Third Week of Retirement - into a routine

This 3rd week of retirement is a chance to see if the transition plans of the past 2 weeks were successful. So far, YES, they were. Even the mundane chores, like laundry and grocery shopping, are relaxed and unhurried, and I can't remember what it was like to go to work. I am RETIRED and liking it!
Wednesday was lunch with Amy, and some JanMa's Digital Memories work, including picking up the largest check so far for JanMa's, very thrilling!! Plus the TRS retirement check came in right on time on July 1, so all is good financially. Bill leaves tomorrow for July 4th long weekend on business, and I will spend time working on slideshow for Mom's 80th birthday life story, and cleaning out drawers and cabinets!! Plus time in the pool, and hot dogs on the grill, maybe watching some fireworks.

Next trip is July 6 for North Carolina for a week.

Sedona back to Houston

The last morning in Sedona, we made an early trip into town to photograph the turquoise arches of McDonald's, the only non-golden ones in the country.

Then breakfast at the (guess where!!) Sedona airport. Bill lets me window shop, I let him visit airports.

A quick stop at one of the many mystical vortexes in Sedona (I didn't feel the energy, but it was already hot). Then back to Phoenix, flight back to Houston, then an awful, hot, sweaty hour getting bags and catching the parking shuttle to get the car. Worst part of the entire trip.

Jan waiting to "feel" the vortex energy...

Bill not feeling the energy either, I think it was already gettting hot, even at 10:00 a.m.

Fifth Day in Sedona - Grand Canyon

Fifth and last day in Sedona was spent at the Grand Canyon. We drove up through Flagstaff, up to 8000 feet elevation, saw pine and birch forests, the San Francisco mountains at 12,000+ feet with some snow up high, then to top of Colorado Plateau and on to Grand Canyon. Made an impromptu stop at the Valle Airport airshow, that we stumbled upon en route to Grand Canyon. Stopped and spent 45 minutes or so watching P51 Mustang make strafing runs over field, and other airplanes and museum. Continued on to Grand Canyon, parked, hiked, took shuttle to Hermit's Rest trailhead, looked out over canyon from several vantage points. Awesome sight, just the size and depth, but the colors were not as brilliant as the Sedona red rocks, like I expected. Made a stop to check out the Grand Canyon airport, then back to Sedona in the late afternoon, for more pool time and to eat whatever leftovers are in the fridge. Leave tomorrow morning to head back to Phoenix and Houston. Sedona is a great place to visit, I would come back here.

Fifth Day in Sedona pictures

Jan at Grand Canyon.
Jan and Bill at Hermit's Rest.
Looking out from rim to inner canyon, way down at the river level.
P-51 Mustang at air show at Valle Airport, close to Grand Canyon.
Bill at Valle Airport air show.

Fourth Day in Sedona

Fourth day in Sedona started out driving through old town of Cottonwood, stopping at old junk/antique store, then on to Jerome, old mining town, now a ghost town. Well, not really a ghost town, there are still about 100 inhabitants and a LOT of cute shops, restaurants and inns, all clinging to the side of the mountain. We had lunch at the Haunted Hamburger, after hiking up a lot of steps up the mountainside to get to it. Great view over the valley, red rocks off in the distance. Great hamburgers also. Then down the mountain to Clarkdale, former copper mining company town, company now defunct but town is still functioning. Railroad still runs along Verde Valley to Perkins for tourists to see Verde Valley canyon scenery. Train ride was nearly 4 hours, a little long, but great views of canyon walls and red rocks. Then back to cabin for pool time, and leftovers from Javelina Cantina.

Fourth Day in Sedona pictures

Jan and Bill at Haunted Hamburger in Jerome.
Outside Haunted Hamburger.
Jan going down steps back to parking lot after leaving Haunted Hamburger.
Jan on train from Clarkdale to Perkins.
Train from Clarkdale to Perkins.

Third Day in Sedona

The morning was spent in uptown Sedona, the old town, having breakfast at the Hitching Post, I had green chili and cheese omelet, very tasty. Then we window shopped (I bought a T-shirt) and watched a terrific video of the history of Sedona. Then a drive north along Oak Creek Canyon. Amazing difference- still had towering cliffs, but along the creek there were lots of trees and other vegetation, lots of shade. Stopped and hiked a mile or so in along West Fork, saw some old ruins and crossed the creek a few times. I had made the mistake of wearing sandals instead of my tennis shoes (still wet from Red Rock crossing the day before) and had very dirty feet by the time we were done. We ended the day with an off road Hummer tour, with very knowledgeable driver who pointed out the various named peaks. Parts of the off road trek were over fairly large rock piles, across rocky arroyos, and up and down twisty sand paths. Lots of fun. Dinner was at the Javelina Cantina, recommended by the Hummer driver as a good place for Mexican food. Excellent green chili - pork chimichanga, I am committed to growing green chilis and learning how to cook my own green chili meals.

Third Day pictures

Breakfast at the Hitching Post, in uptown Sedona.
Uptown Sedona has many gardens, sculptures, benches, very enjoyable area to window shop, rest, and take in the beautiful man-made and natural scenery.
Jan, hiking in sandals, crossing West Fork Creek of Oak Creek Canyon.
View up sheer red rock cliff canyon wall from West Fork.
Bill checking out some old ruins along West Fork of Oak Creek Canyon.
Getting ready to climb steep rocky hill in Hummer.
Hummer off-road tour, excellent way to get out into the back country, closer to the red rocks.

Second evening in Sedona

Late afternoon of the second day we drove the red rock loop trail and hiked to red rock crossing. Very nice hike, winds along the banks of Oak Creek, a shallow but swift moving stream that flows over red rock bottom. Great place to walk in the water and get your feet wet. Also, from the middle of the red rock crossing, an awesome view back to towering red rock cliff. See pictures below. Then a dip in the pool and hamburgers cooked outside the cabin on the grill for an easy dinner.

Sedona - Second Day evening

Night sky from deck, hamburgers on the grill.
Jan cooling feet in Oak Creek, just past red rock crossing.
Bill at red rock crossing.
Red rock crossing, view toward red rocks.

Sedona - Second Day

On the second day in Sedona, I made an early morning skype connection with Amy. We tried to hit a hot spot all over Sedona that had a great view of the red rocks, but no luck. We came back to Sedona Pines and just connected from here, view is nice, but not that spectacular red rock, seen below. After a morning walk around uptown Sedona, the heat and altitude got to me, and I had to retreat to resort for afternoon nap. After another late afternoon dip in the pool, we'll grill burgers outside the cabin for dinner.
Trying to get a wifi connection outside a hotel, to show red rock view in background on webcam. Alas, to no avail....
Views of red rock formations from downtown Sedona.

Sedona - First Day

First Day in Sedona
Weather is dry, scenery is breathtaking. Temperature is warm, in upper 80's in the afternoon, very pleasant later on while eating pizza at Picazzo's Pizzeria, and watching a fabulous sunset over the red rock formations. Below is the view from the deck of our cabin.


Exterior of the cabin. The cabins are actually modular units, but separate from each other, lots of windows, deck, outdoor grill, desert landscaping, and the whole resort has dozens of rock formation waterfalls, streams, and pools all over the place.
Pool is refreshing, and there is a cool down effect that lasts long after you get out of the pool.
Interior of our cabin. High ceilings, lots of windows, living/dining area, kitchen, bedroom and bath with jacuzzi tub, ceiling fans, 2 TV's, DVD players, fully stocked with dishes, oven, stove, microwave, dishwasher, etc.

One Week into Retirement

The first week of retirement has been awesome. The concerns I had about adjusting to not going to work, wondering what to do, worried about waking up at 6:00 a.m. - all non-issues. I have slid into retirement like a hot knife into butter, so easily and smoothly, I have amazed myself. The one habit still lingering is the urge to "multi-task", to hurry up to get things done, run errands, clean house, start the laundry, decide what's for dinner. I am learning to not be in a rush, yet I have been so busy this past week, I don't know how I ever had time to work!! The rest of this week will be traveling to Sedona, Arizona, the red-rock country.

One Week into Retirement

Pool maintenance is part of my daily activities, including saving frogs, and this turtle, all looking for a pond.
Early mornings and late afternoons and evenings involve cooling off in the pool.

Grandson visit

Yesterday was 2nd retirement day at home that would have been a real workday, spent it getting ready for grandson visit. Bought groceries, new baby walker, cleaned pool. This morning we tried out the pool, and new walker. Today will be a lot of grandbaby time, they leave tonight to return home for Father's Day.

Grandbaby John

John tries out his new walker.
John in the baby boat.
John and his dad in the pool.
John with Uncle Jeremy.
Dad helps John stretch it out.

First Day at Home

Today was my first day of retirement at home, a regular workday. I got on the treadmill, got in the pool, did some JanMa's Digital Memories work copying vhs tapes to DVD for a client, shopped for a few items for the upcoming Sedona trip, had lunch with former colleagues, a few more errands, then home in late afternoon. I accomplished a bunch of minor tasks at home and around town with no rush, no hurry, it was WONDERFUL. It is great not having to multi-task everything, and not having to make a list to stay on track to make sure everything gets done. There is always tomorrow!

The First Trip

The first day of retirement, I was on the road to Matagorda beach with friend Lillie to spend some time on the beach and overnight in her AirStream trailer in Matagorda. We were there by lunchtime, spent the afternoon and next morning walking the beach looking for beach glass. Ate fried shrimp twice at two different restaurants, both were good. Excellent way to transition into retirement.

The First 2 Days

Jan on the beach, with new floppy hat.
The Airstream trailer, very comfortable overnight home.

GO!!!

Off into retirement, the BIG R. A last work day with an awesome Mexican chocolate cake (dark chocolate with a kick) made by Esther, many congratulatory good-byes, lots of hugs, then tears and a near meltdown with Amy, then out the door. Bill was waiting in the parking lot to welcome me to the other side. At the house, the party started with Amy and family and other good friends, celebratory dinner at Olive Garden, then back for more talk and pool time. What a great day and way to end the work career.

Get Set...

The time is shorter now, Monday June 15 is IT!! The retirement celebrations are over, the office is cleaned out, and all aspects of my job are now in the hands of others. On Monday I'll return a laptop I still have at home, show Amy where residual files are kept, clean out my network storage drive, sit in on interviews, and set an auto-reply on my email. Then wait for that gut-clenching dread of "What have I done?" to grab hold, and focus on the next 2 weeks of withdrawal!

Last Hoorahs!

Retirement party, with gifts and adult beverages, at a friend's house.

Jan and Amy, my work-sister for the past 5 years.

I got to say goodbye to district staff, and share my retirement plans.

Get Ready....

The Wise Ones said to prepare for retirement, start doing now what you think you want to do when you retire. So I played golf, flew with Bill on his Archer single-engine plane, held my new grandson, scanned pictures for my Mom's 80th birthday slideshow (which led me to form my own company, JanMa's Digital Memories - Remember When.... Forever!), and started dealing with Teacher Retirement System (TRS) paperwork. This year long process has led me through retirement celebrations to the last 5 workday countdown, with all my TRS ducks in a row, and enough plans for the immediate future to keep me quite busy. And the most exciting plan of all, being granny-nanny to twins due next October, a boy and a girl!

Retirement Plans

Jan learns to fly with Bill. We are looking forward to many trips around the country in the Archer II.
Pubbing in London at Thanksgiving. Next trip out of the country will be to Cost Rica, I hope.
Jan and John, current grandson. I look forward to many trips to his house this summer.
JanMa's Digital Memories home office, ready for work after retirement.