Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer
Those days of soda and pretzels and beer
Thanks for those familiar and motivational words, Nat King Cole. When that album was released in 1963, I wonder if he realized what an anthem it would become! On a side note, if you haven’t tried the Kirkland Peanut Butter Pretzels, head out to Costco and get yourself some!
Anyway, the whole mentality around summer has always been one of lackadaisical times spent by the beach, the pool, or going on road trips. Summer is synonymous with eating and drinking. In my neck of the woods, summer provides a much-needed respite from months of freezing weather and grey or snow-covered landscapes. We still eat and drink, but it’s more plugging in the slow cooker than firing up the barbecue. You can feel the mood change around May, when the snow is gone, there is a hint of green grass, and some trees are even teasing us with little buds. Then in June, everything hits in full force!
Not this year. The summer of 2025 will go down in the books as a bit of a write-off. Thanks to climate change and the refusal of world leaders to take it very seriously, we have had lower than normal temperatures. We have had impressive lightning storms, lots of rain, and unfortunately many northern forest fires. As of last week, there were ONLY 60 fires burning in the northern half of my province, and no communities were under evacuation. Only 60! That’s 60 too many. Actually, we have experienced an “unusually high” number of forest fires this year, according to the Global Forest Watch.
Yes, we have sure had our share of bad weather and smokey air. Summer just wasn’t the same this year. I mean, the days that were nice temperature-wise were often too smokey to enjoy any outdoor activities. Even organized pickleball was cancelled several times because of air quality warnings. Itchy eyes, burning throats, and sensitive sniffers were the norm, and my city isn’t even close to the fires.
And now, summer is pretty much done. It’s the end of August. Labour Day weekend will be here in just a few days. It’s time to pull off any remaining garden treasures, dig out some sweaters, and think about getting outdoor plants ready for winter.
Don’t get me wrong, it hasn’t been all doom and gloom. We had some nice patches, and I prefer the mid- to high twenties over anything about 30 degrees. And if it’s dry, I can light a fire or carry a blanket outside with me for my morning coffee or late-night commune with the stars. And I must admit, I’ve enjoyed the time I did get to spend in the backyard. We have new neighbours this summer, and after some 10 years of pure hell next door, it has been wonderful to be outside without fear of harassment or 24-hour parties.
I guess I’m feeling a bit robbed because I didn’t accomplish much of what I set out to do four or so months ago. I ended up getting distracted and involved in other projects. That means my original plans weren’t all that important? Procrastination has always been my biggest enemy, and here we go again. There’s no way I’m going to get everything done by Sept. 1.
I do love fall. Autumn, as they say formally. It’s my favourite season. Plus, I have a brand-new shiny list of things to do this fall. Before winter arrives. Should I carry my summer list forward? Can I combine the two lists without losing my sanity? I should just rip up both lists—gasp—and wing it. Ah, spontaneity, the spice of life. That sounds like a good plan. Imagine waking up in the morning with no plans. Do whatever your heart desires . . . well, within reason. No guilt over changing your mind, no expectations, and no letting others down. No time wasted planning and speculating. What could happen? What if? But maybe. . . man, life is too short for that kind of stuff. LOL. I’m just figuring that out. Hmmm. Sounds like the joys of retirement.
I seem to remember blogging several times about finding your purpose upon retirement. I seem to remember telling my husband to find a new purpose when he retired a year ago. Wow! I’ve come full circle. Sure, it is good to have purpose, but purpose with, shall we say, not so much pressure.
I just came across an interesting video by Margaret Manning. This is kind of weird, because yesterday I was thinking about her current project, 60 and Me, a website I liked but had not visited for a long time. The video is entitled How to Find Purpose in Retirement (It’s Not What You Think). The basic gist is that retirement is not necessarily about just finding a hobby. It is about continuing on with the values that have carried you through your life and finding a way to stay true to those values in retirement. She says, “It’s about aligning your actions with what truly matters to you.”
I like that. Retirement is the time to do things that really bring joy to your life. It is not about doing things you think you should. It is not the time to do because someone said you should. Nope. Not anymore. It’s a time to do things you enjoy. You. And only you.
We can’t forget that retirement is a major life transition. One day you’re punching the clock 9 to 5 and worrying about tomorrow’s deadline. The next day you’re sleeping in and having a long and relaxing coffee with a friend. And just because we are retired, and not so newly retired anymore, doesn’t mean things will remain the same. Change is good. Growth is good. Retirement is all about continuously redefining yourself.
It’s time to grab those two lists. We’ll have a bonfire tonight!
Interesting Reads & Things
Wanderings Art 