Embracing Homelife: April Ahead
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| I should get some seeds started this month. |
You'd think I didn't have four trips in the last year the way I'm coming across as obsessing about no travel in the forseeable future. I just can't leave pup longer than an evening and only when my daughter is available. (Long story short, son cannot do needles). Really though, I know that FOMO feeling is going to hit when my sisters, friends, mere aquaintences take to the roads, sky, and seas. That's how I ended up booking my trip to Greece last July in the middle of the night- and pups meds for the year will cost more than that trip. To combat this, I'm going to intentionally outline my calendar and if there are bare weeks, find local fun to fill the gaps. I'm doing this under the overarching topic, Embracing Homelife.
Here's how April looks right now. It's a bit light on weekends but that leaves room for flexibility or just downtime for home projects the last two weekends since the week between is busy. A bit of social fun is mixed in with two community commitments.
April 5: Hosted small Easter dinner + NCAA Women's Basketball final game
April 6: NCAA final basketball championships wat h night
April 11: Family bookclub and cards
April 20: AAUW Spring Dinner and annual meeting
April 23: Power of 100 Women Spring Giving event
Possible April activities include...
- Bachman's Garden Center visit with their Bloom event
- Local Winery afternoon with live music which starts in April
Winery just outside of town. - Art in Bloom at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts (MIA)
- Visit the Como Conservatory
- Bird Banding events at local nature center with meet up walk with friends
- Local Hootenanny April 25 (local bars host live music that rotates around the city, donation based- proceeds go-to the school district music programs)
- Niece and nephews lacrosse, baseball, softball, and soccer season starts so will get schedules to get to various games
Too bad you don't live closer to me - I love visiting wineries and breweries! I have been scouting out things to do, too. That's how I found the book club at a local library. I am right now trying to plan a 3 day getaway to the Texas coast, but also I am finding new parks to visit for lunch al fresco, and thinking about doing some book thrifting. I hate being bored.
ReplyDeleteI've got my two book clubs, though ones sort of a cheat as it's with family andcwe combine with girls card night. I'd love a brewery winery copilot...I think the ambience and variety make for fun outings.
DeleteWould it be helpful or frustrating to plan for trips ahead? We've been big into watching hiking videos, to help plan for our next few trips. We are mostly focused on one big trip per year, with national park trips to fill in the few days a quarter where M has "freebie" vacations. Other ideas: free classes at the library? Not sure if yours offers that. A free trial Y membership, and check out all of the mobility & stretching classes (mine offers this, not sure about one near you)? Signing up for a community college class & learn a new skill? maybe something art related (I'm terrible at art, but think I would like it just the same). My April is going to be: one work trip to London (way less exciting than it sounds, as it's just the airport/office/hotel, no sight seeing + a lot of jet lag) & then on the last day of the month, I'm flying to Boulder to pick up Nick, which I'm very excited about. Bonus that I'll get to see my BFF, as we are staying with her one night. - Hawaii Planner
ReplyDeleteI think looking forward andvdoing sone dream planning would be worthwhile, not frustrating at all. I could have better knowledge for such time when renewed travel works. I'm doing a weiner this week and will look for other opportunitues that come up. Unfortunately, my hip us still not great...thought it was improving. Im heading back to a specialist before tackling exercise events.
DeleteThe Bird Banding events sound like something I would love to watch. Hearing birdsongs in the mornings is a sweet sound to me. We currently have a woodpecker that is up bright and early and working hard this morning. Do you have the Merlin Bird app on your phone? It's from Cornell Lab and you can use it to identify any bird that you hear. I really like the app and it's easy to use.
ReplyDeleteI've seen the raptor releases but not the Banding. I've recently heard about Merlin. I don't know much about birds but love to watch them.
DeleteAs you plan out your April, I am at the opposite point of looking at this week, seeing NOTHING planned (other than my husband's teaching; just two afternoons a week for 2 hours) and am cheering. We keep a paper wall calendar on our kitchen table and color code events: pink for me, blue for him, green for us both, and orange for "other" (such my dad's appointments, for which I am responsible). The last several weeks have been so "colorful" that I am thrilled to see just blank white days...! On the other hand, my favorite (locally owned) garden center opens today and I know that at some point soon, I need to get busy planning and planting our 2026 gardens. I don't start seeds inside anymore, but, yeah, there's work to be done!
ReplyDeleteI don't have elder care responsibilities like you do. I just find too much time alone without things to look forward too sends my mood very low. Ill need help, but have two raised garden beds to assemble, then prep.
DeleteSounds like a potentially busy month - lots of fun activities.
ReplyDeleteSome weeks, and others I'll beed to really reach out to others.
DeleteI would totally join you if I lived close by.
ReplyDeleteNothing for April besides planning meetings for my civic commitment. It’s taking up a lot of time. Today, for instance, is a two hour meeting. I was invited to sit in on a discussion prior to that, (not in that committee, but they extended credentials) but for all it will be fascinating, my social tank is drained. My big trip is a year from September. Plenty of time to steel myself for it, both emotionally and financially. The good news is the woman who invited me (it’s a two family trip plus me) is as introverted as I am, as is he adult daughter with whom I am splitting a room. No hurt feelings if one of us wants to stay behind and read or spend the morning alone in a cafe with a coffee. But this summer, friends and I are going to do some overnight Canada trips too. Really what I want is spend April working on my flower beds, but that isn’t a possibility until mid-month.
-Meg B.
I guess I'm an introverted extrovert. I need connections or get too low. Garden planning and thinking is all I can do right now.
DeleteThat is exactly what I am . I call myself a “gregarious introvert.” I genuinely enjoy spending time with people I like, and I am not one to stand alone in a corner at a big function. But I need time to regroup.
Delete-Meg B.
I like the term regroup. I say recover but that's not quite right. My energy needs to go to the right place.
DeleteBecause of your blog, Sam, I have given a good amount of thought to how my life would change should my spouse pass first. Some of the changes I think I would make would be to sell this big house and move to a coastal condo community, where people seem to interact quite a lot with each other. Not a 55+, because there are none here as close to the ocean as I would wish to be. Condos, however, yes, there are many here that are close to being beach adjacent.
ReplyDeleteSocially, however, as an extrovert I know I would struggle. So if I think of activities I think I would be willing to do solo, I think of Women's Clubs first and foremost. My Women's Club has a plethora of activities, and because many of the members are older and increasingly widowed, being solo at an event is a non-issue.
I would also increase the number of activity groups I currently below to, because my experience in group activities is that the majority of participants are there without a partner, even if they are partnered otherwise. In my case, that would mean pursuing group activities like hiking, tennis, walking, guitar, ukulele cooking, book clubs, art groups, and/or lunch out groups. (I have no interest in evening Dine Out groups as for some odd reason that strikes me as a bit to desperate(?).
I find I need things to look forward to helps, hence building my calendar. Unfortunately, no matter how full it gets, widowhood is still a lonely phase of life when your used to having a day in day out partner. However, your attitude to thinking ahead is spot-on. I have family here, which is my lifeline, so relocating to a whole new community would be hard, but likely going to happen at some point. I too wouldn't require a 55+, but have amenities I'd want.
DeleteSimilar to Tamara, your situation has made me really think what I would do as well. I think i'm less of an extrovert than Tamara! :), but am most of the way there.e I know I would need to fill my time with travel & activities & would probably do a combo of friend trips, as well as tours for single women (luckily there are a few places that offer this). And then fill in with plenty of local events as well. - Hawaii Planner
ReplyDeleteI can see solo trips or group options once my time frees up from pup. I can take short trips eith him but would need to be dog friendly.
DeleteI truly believe that our trip in August will probably be the last we go on. Age is catching up, and my arthritis is getting worse and worse.
ReplyDeleteYou have some great plans for this month that should keep you very busy and occupied.
God bless.
I hope that trip is all you want oit of it. Ill be an arm chairvtravelir now, and likely again once my body says so.
DeleteThat last comment was from me Jackie. Don't understand why it came up as Anonymous.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
Thanks for coming back to say your name.
DeleteI am a loner but I would totally go on hour long walks/strolls with you through parks if I lived close by! I am not athletic, and really clumsy but I can walk for an hour in a pretty park… lol. Your list of activities sounds splendid!! I love watching and listening to birds and watching sunsets. Cindy in the South
ReplyDeleteWe have several stste parks within an hour, plus county and regional. Walking locations ate easy, partners not so much do to their busy lives. I'd be happy for you to join me.
DeleteSounds as though you've got quite a bit planned!
ReplyDeleteI am an introvert by nature, so I don't mind being alone, that being said, I also don't really enjoy joining in with activities that involve a lot of people.
I wish you could find someone like my walking friend, she's married, but she does lots of things alone. Most of the holidays she goes on are by herself or with a younger friend as her husband doesn't really like to travel or go a lot of places. I think the only reason she walks with me is because most of her friends no longer enjoy walking distances (she is an older lady).
My circle with the exception of two sisters are all coupled up and active with their families. These two sisters are great, but travel, walking, breweries/ wineries etc. Are not their thing. I'm kind of like Tamara above, not very interested in a dinner club thing, and that seems to be the options here for widows. I will look at solo travel opportunitues/ groups where individuals are a norm.
DeleteWow, that sounds busy! It’s going to be wall to wall gardening at our place for the foreseeable and when the weathers bad I’ll probably just crochet and bake
ReplyDeleteAlison in Devon x
I'm a gardener in preschool training but my plans match yours. I never successfully learned crocheting or knitting, but would do that if I could. Now baking, I can do that!
DeleteIt all sounds wonderful especially the Outlander Binge! Have you watched Blood of my Blood yet? It is a prequel to Outlander. It is excellent and the casting of all the main characaters was spot-on. Enjoy your spring activities.
ReplyDeleteYou've got lots of fun things locally lined up. And if there was ever a time to avoid international travel, this might be it. You would fit right in where i live. Everyone but me is going goo-goo over basketball.
DeleteI have watched Blood of My Blood. Weaker than O, but still intrigued to see where the stories connect. To Jean, now with college bb over, I'll follow the Timberwolves. I wish I was bigger baseball fan but a sunny day at any ball park is a good outing and we have several community teams.
DeleteApril seems good so far. You have been bitten by the travel bug! If you want another way to live vicariously, theimpatienttourist is a woman who works a lot, and maximizes all her travel time throughout the year. she offers some great options via her patreon! I hope the hip pain improves soon :(
ReplyDeleteI will check her blog out. I just think it's fascinating to be in places I've previously only experienced in media or other people's travel. I'll have my time again and next time I'm ever in Greece, would like to experience more breadth and depth, not just the tourist areas and hotel like the islands and small villages. I'd eat more food you don't typically see on US menus. I will channel Vix! Beyond Greece, there's lists of places on my list and as HP suggests, I can do planning and research while enjoying my home, family, friends, and pets. And if course, can do day trips and short dog friendly driving trips.
DeleteThink travel in terms of not just international travel. Day trips that do not require an overnight stay can be a lot of fun and are surprisingly cost effective. Just search out things/places you have never been before. Sometimes even just visiting different parts of town can be an adventure.
ReplyDeleteThat's the mode I'm in. We did not travel from 2020-early 2022 other than day trips plus one overnight for daughter's Christmas concert December 2021. We found fun ways to be busy. It's just harder being pretty much alone.
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