Some weeks there is not much happening on the retirement calendar, but August is turning out very differently. After spending five days biking in the Milwaukee area toward the end of July, then relaxing/catching up a few days last week, it appears the agenda will soon be escalating with personal appointments, volunteer work, an out-of-town girlfriend visit, coffee with a new pastor and an outdoor music festival in Appleton that fires up this Thursday.
I may not be publishing prize-winning blog posts in the next ten days or so. It depends on motivation and time, but mostly time. Where does that little four-letter word go? I think as with summer, it can fly out the window in short order.
Anyhow, I’m going to leave you with a gallery from the bike trip and the knowledge that I’ll be keeping busy and having a little bit of fun. Thankfully, this will not require me to sing Sinatra or ask for bail money.
I know, you’re disappointed…that would make for an interesting comeback post from jail.
On the shores of Lake Michigan 
At Boerner Botanical Garden in Whitnall Park 
This stretch of the trail had lots and lots and lots of hills. 
Beach at Seven Bridges in Grant Park 
One of the seven bridges 
On the Hank Aaron State Trail 
Yes, it’s me, having a good time 
I’m guessing a type of prairie coneflower at Lakeshore State Park 
A view of downtown Milwaukee from Lakeshore Park
This post has been brought to you by a full agenda and Linda Hill’s One-Liner Wednesday. If you are wondering what One-Liner Wednesday is all about, CLICK HERE.
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Mary J Melange 
This is retirement at its best, Mary. Busy when you want to be, doing what you want to do. Whatever you’re doing – enjoy yourself. We’ll be here when you have a few minutes of downtime.
When my retired friends tell me they are busier now than when they were working, I tend to understand. Then again, Dan, being busy by choice is far better than busy by a job. Right?
Absolutely!
Great photos and have a wonderful August.
Thanks Judy! Same to you…enjoy the month while it’s here.
Great photos, Mary! Isn’t retirement the best?!!
Oh yes, Lois, retirement has been a blessing!
What a wonderful way to spend the day. Gorgeous photographs, Mary.
Thanks Maggie. Milwaukee really proved to me that it’s more than just a big city. We had beautiful surroundings to photograph.
You captured it well. Your photos are lovely.
What incredible photos! I hope you have a wonderful visit with your girlfriend.
My biking buddy and I will be heading to the music festival at the end of the week, and then another visit out of town with another good friend. People make life so much better!
Absolutely. Enjoy yourselves and stay safe. 💛
I applaud your approach to retirement. Of course I’m a free spirit by nature so it’s an idea that rings true with me. Your photos of your vacation show such a pretty part of the country. I’m glad you had a good time.
I try to not let the grass grow under my feet in retirement, Ally…or a butt crease to form on the couch. I went for a bike ride this morning and had a woman say to me, “I can’t wait until I can retire and do that. Two more years!” I hope it goes fast for her so that she can be a free spirit too.
I know what you mean about being busy~ Retirement is so chock-full of activities that it is a rare day when I don’t have something to do! Have fun and enjoy your activities – especially the music festival!
I intend to enjoy the coming days to the fullest. Live music matters!
Loved the gallery. Just beautiful 🤩
The trails were stunning in spots. Glad you liked the scenery.
Sounds like a promising lineup Mary! Enjoy and stay safe.
Thanks, Cheryl, I will!
Sitting here at the beginning of Lockdown 6.0, only two weeks after getting out of Lockdown 5.0, I’ll admit to feeling a tad jealous of your upcoming schedule. But I’m super happy to hear that you are enjoying retirement so much and have such wonderful activities filling your days (well, appointments notwithstanding). 🙂
Yeah, the appointments are not necessarily fun ones, but needed after sticking to home for 18 months. We probably need a lockdown too, with the Delta variant, but that’s not going to happen. Instead, I keep the mask on indoors and don’t hug strangers. How are you doing? Is everyone healthy and well?
Smart move. I guess if the collective community won’t do what’s necessary, you must do what you can to stay self yourself.
We are all keeping well. Youngest is not coping well with remote learning for first year at uni and failed all his subjects. If he crashes again this semester, I think he may be best to take a year off and come back when things are hopefully back on campus.
This lockdown has been hard being so close to thinking we’d got on top of the last outbreak but with limited vaccine supply, it’s all we’ve got in the toolbox until we can get a higher proportion of the population vaccinated. As hard as it is, better that than overwhelmed hospitals and rising deaths. It’s hard enough watching Sydney go through it.
I hope you stay safe and healthy, Mary.
Your youngest will be okay and I hope he knows he’s not alone. My friend’s granddaughter is going to have to repeat her grade as she did not handle online learning well at all. The kids here are going back to in-person classes in September, but I hope not at a cost.
The vaccine and continuing to wear masks is the key and I wish it was happening everywhere. Stay safe!