Non Sequitur by Wiley Miller for February 14, 2021

Better than 3 feet of snow and saying CAN’T GO ANYWHERE

Calvin The Retirement Years

Looking at him, the next place he goes is to the cardiac unit.

Just marking his write of way.

Just “go” in the snow…

The snow is deep in Maine. Wiley drawing on his experience

I like snow, but I am so glad we don’t get any.

I retired in Nov. 2019 … I finally had time to join my Mom (96 y/o) at her church—choir practice, craft group, Sunday services, plus the time for museums, arboretums, movies, etc. 4 months in … lockdown, Mom, church, museums, all out of reach. At least I’m a natural hermit—it’s no real hardship for me to pull back and content myself in my own home. I’m perfectly happy with my many hobbies, puttering in my garden and on the computer, doing handicrafts and a lot of reading. I do get out of the house a few times a week when I walk to the store, or drive to the church where I’ve volunteered to work (alone of course) in the Meditation Garden, which has been neglected for at least 10 years. I do feel a little “survivor’s guilt” when I think of such miserably hard times so many people (like the poor shoveler above) are having, but I can’t help them except to try to make their lives a tiny bit easier whenever I do interact with them—I thank my mail carriers, and I’ve shared recipes with grocery store workers, I wave or say “hi” to my neighbors, all with a big smile behind the mask.

I am this person, too. All my travel plans, put on hold for 2 years.

He was originally going to go with “S.O.S”. He decided that that could make things even worse.

On the other hand, he might do “Nowhere to Hide” on the other side of the house."

And all day to get there.

I also retired during this pandemic. Sigh. Fortunately, I am content staying at home. New home with lots of work to do.

Bragging or complaining? Although even more true would be, “Know where to go.”

Still to do: place a old webstrap patio chair, stolen orange cone or salt bucket in the dig-outs to warn off prospective parkers (common practice around here).

Happy Valentine’s Day to all.

Blame your parents. They started this whole thing 65 years ago.

Ha! I retired last March….have been home ever since…

For many, this past year has been a preview of what dual retirement will be like. What’s missing is the opportunity to get out in the world and volunteer or to work part time. Hang in there!

Hey! That’s me! I’m buying this one.

This old panda is usually happy, wherever he is. I’ve never fathomed the desire; ‘’to be anywhere, but where you are.’’

Here’s a thought for a Sunday;

‘’You must live in the present, launch yourself on every wave, find your eternity in each moment. Fools stand on their island of opportunities and look toward another land. There is no other land, there is no other life, but this.’’

Henry David Thoreau (dead guy)

One of my wife’s friends is an extreme extrovert; she’s a divorce lawyer, a standup comic and plays in a band. The latter two are out. She does her cases remotely and she’s going nuts.

Is this where we point out that “nowhere” is one word?

Come to the south, we’re wide open!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bm51ihfi1p4

it is a sad day when picking up a loaf of bread and gallon of milk feels like “going out”

Larry Flynt died the other day. How curious, that a pornographer, would be a man of higher morals than the 45th president. Ain’t this a funny life?

Hey, making snow angels is way better than becoming real ones.

I retired in 2015, so the restrictions are no big deal…except that they have interfered with my volunteer work. Fortunately, I found a group that delivers groceries to shut-ins.

I’m gettin’ chest pains and chilblains just watchin’ that poor guy shoveling!

The closest I want to get to that nasty white stuff is looking at it in the comics or on the nightly news.

“BUT STILL…”

(senses an incomplete phrase; wishes it had been a longer one ending with one dot)

There are places to go. You just have to entertain yourself when you get there.

So…, this is Calvin all grown up?

I retired in some years ago to care for my aging and declining life-long partner and best friend. He died in January 2020. Then the pandemic hit. I’ve managed so far; still healthy, still getting by, but the grief and loneliness have been exacerbated by the necessary precautionary restrictions (since I’m “elderly” myself). Cherish and treasure and look after your loved ones and friends. Especially on days like today. Happy Valentine’s Day.

My old man made no plans for what to do. After two years of staring at the wall, he started volunteering at a hospital.

But there are books to read, games to play, and a ton of genealogy to do. Now if I had the money to get the information I need

I’m just amazed that he could do this and leave what appears to be only one footprint. The man is a real artist.

I feel your pain. Last year was supposed to be the one.

This is a time for enjoying “being” rather than “going” or “shopping”. It seems un-American, I know. We used to be considered a thoughtful people with a penchant for enjoying life as it is. We’ve gone through a few decades of “expectation inflation” and now it’s time to “get real” again.

Know where to go; know when to go; know when to diaper up.

At least, you don’t have to go to work where there are people that refuse to where masks and/or wear them improperly.

I still go just about everywhere that I did before Covid. But, anywhere that has clusters of people is now a no no. So my concerts are cut as are my worship services in the chapel. But, I still have music in my head and worship services on facebook live and sometimes on zoom.

He must be VERY cold, to not leave footprints.

Tell me about it.

Oh boy, do I empathize!

Happy Valentine’s Day. Be sure to wear red or you’ll get pinched. And drink red beer.

Don’t I know it.

Retired in November 2019. Pandemic clossures March 2020.

“Oh, that magic feeling, no where to go.” I didn’t understand what Lennon and McCartney meant until I was a working manager/mother with more responsibilities on both sides of my plate than I could juggle. Then, one afternoon, I was free for an hour or so. Didn’t go home, didn’t go back to work, didn’t go shopping. Drove around.

My wife is high-risk for COVID complications. She worked as a hospice nurse – a high-risk environment. She had no choice but to quit in March, just before her 65th BD. Unfortunately, she now has to pay for Medicare ($!) but isn’t eligible for Social Security until May 2021. No work income, no SS; things are tight.

It’s just as well he doesn’t have to shovel the Entire Driveway.

If he did, by the time he got it Clear, he’d need to be driven to the Hospital to get that Heart attack treated and there goes the Fun afternoon trip he had planned.

Just got a job after 10 months off. But in 1.5 years I’m retiring. They don’t know that.

You can go virtually anywhere (and anywhere virtually) on the Internet. And so many things you can learn.

“I’m not sleepy, and I got noplace to go, no promises to keep…(knows not where he’s going to..).” I’d normally shovel a path from driveway to door, but now we don’t need to welcome anyone, so I’m just waiting for the spring flood. As long as the oil delivery has access to the tank filler, I’ll skip the work and watch birds from indoors.

Or…open a restaurant and bar.

You spelled it wrong and forgot the question mark “Know where to go?” …ohh it’s not a message for aliens?