Nomad Life: How Did I Get Here?

June 20, 2023

Do you ever stop and wonder about the twists and turns of your life?

Mine has taken many in the past five years.

If you had told me in June 2018 that in five years, I would be homeless by choice and changing doggie diapers, I don’t know if I would have laughed, freaked out, or broken down in tears.

But here I am.

You see, I was one of those Type A people who liked to be in control and lead a tidy, secure life. I was a lifelong educator, and although I always found it challenging, I figured I would segway into a new career at some point.

In fact, I did make a change in 2018. I sold my condo in the Seattle area and moved to Montana’s Flathead Valley.

This is it! I thought. But it wasn’t.

Don’t get me wrong—there were a lot of wonderful outcomes from that move. I enjoyed a year of outdoor recreation and made tons of new friends. What I didn’t do was plan for a source of income. I was overly optimistic about finding a suitable job that would give me some income but still allow for ample time in the great outdoors. It just didn’t work out.

I have an old friend who firmly believes life is all about timing. I guess I didn’t time that one right.

After a year, I returned to my home state, Washington, and returned to my safe but stressful career teaching high school. I took a position in Eastern Washington, thinking that changing to a smaller rural school would be better and keep me closer to new friends in Montana.

Then, you know what happened: Pandemic. There’s nothing like being in a new job in a new location and then being locked up alone in your isolated home in the country.

A couple of months into the pandemic, a friend and colleague stopped by for an on-the-porch visit. She encouraged me to head back to the west side of the state to be closer to friends and family. It was May, and we still didn’t know what the following months and years would bring.

I got online, found an appropriate open position, arranged for a nontraditional interview, and got the job.

It was time to move again.

I bought a “fixer-upper” to have something to do. Ha! I would not recommend remodeling a house during a pandemic. Supply shortages, inflated prices…it was not a fun experience.

That’s the short version of what led me to my current lifestyle.

If you or someone close to you works in public education, you know how tough the past few years have been. We teachers have been dropping like flies.

A year ago, I decided to sell that newly remodeled house, got rid of most of my possessions, and quit my job. Another teacher down.

My initial plan was to retire in Spain, at least for a year or two. I had traveled there about a dozen times over the years, and two involved longer stays in educational programs. I had always loved Spain. Why not live the Spanish ex-pat life for a while?

After traveling around the Western US in the summer of 2022, I set out for a three-month trip to Europe in September. I had an apartment reserved in Valencia, Spain, for the month of October. It would be an excellent trial period to see if I wanted to live there for a year or two.

In the end, I realized that traveling was what gave me the most joy. Exploring new places fed my soul like nothing else in life.

I had been following the blog of a nomadic couple from Seattle for several months. Initially, I thought there was no way I would ever do it. Nine months later, I realized it was exactly what I wanted to do.

So here I am. My nomadic lifestyle continues to evolve.

Last December, I returned from Europe to find my sister in a poor state physically and emotionally. I instantly put the brakes on my life to take care of her. I rented a house for three months (negotiated an Airbnb) to allow us time to assess her health and make a plan. I was ready to go back to work, at least part-time.

Sadly, my sister passed away from pancreatic cancer in January.

I decided to keep the short-term rental through March, as planned, to grieve and help sort out my sister’s affairs. Looking back, it was the right move. I spent more time with my adult children than I had in years, and there were numerous visits with family and friends. I also bonded further with my niece and her husband and kids.

That experience made me realize that I needed a hybrid plan. I wanted to spend a chunk of the year in Western Washington near family and friends. In other words, this is still home. I don’t want to lose that.

After traveling throughout the western states again this spring, I arrived “home” on June first. I was able to arrange pet-sitting and house-sitting gigs in the area through mid-July.

One of the most important things I have learned over the past few years is to be flexible because changes will always arise.

And there are no rules to the nomadic lifestyle. You can make it what you want.

Who knows? I may go back to work one of these days. For now, I appreciate the freedom and joy that come with simplifying.

Adventures in Croatia

November 26-December 6, 2022

Croatia has been on my bucket list for about 40 years. Why did it take me so long to get there? It could be my obsession with Spain. For me, a trip to Europe means time in Spain.

The good news is that I finally got there. I didn’t see as much as I would have liked, but I will return in 2023 for further exploration.

Rijeka: We arrived by bus from Trieste, Italy. The ride took us through a little bit of Slovenia and then through passport control at the border of Croatia. I was getting close to my 90 days in the Schengen Zone, so I was relieved to get my passport stamped. (Croatia fully joined the EU and became a Schengen Zone country on January 1, 2023. They also switched their currency from the Kuna to the Euro.)

We arrived in Rijeka, and my friend, who had joined me for the final three weeks of my trip, was a bit disappointed. Rijeka lacked the sparkle of towns like Trieste and Venice. I was not surprised because I saw Croatia as an up-and-coming country.

Our Lady of Lourdes is the prettiest building near the bus station in Rijeka.

Rijeka did not disappoint. A block or so away, we encountered the city’s main pedestrian street. It was indeed sparkling with Christmas decorations and lights. The Christmas market stands and pop-up bars were bustling with people. It was delightful!

The gigantic Christmas tree on the main pedestrian street of Rijeka

Our apartment up the hill was spacious and comfortable. It had two bedrooms, thoughtfully decorated. We were each ready for some space, so it was a nice break.

Every evening of our stay, I made a final trip down to the pedestrian street to take in the lights and festive atmosphere. I found Rijeka surprisingly charming.

A festive plaza where we drank warm beverages and listened to Christmas carols

This canal is near one end of Rijeka’s pedestrian zone.

Cute statue in the park below our Rijeka apartment

Even the Castle of Rijeka was decorated for Christmas

Inside St. Mary of the Assumption Chruch

Rab Island: Three days later, we took a ferry from Rijeka to Rab Island. I had done some research and felt there would still be some things to do and see even though we were well into the off-season.

We arrived after dark but had a short walk to our apartment. As we walked through the arch of the old city wall, we found ourselves in a park decorated for Christmas. Talk about enchanting! We kept gawking as we slowly walked, and our hostess awaited our arrival.

Tree in the plaza next to our apartment on Rab Island

Our apartment was in a building that was a former palace. The apartment itself wasn’t anything special, but the location was perfect! We had a view of the harbor and were strategically located in the old city. At about $65. per night, it was a bargain.

The next day, as we walked, we learned that the old city was a pedestrian zone. And it was the end of November, so few tourists were around. The Christmas decorations were plentiful, and there was a cute ice-skating rink. Some signs said, “The most beautiful Advent in the Adriatic.”

Rab Island’s Promenade: The funds to build the promenade were a gift from the Prince of Lichtenstein because he was “captivated by the beauty” of the island.

Historical sights are plentiful within the old town, including several churches and Roman ruins.

Zagreb: We finished the adventure in Croatia’s capital city.

We returned to Rijeka by ferry and had about three hours to kill. That made for another stop at the gluten-free bakery and a refill of dried fruits and nuts at one of the market stands.

A final visit to my favorite gluten-free bakery in Rijeka. Yes, I ordered two things!

We boarded our bus and arrived in Zagreb about three hours later.

This time I could have done better with the apartment. The apartment was okay but far from the historic center. No problem. The bus stop was close. (If I were to revisit Zagreb, I would book something closer in, though.)

By the time we got settled, darkness was falling, but it was still early. My friend was leery of heading into the city after dark. I then reminded her that I had walked around alone a couple of evenings in Rijeka. I convinced her that we would stay in the touristy areas.

It was early December, and the city was decked out for Advent. Our evening walk took us by the biggest ice rink I had ever seen and through a couple of Christmas markets.

Cute decorations in a Zagreb Christmas market

The “markets” in Croatia are quite different from those in Spain. In Madrid, there is an abundance of stands selling artisan goods. In Croatia, the focus was on stands selling food and drink. In fact, many were pop-up bars. We did, however, find some lovely goods to take home as gifts.

The next day, we boarded the Hop-on, Hop-off bus to take into the city. One could spend a week in Zagreb and still not see all the museums. Sadly, some of the museums were closed for renovations as the city is still recovering from the 2020 earthquake.

While on the bus, we noticed the lights were on in the National Theater. I had looked online to buy tickets for the Nutcracker, but it was sold out. We decided to go in to see if they had any last-minute tickets.

We were in luck. Box seats. And not just box seats, but the best seats in the house! We were so very grateful to have such good fortune.

Our fabulous box seats at the National Theater

The rest of our time in Zagreb was delightful. It was chilly and a bit rainy, but that didn’t keep us from enjoying the city. It also gave me an excuse to drink hot chocolate and tea. There was a delightful gluten-free bakery, too.

The World’s shortest funicular connects the upper and lower towns of Zagreb.

View of the Cathedral in the distance from one of the Christmas markets in Zagreb

Since I was at the end of my extended trip, I shopped for some gifts, including lots of chocolate and a big box of tea, and maxed out my suitcase before heading home.

My next European adventure will start in Croatia. I can’t wait to return!

Can I Please Take This with Me?

November 24, 2022

Now that I have been travelling for five months, I can tell you some of the biggest challenges of moving from place-to-place and, well, not having my own home.

Number one: The bed. I am a girl who needs a good night’s sleep. Period. As I have gotten older (I’m in my 50s), I have come to appreciate a mattress with a bit of give. I’m not talking totally squishy, but I love a pillow top or some memory foam.

For the last five years, I had been spoiled with a Sleep Number bed, and I loved it. I loved putting my feet up and taking a rest after a good hike or a day of skiing. I loved making it a little softer when my body needed some recovery time. And I loved the massage feature; it could get me back to sleep when I had those random 3:00 AM wake ups.

As you can imagine, not every hotel or short-term rental apartment has the best bed. The worst are the firm ones. I can’t say I’ve had one that was too soft yet. When I stayed in Valencia for a month, I got lucky. I really couldn’t have asked for a better mattress. (Well, except for that Sleep Number.)

Number two: Low quality or missing utensils. I like to cook and bake. For some reason making a delicious dinner with few ingredients while travelling is highly satisfying. Sometimes, it’s just throwing in one more thing, like the chopped Italian pancetta that I added to the sauteed vegetables and chicken breast tonight.

The problem is that I rarely have a sharp knife to work with, and ugh, sometimes the cutting boards are far beyond the day they should have been replaced. Yuck. Do I really have to eat food that has been chopped on this bacteria-ridden nightmare?

I also don’t understand why so many places have metal spatulas with nonstick pans. Don’t people know better? Don’t they understand that’s why their pans are all scratched up?

Number three: Lack of little comforts. My current journey started in Portugal and Spain in September and October. The weather was fabulous, in the 70s and 80s with very little rain. Then Daylight Savings time ended, and I was in the mountains of Andorra a week later. It was nearly freezing and pouring rain the day I arrived. After that, the days continued to be colder and shorter. In the evenings, I was longing for my favorite throw, the one that is like sheepskin.

Bathtubs are a rarity in hotels and rentals these days. When I get one, I am a happy girl. That room in Andorra did have a tub. It was on the small side, but I didn’t care. A couple of week later, I spent the night in Barcelona before flying to meet a friend in Italy. I was grateful to have tub that night because I ended up walking more than expected that afternoon and evening.

Still, I wouldn’t trade the little annoyances or discomforts for the joy of my nomadic lifestyle.

True Confession

November 23, 2022

I don’t love Italy. I know, people rave about Italy. Okay, there are some beautiful places to see, but I have to believe those fans of Italy have never been to Spain or Portugal. I know I’m biased, but who isn’t? And this is about my experiences, so here goes…

I passed through Italy in the 1980s while doing the college kid-backpack-Eurail Pass thing. My friend and I were traveling from December through early February, so we were looking for warm weather after spending some time in France. (Christmas in Paris was amazing!)

We first passed through Italy on our way to Greece, taking a ferry from southern Italy. Didn’t really see much of Italy except what had passed by the train windows.

Then we made a point of stopping in Rome on the way back from Greece. The great snowstorm of the century hit Rome the day we arrived; On top of that, my friend had acquired a cold through our travels. She was absolutely miserable! I remember leaving our crappy little hotel room to find her some soup. Sadly, we didn’t get to see any of the sights. The city had shut down.

About 14 years ago, I traveled to Italy with my then-husband and two kids. We had a fabulous trip! We spent four days covering as much of Rome as possible by foot. We splurged on a private tour of the Vatican. We stayed at an Airbnb that had a view of the Pantheon. Then we drove along the Amalfi Coast and spent a day in Pompeii. It was a short but sweet sampling of Italy.

Eating was problematic with my celiac disease, but everything else made up for that.

The Tuscan countryside is gorgeous, no doubt about that.

On my current journey, I had the opportunity to rent a one-bedroom condo in Tuscany for a great price. Everyone raves about Tuscany. How could I pass up the opportunity to finally see it? A friend who had been to Tuscany before offered to drive. Great! I absolutely, positively will not drive in Italy.

We made the most of our six days in Tuscany. The scenery was picture-perfect. The hilltop towns are enchanting despite the sometimes-treacherous narrow roads one must drive to get to and from them. I completely understand why people love it.
What I didn’t like was that I felt everyone was after my pocketbook. Prices were high compared to Spain and Portugal. Gluten-free restaurant food was challenging to find. And I swear we sometimes paid the “tourist price.”
Most Italian restaurants add a service charge of anywhere from one Euro to 3.50 per person. You’re basically paying for your utensils and bread, and it doesn’t matter if you don’t eat the bread.

Then it got worse: Venice. Okay, Venice is unique and full of beautiful buildings. It’s delightful to watch the gondolas making their way through the canals. But do you know how much a gondola ride costs? Eighty Euros for thirty minutes! Yes, that is for up to five people in a boat, but thirty minutes? That’s it? No thanks. I can live without ever riding in a gondola.

Seeing the gondolas was good enough for me.

Restaurants are expensive, and some pull some ridiculous moves. We encountered heavy rain and 50-mile-per-hour winds on the second day in Venice. It wasn’t the best day for sightseeing. We first went to the Doge’s Palace. Then we saw a café advertising hot chocolate (I’m a huge fan of Spanish and Italian stuff—dark, rich, and not too sweet.) We walked up and asked for one. The nicely dressed waiter told us to come in and sit down. It was a swanky café with red velvet cushions on the seats. My friend figured she would order a cup of tea. Then we saw the menu. Hot chocolate with a cookie: ten euros. What??? I asked the waiter. He said without the cookie, it was only eight euros. I asked about the 3.50 price posted by the door. He said that was takeaway only. We got up, and I took that hot chocolate away in the pouring rain.

That same day, we decided we needed to continue to brave the cold and sideways rain to get a hot lunch. We tried our luck at the nearest restaurant. They had some gluten-free items. Okay. We noticed that a man was eating some soup and asked about it. No gluten. Great! It was a traditional Italian broth-based soup with beef, cabbage, onion, cauliflower, and kale. I would call it peasant soup. It was simple and delicious. We each had a bowl and shared an entrée of chicken and vegetables in a white wine sauce. Also, very good!

Then we got the bill. He charged us 16 euros each for the soup! What? I can’t think of a gourmet restaurant in the US that would demand that much for soup. And the chicken entrée was 17 euros. It didn’t make sense. I asked the waiter if it was correct. He gave me that look, like, of course it is, you stupid tourist. I wonder if that other guy paid 16 Euros for his soup.

And the final “I can’t believe you are charging that much” price was the cost of climbing the San Marco Tower. Ten Euros! Nope. I can get my exercise in other ways.

I understand that costs may be higher in Venice because of its location, but groceries were inexpensive. Just saying…
I’ll stick with Spain and Portugal, or at least I won’t return to Venice anytime soon.

A beautiful day in Murano! Okay, Italy wasn’t so bad after all.

Here are some more photos of Italy. My friend and I had a fantastic time despite the few instances of price gouging.

The Leaning Tower of Pisa. Bucket List checked. Climbed it. Very cool experience!

Vicari, a cute Tuscan town with a castle in the middle

The best and reasonably priced food we ate in Italy, at a French restaurant! Bacciomeo in Palaiia

The World’s tiniest toilet and bidet in our Venice hotel room!

If You Love Botanical Gardens, Go to Blanes, Spain

November 13, 2022

This post is another photo dump. Even though I was not happy with my accommodations in Blanes, I did enjoy the town, beach, castle, and botanical garden.

Blanes is a beach town in Catalonia, Spain, a mere 43 miles (69 kilometers) north of Barcelona. It is known as the “Gateway to the Costa Brava,” a popular tourist destination, but not crowded for this off-season traveler.

Besides its location, I picked it because I read that it was a good walking town with a boardwalk and trails, and there was a castle on the hilltop. Throughout town there are historic sights, too.

I was pleasantly surprised to find a gorgeous botanical garden, one of my favorite sights of my three-month European trip. Enjoy the sights!

And walking down some more…it was a combination of roads and stairs.

The following photos are of Marimurtra Botanical Garden.

Sometimes It’s Just Shabby

November 12, 2022

I’ve been traveling for about four and a half months. Yesterday, I thought I was feeling travel weary. I arrived in a new town, and I wasn’t that excited. I walked into the building where I was renting an apartment, and it just didn’t feel right. I got up to my apartment and got a little excited that it had a partial view of the Mediterranean. And it was relatively spacious for a short-term rental. It may be alright after all.

Don’t let this post throw you off; Blanes is a lovely seaside town!

Then I started to notice little things, not-so-good things. The towel bar in the bathroom was broken and hanging rustily from its one screw. The white-painted kitchen chairs were grubby and in need of a good cleaning. The sofa had uneven back cushions and was ripped in one corner. There was a flat white sheet lying on it. I initially thought it might be a set of sheets for a fold-out mattress. No, it was one flat sheet, presumably to cover the crappy sofa.

Then there were other little things. The batteries were dead in the television remote. I couldn’t release the stopper when I stopped up the bathroom sink to wash some underwear. But it got worse; there was no hair dryer! No hair dryer? Every single place I have been since June has provided a hair dryer.

Then there was one bizarre thing. Once I manually turned on the TV (dead batteries in the remote), I noticed all the stations were in French! Blanes is on the Costa Brava of Spain—at least 100 kilometers from France. Usually, I wouldn’t fuss about the TV, but it was Friday night, and I wanted to watch La Voz (Spain’s version of The Voice).

This morning, I was dreading the trip to the front desk. I actually had a list so I would remember everything. I’m not fond of confrontation, and complaining is not my style. But I’m here for two more nights, and it would be nice to stop washing my hands and brushing my teeth in the kitchen sink. And my hair looks like crap. I’d rather not go with the ponytail and hat look for the next three days.

Most of the issues were quickly remedied. The front desk clerk handed me two batteries and called housekeeping to bring up a hairdryer and check on the sink drain. It was one of those press-down and pop-up deals. She had to press a few times, and it finally popped up. She assured me she would send maintenance a note about the towel bar. I breathed a sigh of relief and got out for a day of exploring.

Still, I wouldn’t say I like this place—not the town—this apartment. I tried to talk myself into liking it. The bed is comfortable, and the sheets are clean. There is even a rain head in the shower. But it lacks coziness and comfort. The walls have a rough texture. The décor is lacking, except for the cute basket-style lampshade over the kitchen table. It feels like it was done in the most minimally acceptable way, as no one cares. It lacks warmth. No one should have to pay to sit on a worn and tattered sofa! Shabby is the best word to describe it.

The cute basket-style lampshade was about all the kitchen had going for it.

Charming Andorra

November 6, 2022

Between my month-long stay in Valencia, Spain, and the date that I was to meet a friend in Italy, I had a two-week window. I initially thought I would go up the coast north of Barcelona.
Then I changed my mind and my itinerary. When visiting with some Spaniards, they mentioned skiing in Andorra. Who doesn’t love a tiny country? I had previously visited Luxembourg, such a cute, pint-sized country. Andorra had been on my to-do list. Time to go there.
The beginning of November was too early for skiing, but being shoulder season, it was a great time to get a bargain rate on a hotel room. Hotel de L’Isard is located on Avenida Meritxell, one of the main drags in Andorra la Vella.
After the three-hour bus ride from Barcelona and a steep climb up the hill, I arrived at the cozy, family-owned hotel. Remember, I mostly stay in small rental apartments, but sometimes the change to a hotel is refreshing.
The remainder of this post is a photo dump of Andorra la Vella. I highly recommend a stop if you are in northeastern Spain.

Chestnuts roasting…It was chilly, just above freezing.

Tea and perhaps the World’s best gluten-free pastry with Frida at 0% Gluten

Sola Irrigation Canal Trail up above the city

These photos just scratch the surface. So much to see and do in Andorra la Vella!

Cab Drivers in the Know

October 31, 2022

Cab drivers in Spain are an interesting group of people. Occasionally you will get the silent one, but most of the time, they like to chat. Some love to tell you about their city and the places you should visit, and some will suggest other towns you must see. They are usually a thoughtful and kind-hearted group of people.

A couple of weeks ago, I met a driver who was an artist and author. We talked about writing, and I told him I dabbled a bit. He gave me his business card and encouraged me to go on a writing retreat in the future. (Add that to the to-do list.)

Last week, I brought my friend to Madrid for a couple of days before she headed back to the US. I got up early with her and called a cab at 2:45 in the morning. Then I went back to sleep for a few hours and called my own taxi to the train station. Usually, I would save money and take the bus or Metro, but rest felt like a better option! It took about ten minutes for the driver to arrive. He explained that the traffic was terrible, and he had done his best. I thought I had given myself enough of a traffic buffer when I summoned him with the app, but I was beginning to panic a little as we drove. He asked me what time my train was, and I said, “10:15.” He assured me that he would get me there in time to have a cup of coffee before getting on the train. He skillfully dashed in and out of traffic without making me feel unsafe.

He was right. We arrived at 9:57. I had plenty of time to get through security and board my train.

When I arrived in Sitges today, I decided to get groceries first since it looked like the apartment I’d be staying in was a way out of town. (Funny. I was sure I had carefully chosen a place within close walking distance, but that’s another story.) I was rather loaded down with my backpack, suitcase, and two bags of groceries. My Cabify App would not work in Sitges, so I went to the taxi stand.

The driver who picked me up seemed happy to see me, almost as if we were old friends. We chatted a bit as we drove, and then I heard him sigh. I asked if he was tired. He then unloaded on me a bit about how hard it is to drive a cab and work with the public. I told him that I could relate. I had just retired from teaching. He then became enthusiastic and told me he has three children, 17, 19, and 24. He has insisted that they all receive some higher education to have a better life than he has. He commended me for teaching and congratulated me on my retirement. We found out that we are the same age, too. I felt like I had made a new friend.

The office where I checked in for the rental apartment was at least a mile from the apartment. It was a long walk!

Sounds of the City

October 30, 2022

Tomorrow, I leave the apartment I’ve been renting in Valencia for the past four weeks. Yes, I’m a bit sad, as this has become like home. Since I started my wandering life four months ago, this has been my most extended stay in one place.

What will I miss most? The sounds.

There is a daycare center nearby. On weekdays, I hear the children playing and laughing.

There is a church in the distance whose bells ring at off times. I find it delightful that no one has bothered to fix them.

People talking in the street. (Okay, not the 3:00 AM conversations.) Sometimes I hear the excitement in their voices.

Music from the church across the street. It is a relatively new church without a bell tower. On Sundays, Mass is offered several times a day. I love hearing the hymns.

The cars and busses on the boulevard around the corner. I think about everyone headed here and there, to work, to school, and home for lunch.

I have never felt lonely in this apartment because so much is happening around me.

The Avenue around the corner form my Valencia apartment

What else will I miss?

Francisco (Frank), my neighborhood produce guy. He always strikes up a friendly conversation when I stop in. I went down to say goodbye to him this morning. (He opens until 2:00 on Sundays since the supermarket is closed.) He teared up a bit. I think I did, too.

The ability to walk to so many beautiful places. I have never lived centrally located in a major city. Within a twenty-minute walk, I could visit many of the significant sights in Valencia, from the city center to the Arts and Sciences area and from the train station to several parks. Aside from that, I could easily get on a bus to the beach or a metro to places further out.

October sunshine in Valencia’s Central Park

I’m really not a city person. Maybe that’s why I have embraced the change.

View of la *Plaza Redonda* from *Torres de Quart*

Treasuring Downtime

October 27, 2022

When you travel for several weeks, or in my case, months at a time, there is a certain pressure to go and see things every day. After all, I’m in a new city, state, or country; I can’t just sit around and read a book all day. There is always some downtime in the evenings—usually required due to aching feet—which is certainly welcome. But I absolutely treasure days when I have no particular agenda.

My days in Valencia are numbered. Today is Thursday, and I leave Monday morning. You might think I would be rushing around to see and do things before I go, but I’ve been here for almost a month. I have seen much and don’t feel any pressure to see or do more. I do need to do some shopping, but that’s it. I can get to that later.

One of my favorite features of the Valencia apartment: the tiny balcony

So today, I’m enjoying the ultimate leisurely morning.

I love breakfast. I wake up starving every day. Believe me, I consider myself lucky to have a strong metabolism at my age. (By the way, my dream man would wake up just a bit earlier than I and serve me a splendid offering of fruit, tea, and an omelet. That’s not asking too much, is it?)

Today, I got up, put on the tea water, peeled a Mandarin orange, and took some blueberries out of the frig. So, here’s the quirky part: I eat my fruit and drink my tea first. Then, ideally, I wait thirty minutes or so to eat breakfast, part two, the omelet, or whatever I’m craving that morning. (Today’s consisted of bacon, mushroom, and avocado with a small slice of Spanish tortilla on the side.) Then I finished with a second cup of tea, my vitamins, and a small piece of chocolate. I guess that’s another quirk. Dark chocolate is my coffee replacement.

I also ran a load of laundry at one point and will get into my morning yoga routine after I finish writing.

It may be noon before I get out the door. But I remind myself that I’m free. I’m no longer tied to the intense schedule of a classroom teacher. As my friend the produce man said, I’m “living.” I get to choose how to spend my days. And I cherish each one of them.

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