April 5, 2015

Well as of today, I am now officially a member of the 55-59 age group and I even qualify for the 55+ senior discounts.  I don't know if I should be happy or depressed but I figure if I am still here, it can't be all bad.  :)

Once again, it's been awhile since I blogged but I'm not going to spend a bunch of space making excuses about what I have or have not been doing. Suffice to say, I'm still 10 lbs up, and haven't been running much since last summer, although I have been walking home from work, 3-5 km a day, 4 days a week, since January.  However, I have only been on a bike twice in the past 12 months.  Sad?  Maybe, but it is what it is, and the past really doesn't matter. I'd rather focus on the here and now.

I have a pretty awesome 2015 lined up actually.  I just got home from a 2 week trip to New Zealand to meet Erik's new grandson, and to tour the North Island for 10 days.  It was beautiful and I really enjoyed the trip, even though it was a short one (I only have a 2 week spring break).

Erik and I have a 3 week trip to Italy planned for the end of August and we will spend some time in Rome, Tuscany and Umbria, and finish up with 5 days on the Amalfi Coast. I love Italy and I'm really looking forward to the trip.

We will get back a week before school starts up for my last year of teaching. Yes, I am going to retire.   I am almost 100% sure it will be at the end of March 2016.  We plan to take off for a 2-3 month stint in Europe in mid April 2016.  We don't have all the details nailed down yet, but the plan is to spend about 2 weeks in Portugal or Greece, then walk the Camino de Santiago for 35-40 days (500 miles/800 km), and then spend a month in one place - either Provence or Tuscany. I have always wanted to go to Europe and try to live like a local.  Our dearest wish is to be invited to a typical family dinner somewhere.

I am so excited about this trip but it is also a bit daunting so I have decided this Tuesday will be the first day of a year's worth of training. In this case training means losing 5-10 lbs, and regaining my strength, fitness, and stamina.  I will go to the gym, walk lots, get back to running, ride my bike, do the physio and yoga and core work, and eat healthy so that I am in top form by next May.  Hiking 500 miles with a backpack is a big challenge but 1000's of people do it every year, so I know I can be one of them.

So - that's  my life in a nut shell.  I plan to revitalize my blog and share my travel planning tips, give regular updates about my "training" progress, and talk about the next transition in my life.

Stay tuned!