StatCounter

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

What a difference a year makes



Last year at this time I was sailing down the west coast of Florida. My lovely wife and I were doing our best to stay hydrated and avoid sunburn. This year I'm trying to keep the van on the road while driving through ice and snow. That was pretty guaranteed to happen when my lovely wife talked me into spending the holidays in New Hampshire.

As luck would have it I ran into my dad's old neighbors from back when dad lived in NH. Last year at this time they were in Key West. As a military veteran he can stay at the military campgrounds. It's the best deal on the island. It costs them something like $13/day. This year they too decided to spend the holidays with family. Just like us, after a number of cold gloomy days they can't help but think of last year.

Things we do to spend time with family.

In a weird sort of synchronicity the purpose of our trip through the snow was to take my wife to a dentist. A year ago our sailing took a several week hiatus as my lovely wife broke a tooth. We were all the way out on an island called Cayo Costa, pretty darn far from a dentist. This year's trip was to check how well the tooth's repairs were holding up. We hope this trip through the snow will save us a hunt for a dentist while on the road.

-Sixbears

10 comments:

  1. Better to get it looked at now and postpone the trip. Bonus:
    Spending the holidays with your family!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I did miss the little ones. We spent it with dad last year and he'd have been alone. This year he has a new wife to take care of him so he's fine.

      Delete
  2. Just read a great article in the WSJ about men remarrying after the death of their spouse..It seems to me most men can't function too well after the death of their spouse so I was not surprised with the amount of men who meet another and marry after the death of their wives, women NOT SO MUCH, after 30-40-50 and beyond years of marriage they opt out for a life of independence and no one around..Kids complicate the matter for most women, scared of the inheritance being gone and all that crap..I say let people do what they want, your grandchildren will not stay little ones for long and when they get older most kids don't want to see and be with grandparents I see it all the time at the high school where we live nearby! My neighbors are 85 and 88 third marriage for the fellow lost his two former wives to diseases she lost her spouse to a heart attack, the kids come but the grandkids lollygaglle around and leave early, they descend upon the house in a rush and then leave quietly they had a lot of sons 8 between both of them and only 1 daughter, she lives 4,000 miles away and comes occasionally..The oldest son came to our home inquiring about his dad after he married the lady who is now his wife, I got a big earful of shit from him, he is worried about his inheritance I assured him his Dad is competent to figure out this and that, he is the same age of myself and my hubs, both of our parents are long long gone and they never had anything to give to any of their kids but love and discipline and maybe the love of alcohol and cigarettes which we did not get, but many in both families siblings surely got, yukkkkkkk! I say be good to your family NOW after they are gone there is nothing one can do..!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dad actually took very good care of himself for a number of years after mom died. He cooks, cleans, does laundry and all that. (maybe that's why he's a catch)

      What little money he has left isn't anything to worry about. I'd rather he be happy. He does have a decent pension, so there's that.

      I've seen too many people worry about their parent's money.

      Delete
  3. I envy you the freedom of sailing. I wanted to live on a boat, and had the opportunity to do so some years back, but my wife wouldn't. She hates blue water (strange, since she was a Navy officer). We are going to get a nice rv rig that can go out off the pavement and do some traveling one day. Or , at least we say we are.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. About your RV plans. Set up a time table stating when certain things have to be done so that you can get that RV. Then you'll find out if you spouse is serious or just putting you off. Work out the time table together, but have some sort of plan.

      Write down what you guys want in an RV, then figure out what you really need to be happy in one. Not much different than boat shopping.

      Delete
  4. Would you quit sending that cold air down this way!! It got down to freezing this morning.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Until the south warms up I might as well stay home. :)

      Delete