REACHING GOALS

I still have a few months to go before I reach 70. I'm healthier than I was on my last birthday, and I am a few sizes smaller than I was then, too. I walk, exercise and do tai chi daily now. I even do a little jogging! (No one is more surprised about that, than me.) I wear sneakers most of the time now. ME. The one who hated sneakers. A friend told me if I keep at it, he's going to enter me into the Senior Olympics. I'm now weighing what I weighed in 2003 before I started packing on the pounds. That was back in the day when I lit up a cigarette, rather than eat a cookie. Now I am nicotine and sugar free.

There is no drama in my life. I don't do drama well, and if I don't do something well, I have learned to leave it to someone else. We can't all be good at everything. There is also no romance in my life. I failed miserably at that. I've always preferred simple friendship, so I've given myself that gift. At my age men are mostly interested in gaining a mother or a nurse. I did both things in the past. I'm retired now.

I go to bed between 7:00PM and 8:00PM each evening and I get up at 3:00AM. That works really well for me. I have breakfast at 4:00AM, lunch at 9:00AM and dinner around 2:00PM. That works really well for me. The advantages to living alone are too numerous to count.

Most days I go out at 9:30 and return home at noontime. It does me a world of good to get out among people of all ages, for I live in senior housing. I don't want my world to be made up entirely of retired people. I live where I do because it's very affordable, not out of any need to isolate myself from younger people.

When I first moved to New Jersey, all I brought with me was a new computer, my sewing machine and patterns and fishing gear. I had a plan. Knowing that plans don't always work out as I hope, I made plenty of allowances for error. It's only taken 16 years to get to the point that I am making doll clothes once again. I've worn out computers in that time, and written all I could ever want to write. I've only fished once, but this coming spring my license will be free, for in New Jersey you pay no fee once you hit 70. There are places to fish within walking distance of where I live. I simply needed to get into shape in order to want to take those walks. I'm there now.

I don't own a television. I considered getting one this year, and have decided to wait until I am 80. There are simply too many things I want to do that require my attention. Paying to sit and watch commercials still isn't one of those things I choose to do.

I don't own a smart phone. I like making eye contact with people and don't feel any need to have conversations and other experiences interrupted by me having to check a tiny computer screen. I do have a cell phone, but use it for making appointments and checking on rides. Now that there are no longer any pay phones in public, it's handy to have on hand.

I do own more than one laptop computer. I love being able to access the Internet. I am fascinated by the fact that I can take college courses for free! I may retake an art history course I took a couple of years ago. I enjoyed it that much. I use my computer as a word processor more than anything else, though. To me it's a portable typewriter that fits well in a large purse. I don't need access to the Internet to enjoy it.

Have I mentioned I no longer have wifi in my home? I tried going without it and find it's entirely possible. I read more books now. I get out and visit with people more often. There is wifi access at my library and I love any reason to go there!

When you are not quite seventy you have the advantage of being young enough to do anything at all, yet old enough to be as discerning as you want! I only do what works well for me now! It assures that I smile more than anyone I know.