Retirement Reflections: Fridays in California
As I’m writing this, it is Friday night. Ahhhhh, Friday.
Before retirement, it meant a whole lot of different things than it does now.
Fridays During Our Working Days
Back in the days of employment, it meant high school sports for King to chaperone.
For me, it sometimes meant a weekend off, but more likely than not, the weekends often meant work as usual. The news does not stop. Sometimes reporters and editors need a break. It’s called a vacation.
I recall the time the publisher/owner of the weekly where I was editor called me while I was on vacation to scream at me because of some travesty that occurred – yes, it happened while I was on vacation and had no control over the incident. I stood in line at Disneyworld and listened for 20 minutes while I got my backside chewed via voice mail. I should have hung up. It certainly took the joy out of breathing.
Yikes! I think it’s no wonder I cherish retirement as I do.
Friday Nights at the Campground
Friday nights now mean watching new arrivals at the campground. I don’t think many people have pulled in tonight. The trailer door is still open, so in addition to not seeing many people pull in, it’s fairly quiet. That quiet will end tomorrow when our grandsons come to spend the night with us while their mother works.
Camping Life in California: Holiday Traditions and More
A Unique Camping Culture
Because there is year-round camping in California, campground life is slightly different from that in the Midwest. I’m surprised at the number of people who camp during the holiday season. People like to get away.
Many spend their weekends in the nearby deserts to enjoy riding ATVs through the hills. Others like to get away to the mountains for solitude and hiking, while others come to the campground where we are staying just to vacation.
Holiday Decorations at the Campground
Those of us who are here long-term decorate our sites.
This year we strung lights around our site, but I’m waiting for the campground staff to tell us to take them down because King strung them from the trees. Probably not a good idea, and I get why they might not want the lights to remain up. It’s easier to let the staff tell him to remove them rather than me as he and I will argue about it. Some battles are best left until necessary. (Yes, we’ve been married a long, long time).
Cherished Family Holiday Traditions
Holiday School Concerts
Tis the season, and besides decorating our campsite, we are enjoying holiday traditions that began when we started spending the holidays in California.
Thursday was our grandsons’ Holiday concert. The school hosts the concert in the evening. Each grade has a specific time to perform – two songs. Parents wait outside the cafeteria/concert hall for their child’s class to perform. When they are finished (generally about 15 minutes), parents and children shuffle out, and the next class and corresponding parents shuffle in. It’s nice. Watch your child. Leave with child in tow.
Countdown to Christmas
And now begins the countdown to Christmas. Packages are delivered and spirited away into our daughter’s closet to be wrapped while the boys are at school.
Although they no longer believe in Santa Claus, or Elf on the Shelf (they are in fifth grade), they still like to get up in the morning and look for “Charlie” the elf. I guess it’s one of those things they are not quite willing to give up. My daughter and I are of the opinion they probably had their suspicions last year but didn’t want to let us know because they thought we might be disappointed.
Baking and Treats: The Chex Mix Tradition
We will still make Christmas cookies for Santa. And I’ve already been making batches of Chex Mix for King. It’s one of his favorites.
I often think to myself, “I’ll forgo it this year,” only to have him check the cupboards and say, “Where’s the Chex Mix?”
My oldest son, who upon reading this, apparently was very upset he hasn’t received any Chex Mix in the mail. For he too checks the cupboards and, alas, no Chex Mix. One may argue that my mentioning of Chex Mix in this article (that he edits, toiling to get it SEO ready for posting) was pretty sh**ty, as he now must continue on knowing he can’t get any of my Chex Mix. No matter how many times he opens those cupboard doors, the Chex Mix will not be there. As he finishes editing this article, stomach rumbling sucked up against his spine, maybe I should mail him some. Probably some cookies too.
Read more about weaponizing nourishment and child abuse at abuserefuge.org
- Life in California: RV Living, SpaceX Launches, and Wildfires
It’s Saturday as I write this.A New RV Location with Stunning ViewsKing and I moved to a new location on Monday. It’s ideal and it isn’t ideal. We are in the yard of a gentleman we met last year. It has a glorious view of the mountains to the east and the Pacific to the… - Lake Jennings Campground Rules: Vintage Trailer Challenges
Join us as we navigate repair challenges, campground rules, and the quirks of RV life with our vintage trailer and dog, Petra. - Finding Holiday Contentment: Reflections on the End of 2024But there is enjoyment in doing nothing as well. I read, find new projects (I just crocheted a bag I’ll never use) and write. King does his scratch-off tickets, watches sports and old westerns and keeps track of his fantasy football picks. It doesn’t sound exciting, but life doesn’t always have to be full of excitement to be full of contentment.
- Too Tired to Work: Reflections on Aging and BurnoutI think I’m pretty tired. A Decade Ago: Life as a Nightshift Paginator I realized this when I looked at some old Facebook posts and realized just 10 short years ago, I was working as a newspaper page layout/copy editor (paginator) on the night shift at a newspaper in St. Joseph, Michigan. We had to…
- The Changing World of Horse Shows: A Personal ReflectionToday was one of those days when our daughter definitely needed a few extra hands. One child had jiu jitsu classes and the other had riding lessons – at the overlapping times. Normally their other grandmother is available to help transport but today she had a prior commitment. It wasn’t a difficult fix. Our daughter…
Leave a Reply