This morning we are having breaky with a friend and then doing some things around a friend’s yard.  I am amazed how much I look forward to this Monday morning breakfast.  The only other time I generally eat breakfast is of a Thursday.
After that it remains to be seen what we do.  This retirement thing is a pretty good gig me thinks.  Oh I am not happy that things wear out but on the whole, it is a pretty good life – being able to wake up when I like and have a rest when I like or do things around the yard when I like.
I must admit I am really glad the retiring age was 65 when I was involved in paid employment.  I reckon the ol “time is money” is a bit of a ruse.  I am thinking my time is money for “the man.”  It seems to me retiring older is a big ask and there is less and less quality “me” time and more and more time devoted to fulfilling the aims of others that so often see me only as a number or means to an end.
Anyway I think I lived in pretty good times and as far as I am concerned growing up in a country town was a real bonus.  It was great to visit streams to swim in and tyre tube ride down at the max 40 minutes from where I lived.  Added to that we had a stream in an unoccupied block next to us that ran whenever we had more than 125 mls of rain (usually at least once per year)
Its funny I look at brochures now that highlight pretty spots and great places to relax and think “that is the same as we would visit for free whenever we liked.”
The passing of time is inevitable.  I know I am thankful for where I live and have lived and the lifestyle we enjoy.

Yesterday morning we had what is called “menzone” here.  A group of guys get together once per month at my place.  We have a feed, chat and then someone talks to us about something they are involved in.
Yesterday a guy we call “undercover Dave” talked about his involvement rescuing young girls sold in slavery in the Philippines and Indonesia.  The authorities are so inundated with cases that the organization he works for does all the reconnaissance and then presents the cases to the authorities so they can examine the case and make the arrests.  He will in the future be involved in “after rescue care” which he sees as a great need.
I found it really interesting how he mentioned slavery is rifer then it has ever been though it is unseen by the majority.  He also gave his own story about growing up in a dysfunctional environment and how God rescued him.
It was an absorbing morning.  A friend arrives to cook at 6am and Merril does scrambled eggs for us then disappears.  I am an expert at cooking toast.  The vast majority of guys arrive around 6.50am and it is over by 8.30am.
After that we went and visited a mate who has a bbq set up at a local market.  Someone else we know also has a coffee van there.  Any bacon we have not cooked we take to him.  The coffee van person had a special coffee which included an Orio biscuit and two lines of kit kat.  Looked great.  Merril bought one.
After that we came home and watched the re-entry of the space craft.  That was pretty tense and I am glad it worked out well.  I had heard the Cowboys beat the Broncos in a good match and Rory MacElroy was doing well in the US Open.
Merril had something to attend in the afternoon in which she was doing the media side of things and being a part of it all.  It is a “Ladies” meeting.  Sorta like the guys thing but for the ladies.
I just slept and pottered.  Later in the day we set up N3C for today.  That did not take long and bed called pretty early.  A good day.

They reckon the more things change “the more they stay the same.”
I was reminded of that when I read a quote in the latest James Clear email.  It was by the Roman philosopher Senna.  Though I do wonder why it was said “Originally written as, "Ignoranti quem portum petat, nullus suus ventus est.”  I guess I need to take his word on that one.  It could say “don’t forget to get some butter while you are out” for all I know.
Anyway it said, “If you do not know which port you are seeking, no wind is favourable.”  It reminded me of what I say and that is “aim for nothing and I am sure to hit it.”
I guess both really say to me that it is really important I know what I want and go for it.  That has really only taken me 50 years or so to discover.  I actually feel less inclined to lolly gag than I used to but that is more a commentary on the time in which we live rather than the way I live.
I used to live for pleasure after hours.  I really had no sense of purpose outside of providing for myself and ensuring all my needs were met.  Where that interfered with looking out for others it always won the day.  Oh family was important as was looking after my place but that was all manageable.  Work was enjoyable and a good as “a means to an end”.  I could afford a home, buy stuff, set aside stuff for my future and pursue my interests.
I was never an overly ambitious one but would seize opportunities as they arose.  I was always happy to act in higher positions.  But I was never like someone I knew in one job.  Their ambition was to get as high as possible in the public service.  They achieved a high level for sure, but they bemoaned the fact that the level attained was a Canberra thing and outside of there it was known that the level was attained quickly without the corresponding experience.
I have heard it said it is terrible to climb the corporate ladder only to find it is against the wrong wall.  I actually would prefer to gain a sense of purpose late in life than to continually pursue the wrong purpose for a lifetime.
For sure it is a humble pie thing, but in the scheme of things I have found it to be a small price to pay.