ONLY 2 MORE MONTHS?

A few things happened recently which gave me food for thought. A letter came from one of my exercise groups, saying how glad they would be to see me back, the couple who are renting my house would be interested in buying it, my electricity bill for 3 months was £50, I am watching blizzards and deep snow in England and also parts of Spain, while experiencing bright sunshine, spring flowers, almond blossom, and lunch al fresco, and I have already planned to stay an extra month, and do a bit of touring round Spain, especially Seville during Semana Santa.

So the question is what next and why? I did feel that the experience of being in Spain would change me, and that I would not know how I felt until I had spent the time here, and then gone home. I had also felt that I might miss my home, not to mention my family and friends( which goes without saying). Not only have I not missed my home, I have felt OK about other people living in it. Previously I have always come back to the pleasure of familiar bed and kitchen and bathroom, almost like the house was an extension of  me, particularly since I had the kitchen, bedroom and bathroom makeover. I like entertaining, I like family coming to stay, I like the garden and the views, and the wood at the end of the cul-de-sac. I still do not know how I shall feel when I go home, but I now feel, as I had started to feel before I left home, that there is more to life in retirement than comfort, indeed the comfort can seem like a trap, the comfort trap. I am fortunate to own my own house, when many people are struggling. It has taken a long time to reach this happy position. But I am not my house, and in terms of adventures, and new experiences, I have lived a little life, yes I was an au pair in Tenerife, yes I went to uni when I was 36, but I am still living within 3 miles of where I was born, and I have spent a lifetime being sensible, (well mainly) and working for a pension, like we are told to.

So I reckon that if I am going to throw over the traces, that it is now or never.

Life continues to throw up challenges like some kids smashing my front side window , and having to make a statement to the police, and finding out that the car insurance is more convoluted and I had to pay 93 euros, which hopefully will be refunded. Not much luck with my car.

I am now looking forward to Paula and Nina arriving at the weekend with the girls. Marjorie left this morning at 5.30 a.,m and had a 100 mph journey to the bus station in order to link up with flight to Barcelona.There has been some weird weather recently, including high winds which blew down power cables causing massive fires on the mountains around the area, a bit .reminiscent of the hills round Santa Monica.

All for now hasta la proxima vez