I’ve always struggled with the question, “What do you do?” and it throws people off more now when they hear that neither Caleb nor I work, but I still wonder where my days go. The few pictures I do have show that I’m still actively participating in life, exploring new places, and meeting new people. What I don’t have photos of are the hours spent practicing on the piano, reading books, soaking in the hot tub, and doing chores (though maybe that’s where I get my next inspiration).

We spent a Saturday afternoon walking to Highlander Park because a few neighbors suggested we should go to an arts market there, but they don’t understand that we prefer discount pieces (or fancy gifts), not to purchase handmade works that would cut into our cheese and travel budget. We do make an exception for lemonade. We’ll stop in to browse the Dunedin Fine Art Center, since we’re walking by… and admission is free, and enjoy some pieces by Yhali Ilan and the multiple trees with ornaments for sale.

We’ll spend an hour and a half at Al’s on Sunday, me in his giant hot tub, while the men use the heated pool as well. We had planned on having dinner with him and were unaware that he’d already had lunch at Victory Tavern, but didn’t mind returning for another meal. I spoke with Frank, a regular patron, who is a 20-year chief who helped his mom in Massachusetts and then moved down here four years ago with Lisa, who did 15 years in the military, before being poached by Raytheon. We talk about local parks and animals, and I show him some of my photos, while Caleb and Al discuss military and family, again.

I go for a two-mile run and log a 1.5-mile walk before seeing Caleb, then jog to catch up with him so we can walk home together. He’s too hot to cook in the community soup pot just yet, so we’ll go before dinner of ice cream and asparagus; being an adult has its perks. So does wiping the dust off vinyl record covers before pulling the album out and noticing that Barry wrote half his last name on most of them – something one does in the military. I remember him listening to the kids’ music one day, taking turns between records and CDs. I don’t remember him being happy, though he smiled in photos.

Those thoughts are far from my mind while Caleb and I sit at Sarah’s house on Thursday, getting an introduction into one of her many art hobbies — making cards. Our theme is the fall season, and I enjoy using a machine to cut out stencils, coloring stamps, and layering the pieces to create a scene. Caleb’s cards seem to have lost all their leaves without a trace of people or animals to interrupt the afternoon. I could stay all day, but already Sarah has fed us snacks and entertained us, and now has something else on her ever-busy schedule that motivates me to live into my mid-seventies as well as she is.

Terry has to work on Friday, but has invited us to spend the rest of the weekend with him and Karley, and their dog Macaroni, on their boat. We leave early Saturday morning, as they’re about an hour and a half drive away, and get to the dock thirty minutes before they do. We’ll spend the day anchored off a small island, where we can paddleboard between and walk along the beach collecting shells, and noting the damage from last year’s hurricane. The Bulgarian/Italian/Greek owner of said island lets us know he’s in the process of repairing the tiki bar and other available activities by starting with burning the fallen trees.

Macaroni on the Kraken Snack

We are greeted with a beautiful morning, with a warning of a storm on the horizon, which will have us leaving earlier than planned. Caleb has taken in the full sunrise, and I will join him before the sun disappears into the thick clouds. Sipping coffee takes away the struggles of last night’s sleep, and though we had plans to ride bikes in Tarpon Springs in the afternoon, the storm arrived and dashed those plans, too. My rainbow friendship bracelet that I got at Ravi’s birthday celebration back in June exploded, so I collected it and put it in a dish, though the guys stopped wearing the children-sized jewelry months ago.

November 11th brings a cold front, and I wake to the heat on because it’s still 39° outside, and inside was in the 50s when Caleb woke. Al is going to a Veteran’s Day ceremony, walking distance from our place, so we showed up late, and Caleb went directly into the Big Red Bus, which just happened to have an apheresis machine on board. I watched the a cappella group before joining Caleb. Usually, we worry about my iron levels, but this time the woman asked if I had eaten (never before asked, but also never answered no) so snacks and drinks were quickly given.

Sri Lankan weevil

We join Al for lunch at Applebee’s, the restaurant that started the growing tradition of offering a select menu for veterans and active-duty to get a free meal, and then stop by Starbucks on the way home for a free coffee. Back in our car, we drove to Buffalo Wild Wings, where we saw Ryan and Fallon, so we joined them for lunch at Olive Garden, then stopped for a dessert (that would last me three days) at Dairy Queen after they went about their day. Last year, restaurants allowed take-out, and most changed to dine-in-only this year. I appreciate the switch, as returning to Applebee’s for dinner gave us the opportunity to eat with Todd and Cynthia.

We met them at the door, and having all traveled, knew about table-sharing overseas, so they offered once they were seated. The waitress was a bit confused at first, but we were all smiles by the end of the night. Todd was one of the unappreciated Vietnam veterans who returned to a divided country (as we should all ask if war is worth dying for). I was unaware that those vets were given their own day of remembrance, March 29, in 2017, to commemorate the day the last troops left Vietnam in 1973. Cynthia worked for Mercy Ships for over seven years, and they’ve been together for twenty, just as long as Caleb and I. It’s important for humanity that strangers connect over a shared common interest or history.

I finished a 1000-piece puzzle on Wednesday that’s missing two pieces, while Caleb patched the hole he punched in his paddleboard while on the boat the other day. I walk Sarah’s Havanese, Snicker and Doodle, and spend some time at Sarah’s after visiting with Jan. She invites me to walk with her in the morning, but I’m done and back from our agreed-upon time before she’s out of bed. I’ll talk with Susie while she gets her mail key replaced by a locksmith and Caleb finishes his six-mile run.

Last weekend on the boat, Caleb mentioned making potato salad, so we invited Terry and Karley, who brought green salad, drinks, and a basil plant, and Al, who brought green beans, chicken wings, and a lily bouquet to our place. Caleb also made a more homemade version of my mom’s favorite chicken recipe (salsa and cream of mushroom) and a white chocolate cheesecake. We’ll get in the hot tub after dinner, and somehow they all have room for dessert after changing into dry clothes or putting them on over wet swim shorts. I’ll wait and have a slice for breakfast.