure!

What the hell am I up to? That's a good question

Ya know, sometimes I forget that I even have this blog out there. Can you believe it's 12:30 in the morning and I have been on the internet since about 7 pm researching gear. Yup, tents mostly, for this upcoming hike of the Pacific Crest Trail. Somedays I wonder if I'm crazy. What am I signing up for. Can my feet do another 5 month hike? (I started to type 6, but then remembered that I have to finish this thing in about 5 months. It's close to 500 miles longer than the AT and that took me nearly 7 months if I deduct the 2 weeks off trail for Avery's wedding...so 500 miles longer and almost 2 months less that I have to do it given the weather window. That makes for some long hiking days, my friend.) Better question might be, can my knee? There are days it hurts walking. But back to late night and gear searching. I angst over gear. Did it before the AT too. But I think it paid off. I was pretty happy with my choices. The only thing I traded out was the hammock for the SMD Lunar tent. And I loved my tent. So why am I tent shopping? Good question! Because I'm afraid this tent may be too hard to pitch on that rocky trail. It must be staked all around or it falls down. So I've been looking at free-standing tents: Big Sky Mirage and Evolution 1P, and Henry Shires Rainbow Tarptent.

And I need a warmer sleeping bag: WM Ultralite, FF Egret, or Montbell UL SS #2. How cold does it get out there? Too light a bag and I'll be chilly like my current bag is, but too warm and I'll be having night sweats all the time. See how much fun it is to be me?

And then there's the pack question. Mine needs some repairs: buckles are warn and sliding, pockets have been chewed by mice, it looks really baggy and big and messy. Can I get something smaller? There were times mine was filled to the brim, like the 100 mile wilderness in Maine. Can I really reduce my volume and weight? What will I be doing differently? Not leaving my pillow home, that's for sure! I think I should get it repaired either way. It's a good pack: ULA Catalyst.

How cold does it get? I ask again. Do I need warmer clothes? Will my down sweater and fleece be sufficient to keep me warm? So many questions. Am I over analyzing? What about water filtering. I liked my gravity filter, but it's heavier than doing drops. But don't drops spoil the wonderful taste of the wild water? I don't want to do that.

So can you see that I'm just all over the place with crazy thoughts trying to figure out this hike and what needs to change, what can stay the same, what do I need to do to be successful, does it matter if I finish?

Ok, I'm tired. And I'm rambling.

I must say I do love the fact that I have some friends that want to hike with me! Yippeee! One's on board: Bonnie Carolyn, a woman from Florida that I've never met but who hiked the AT the same year I did...and Bluebearee, the ridge runner from Abol Bridge, Maine that I met when I got there...she's still undecided, but I have my fingers crossed she'll come. What ever happens, it will be the best PCT thru-hike EVER! New friends, new views, new experiences, new challenges. AIN'T LIFE FABULOUS?????

So that's what's on my mind these days while I'm running between my house and Shalom Mountain 4 hours away every couple of weeks. There's things I love about both places so I'm dividing myself. Long weekends home then back to the mountain for a couple of weeks. It sorta works and keeps me occupied for now. And helps me to spend time with all the new friends in my life and keep up with the old ones too.

Step Lightly,

Nightie Nite!

Bag Lady