Our new lifestyle experiment.
During the last few months I’ve chatted with a few other bloggers who like me, have been blogging for a very long time. The question about whether to continue seems to be popping up a lot. And while I fully intend to keep blogging, others aren’t so sure. Obviously, the entire field is changing both with the millions of blogs flooding the market, the influence of AI, and podcasts becoming the new “thing.” But for those of us who feel called to write, it still offers a wonderful way to express. However, even with that there is the inevitable trade-offs, priorities, and choices. Do we spend our time doing one thing? Or do we do another? It doesn’t matter if it is writing a blog post or doing something else you feel is more important. Each of us needs to decide what takes priority today. The good news is that many of us have choices. The bad news is—many of us have (too) many choices!
Impromptu Birthday Party with new friends!
That’s where my head has been since Thom and I returned from Mexico this summer. Last spring, we bought a tiny house (park model) in Tucson, AZ and ever since the first of November we have been trying out our new experiment. I wrote (here) an article about our purchase and the intention behind it. During the summer we had a worker take care of a lot of the more challenging cosmetic issues to be corrected. Then since we’ve arrived, we’ve been focusing on doing a lot of finish work. Plus, we’ve been meeting more and more people and immersing ourselves in the community. That of course leads to daily trade-offs, picking priorities and making choices!
Before
After
It’s not like I don’t have ideas I could be writing about either. As usual, I’ve continued to listen to podcasts while walking nearly every morning. And my two minds are as curious as ever. But as some of you know, learning the ins and outs of any new location takes time. Where do you get groceries? Where’s the closest Lowe’s or Ace Hardware? Where do you go for a quick bite to eat? And yes, where do you go to celebrate your husband’s birthday?
After
Before
Don’t get me wrong. Much of it is fun. Especially when we have met dozens of new potential friends since arriving. Just trying to remember everyone’s name is a challenge. We’ve managed to get out and ride bikes a couple of times. And this morning I started up with Line Dancing again. Of course, it has a big pool to swim in, a hot tub, a small gym, a library with free books, a woodshop, a billiard room and several different classes to learn things. And we’re just getting started.
What I have come to realize and accept is that having so many choices is a gift. Rather than resisting them or feeling overwhelmed by my options, I just admitted that have to choose. I can’t do everything and fortunately I don’t have too. So maybe just embracing the options with gratitude is the very best thing to do.
Before
Let’s all remember Thanksgiving is right around the corner. And even though there continues to be challenges in the world and in our individual lives, most of us on a regular basis have very blessed lives. When I really think about it, I am extremely grateful for all the choices I have. I am also very, very thankful for this blog and anyone and everyone who takes the time to read it. And if you leave a comment—that’s awesome too. Let us all do our best to focus on all the good we have and the gift we share by having options. At least that’s what sounds SMART to me today!
What about you? What choices are you facing and are you grateful for them?
“Embracing options with gratitude” — I love that. The biggest surprise for me when I retired was that there are still only 24 hours in the day and I still had to choose how to spend my time. I couldn’t do everything on my list of things I planned to do in retirement. Somehow I thought there would be plenty of time to do everything and still have lots of time to just hang out and watch the hummingbirds. So I’ve had to scale down my expectations. A lot.
Now my guiding principles are fun and meaningfulness. Otherwise, I tend to let something go. I definitely let go of a lot of shoulds. That was very freeing. I try not to let other people’s judgments hold too much sway. I find that when I listen to my inner guidance, fun and meaningfulness seem to naturally emerge.
By the way, one of the benefits, I just discovered, in coming late to the comment party is reading all the excellent comments and your responses above.
Hi Galen!
I always appreciate your thoughtful comments. Thank you for that. And yes, isn’t it true that it is easy to think that we’ll have loads of time once we retire or lighten our work load but in this day and age busy-ness is a pandemic! Stuff to do seems to expand (and exceed) any available time! A big solution is, as you say, lower my expectations as well as get rid of our shoulds! And always, always listen to that inner guidance. Thanks again for your thoughts! ~Kathy
Hi Kathy,
Following our emails, I am seeing if I can comment here. Your posting was very timely as we have been talking quite a bit about choices and priorities in our lives.
Thanks,
Sandy
Hi Sandy! So glad you persisted and let me know your first comment got lost (I hate it when that happens!). It did have to do with you “accepting” the cookie disclosure–or not. I didn’t know that would keep you from being able to comment but now I do. Anyway, doesn’t it all come down to remembering all the choices we have must be prioritized. And as much as I (we) all think we can do it all, that seldom happens! Meanwhile, I hope you and Margaret choose to have a wonderful Thanksgiving!! See you soon! ~Kathy
Stopping my blog has been the right decision for me. Coupled with a few months of recovering from completed and (other eye) upcoming cataract surgery, the extra free time has been spent doing very little, a nice change of pace.
As you note we have choices and we are living through constantly changing seasons of energy and interests. Being able to pick and choose is a blessing.
Don’t be surprised if Betty and I make the easy drive to Tucson some time this winter season!
Hi Bob! I know your decision to stop blogging (at least for now!) was the right one for you but I’m sure I’m not the only one to tell you that your words of wisdom are missed. And yes, the option to choose is such a gift! As for a future visit that would be wonderful. We are going to be in Cali for December but will be back here in Tucson for Jan/Feb/March so please let me know if that works for you! Until then, Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas! ~Kathy
Congrats on making this change. Sounds very promising. Also, I like your renovations on the tiny house. Would love to read/see more about it. Happy T’giving!
Hey Tom! Nice to hear from you. And like I mentioned in my other comment, it is hard to capture all the changes we made to our tiny home and really do it justice. But we are happy so far. Did you read other blog post about what led us to make the choice to try it? https://www.smartliving365.com/one-way-to-play-house-when-you-get-older/. Not sure what more I can say about it just yet. But if you are ever in Tucson, come by and I’ll give you a tour. Happy Thanksgiving to you too! ~Kathy
Kathy, You always seem to voice my thoughts! I too have been struggling with do I continue, and yes, for many of the same reasons. I’ve overextended myself a bit, taking on too many things to feel like I belong. (And it’s not working that well, as I still often feel on the periphery of the groups I’ve joined.) I love how you talk about being grateful for the choices! This week I will definitely focus on gratefulness, and pull back on some of the choices I’ve made. I need some downtime to just be. I need to stop doing Compare & Despair with what others are doing. I need to enjoy the view from my deck in this glorious fall weather! And not worry about getting a bog post out every week.
Hi Pat!
It’s comforting to know we are not all alone in some of our challenges huh? Ever since I first started reading your work I KNEW that you were a busy woman with all sorts of plans and commitments. But as you say, that does require that you make choices and tradeoffs, and that isn’t easy either is it? Reminding each other to slow down a bit, breathe and think things through is becoming more and more important to me. And GRATITUDE? Always. Thanks for your words and have a wonderful Thanksgiving no matter what you have planned. ~Kathy
Moving toward things that flow easily and support our health!
Thank you for your blogs!
Hi Gary! YES! Finding that flow makes all the difference doesn’t it? Congratulations on your new fur-baby and may your flow continue! ~Kathy
As you know, I have struggled with this a bit too. There are so many things to love about blogging, from the chance to write about things I think are interesting and start a discussion, to the wonderful connections I’ve made both virtually and IRL. So far, my non-existent blogging schedule has served me well. I also have given myself permission not to comment on every blog post I read. I still subscribe to way too many blogs, but I hope to cull the list a bit over the next few months.
I am thrilled that we got to spend good, quality time with you and Thom earlier this month. I loved learning about your new lifestyle and can fully understand the attraction. Tucson is a vibrant, interesting city and, like you, we feel that we’ve just scratched the service of what it has to offer. Hopefully we can enjoy a warm desert evening, sharing margaritas and great conversations on your deck again sometime in the future.
Hi Janis!
I’m glad that you too have found a way to keep writing and find pleasure in it. And good for you for slowing down some on your comment commitment. Obviously I sort of “do my thing” because even posts from other bloggers I like and admire only get a comment now and then when I have an open space in my days. You were always MUCH more diligent that me!
And YES! Thom and I very much enjoyed your visit. And we look forward to when you can spend a little more time. (Spring maybe???) This last weekend we went down to Tubac and we both said, “Janis and Paul would love this!” We’ll start keeping a list of fun things to do around town and be ready for when you come again. In the meantime, I hope you have a lovely Thanksgiving and keep enjoying your retirement! :-). ~Kathy
Hi, Kathy – I’m in your group of friends who has wrestled with where I want to be in the blogging world. Thankfully, my linkups cohosted with blogging friends has made continued engagement easy. I love having choices and wholeheartedly agree with your thoughts on this. Your renovations look fantastic. I look forward to seeing you and Thom again on the Island.
Hi Donna!
You seems to have found a way to make blogging work for you–at least for now? And like I mentioned to Liesbet, we can always change our minds in the future right? Just knowing what satisfies and gives us contentment today and then the freedom to change if we want to is a huge gift. And YES! Looking forward to seeing you in 2024! ~Kathy
Other than listening to podcasts, you just described my life. I am overwhelmed on a daily basis with everything that we need and want to do, and blogging is taking a step back, as well as book promotion.
There is just not enough time in one day for everything. We need to prioritize and that’s keeping our life on the road going, running daily errands, taking care of our dog (which includes exercising her), fixing issues and doing projects to keep the camper from falling apart, driving, researching places to visit and stay, and making money.
On top of that, I need to keep up with social interactions (virtual and IRL), my diaries, my Spanish lessons, my photo archives, and Facebook posts sharing our journey. That anyone can ever get bored beats me! 🙂
Hi Liesbet!
I agree that you are incredibly busy with all you have going on! Your lifestyle sometimes wears me out just reading about it!! hahaha! But then I remind myself that you are younger than me so I don’t feel so bad. :-). And I have never ever thought you could be bored!
Ultimately we all have to choose don’t we? And a lot of that comes down to how we define “living” right? Just as your lifestyle wouldn’t work for me–I’m certain that mine wouldn’t work for you or many, many others as well. It’s just best if we take the time to find our own unique expression and then live that “full out!” Plus let’s never forget that we can also change our mind if something isn’t working out. ~Kathy
Thank you for this and thank you for letting us know that we can continue to look forward to your thoughtful blog posts. I too am trying to navigate all the choices I have in my blessed life. I find it’s a challenge because I love doing things, learning things and being with people. I’ve established some “intentions” for my life that I have found helps the choices. For example, exercising is one intention, and being with friends is another. I try to combine them. I have two exercise classes that I have gotten friends to join, and two walking groups with good friends. Always looking for help and ideas for making the choices!
Hi Jackie!
Thank you for your smart advice about the trade-offs that come with having many choices. You are so correct that a good way to go is to do more of what we love in a pair or multiple combinations. Something I find really helpful is really thinking through my choices. Just about everything sounds good to me on the first hearing…but when I take the time to think through what the choice really means…and what the trade-off is…then I can more easily decide whether it is REALLY right for me at this time. In other words…I find it best to think before I speak!!!
Thanks also for your encouragement. ~Kathy
First off, your remodel looks fantastic! I love the way the white lightens it up. And living in the Tuscon sunshine during the winter months sounds wonderful. Great hiking too. I hope you both enjoy it there.
Sadly, I have also noticed that several bloggers are putting their pens away. I was a little worried that was where your post was headed too. (Big sigh of relief.) While I love to blog, I too question if it is worth the precious time it takes away from the rest of my life. Who knew retirement would be so busy? All of the wonderful choices can be overwhelming, so thank you for the reminder to be grateful for them. I hope you and Thom have a lovely Thanksgiving in your new home!
Hi Marian.
Thanks. It’s hard to capture all the right angles in our “tiny house” to do it justice but we are MUCH happier. so much lighter and brighter than than when we bought it. There is still a lot to be done but we are doing our best to pace ourselves.
And yes to being unbelievably busy even with retirement. It’s a bit funny to me because I really like having lots of choices to fill my day but I also crave an element of structure. Finding that balance can be challenging but I’m sure we will do it. And thanks for the Thanksgiving good wishes. May you and your loved ones do the same! ~Kathy