The central focus of this past year was moving forward from the death of our dear Nana and redefining the blueprint of our contented lifestyle. Her absence in our lives is just one of the many changes we faced this year. Our commitments and responsibilities have narrowed considerably and we are curious about how life will unfold in the next decade.
I will cross a milestone birthday first, with Malcolm following soon after. We feel fit, healthy, and ready to take on more of the things we love to do, but we also understand that we can’t control destiny. The best we can do and intend to do is keep moving, expect beautiful things to happen, remain grateful, and appreciate the people who contribute joy to our lives.
We are grateful to each of you for continuing to follow our journey. Whatever life chapter you are in, we hope you PictureRetirement with a positive attitude and a grateful spirit.
January
January was a sad time for us as Malcolm’s mom passed away this month. (see Love, Loss and Moving On) The months preceding her death had been filled with advocating for her care, daily visits with her, and navigating the financial maze of a care facility and insurance/Medicare coverage. The entire month was sad and exhausting and left us depleted.
Amidst it all, Malcolm turned 68 and dear friends hosted a quiet birthday celebration for him just days after his mom’s death. It was bittersweet but their thoughtfulness was much appreciated.
February
This month, we held a graveside celebration of life for my MIL with the family in attendance. Sweet remembrances and lavender orchids filled the air on that day.
Malcolm spent weeks dealing with paperwork from the care facility, insurance issues, and his mom’s estate. We began sorting through her home and possessions, making tough decisions. Not quite ready to sell the property, we kept up the sorting, distributing, and readying process. We sent more boxes to storage and gathered a few keepsakes for ourselves, delaying the hardest decisions for another day.
We concentrated our efforts on self-care as we regrouped from months of neglect. I shared some of our healthy eating habits here.
March
We started to turn the corner in March and accepted an invitation to cruise the Caribbean with friends. As we relaxed, clarity began to set in and we decided not to renew the lease on our townhouse. Plans were put into motion to move into the home we’d inherited. I wrote about Merging and Purging here, and I shared cruise preparations in Let’s Go Cruising.
getting the house ready to be occupied again….
April
April ushered in springtime and new beginnings as we embraced moving into our new home. Somehow among the chaos of boxes and stuff, we switched our brains to ‘trip planning’ mode. I wrote about the plans we made in this post – Springtime Chat.
May
May was filled with celebrations – my birthday, our wedding anniversary, and Mother’s Day. It also kicked off my grand plan to celebrate the last year of my 60’s. I can’t think of a better way to celebrate life than to travel with my best buddy. We started with this short road trip to Biloxi, Mississippi for my actual birthday. With life firmly back on remote control – healthy eating, exercise, socializing with friends, visiting with the kids, etc. sketching plans for a July trip abroad and a September long-haul road trip to Nova Scotia filled our time this month.
June
June seemed like the longest month of the year as we prepared to depart for a month-long trip to Italy, Switzerland, and Germany, sandwiched around an eleven-day Adriatic Sea cruise. Our days were filled with preparing to leave the house hurricane-ready and our lives in order. I performed overdue blog maintenance, resulting in this post about deleting my followers.
July
The long-anticipated trip abroad became a reality this month. Credit to Malcolm for his flawless plan. Other than a nasty cold interfering with our time in Milan, all went well. The weather mostly cooperated – we experienced heat like never before in Dubrovnik – that statement is significant, considering we live in Florida. Our travel companions were easy-going and we’ve green-lighted future travel with them.
August
I spent time this month sorting photographs from the July trip and creating a memory book for us and one for the friends who traveled with us. We were home for what seemed like a minute when Malcolm and an old college buddy cooked up a trip to Kentucky. We all flew to Louisville and spent four days touring the Bourbon Trail. It was exactly what we needed after experiencing the letdown of returning home from an incredible trip.
September
A serious gallbladder attack nearly derailed our plans this month. I had surgery three weeks before our departure date, with strict instructions to ‘do nothing’ for the next several weeks. I received the ‘all clear’ to travel two days before our departure date. Stress and inactivity took their toll on my fitness and health as comfort eating became the norm.
Nevertheless, the trip went forward, and exploring (cautiously) took center stage as we traveled to Nova Scotia, with stops in New York, Boston, and Vermont. I wrote about our time in Nova Scotia here.
October
After completing our grand road trip to Nova Scotia, we returned home to ‘fix-it’ projects and prepare for the holidays. We took a day off to visit the kids in Miami and had a wonderful stay at the Edition Hotel. Dinner at Los Fuegos was a fun experience.
November
We cruised the Caribbean on Enchanted Princess and celebrated Thanksgiving a few days after returning. Feeling ‘overstuffed’ after our ten-day cruise, we kept the day low-key and manageable. I wrote a review of our experience on the Enchanted Princess here.
Thanksgiving table, set for two…
December
We kept Christmas decorations to a minimum this year as most of those boxes are in storage. Even so, the house was festive and bright. Not wanting to be the neighborhood Grinch, we even managed to string a few lights outside.
We hosted friends for a ‘vacation planning session’ and will embark on a transatlantic cruise with them in April. It was our only ‘gathering’ of friends in our home this Christmas season.
Our second annual Christmas Pub Crawl was a success, and we have concluded that this is now an established Christmas tradition. Downtown Stuart is very walkable and exudes Christmas charm this time of year. With many pubs and bars to choose from, we decide the route along the way based on our thirst, need for a snack, and the view. This night was beautiful, at 75 degrees and falling with a light wind out of the East. We visited four establishments and covered about two miles, including a portion of the boardwalk under our city’s iconic bridge. The lighted path along the riverfront is a delight any time of year. Don’t try this without a designated driver!!
Having the kids with us for five days was wonderful. We spent time together cooking, watching movies, playing Pickleball, and playing board games. Reminiscing was bittersweet as it will likely be our last holiday together in Nana’s house.
Moving Forward
This past year, we experimented with travel options and came to terms with our limitations, likes, and dislikes. We think we have devised a formula that works for us and will carry that into the new year. Making a decision to sell the house we inherited was the first step toward making our dreams a reality. We will spend the first quarter of the new year dealing with delayed decisions (storage unit) and all that comes with selling a home. Fingers crossed that all goes well as we have plans to sail to Lisbon on April 1st.
We do not have a return date planned and will leave that open-ended, depending on what happens with the house. If it sells quickly, we will have a short-term logistics nightmare, but it will open up endless possibilities for the next few months. The most likely scenario is to ‘purge’ as much as possible, place the remainder in storage, and rent a hotel room until our ship sails on April 1st. We can figure out the rest later.
We still dream of building our last home and have been watching a property under development in the town where we currently live. The community sounds perfect on paper, (walkable, lots of green space, shops, restaurants, and medical services) and offers a floor plan for a home that would suit us well. Like I said, it looks good on paper. Will it come out of the ground to our liking – who knows?
I haven’t chosen a WOTY in years, and usually rely on balance to maintain a contented lifestyle. However, this year the word Path seems appropriate. I hope you will stay with us as life unfolds onto a new Path. Where will it lead?
Happy New Year! May your days be filled with wonder.
Terri at Second Wind Leisure Perspective inspired this pictorial review of our year. Please visit her site and share your story.
Picture Retirement 
Hi Suzanne – that was a really interesting wrap-up of your year. I didn’t realize how much travel you’d managed to slot in amongst all the house stuff and your MIL’s passing. Lots of changes on the horizon for you and I look forward to following along as you launch into a new decade and possibly a new home plan. Here’s to an interesting 2025. x
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Leanne, we started the year with only two planned trips, and things seemed to mushroom as the year progressed. Not one to complain about too much travel there is a smart way to go about it and we weren’t always smart. We hope to apply what we learned going forward. The ‘house stuff’ may keep us guessing for a while, but I have faith that it will unfold as it should.
Wishing you and your family all the best in 2025.
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2024 was packed with activities, and it looks like you are starting off 2025 with a bang as you plan to sell the house and your trip to Lisbon. I wish you all the best and hope the house sells quickly, the trip is fun, and the new area turns out to be just what you are looking for long term.
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Hi Judy, we are optimistic about the new year, but uncertainty is a fickle partner. Eyes forward… Wishing you the very best in 2025. Happy New Year!
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Suzanne, I have enjoyed reading this wrap up of 2024. So much has happened and you have managed to travel quite a bit. Wonderful photos as always.
We have not travelled much in 2024, but we hope to do a lot more in 2025.
Your NY plans sounds very exciting. Have a fantastic end of year celebrations 😀
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Gilda, it feels strange to have an open-ended ticket, but that is how life is right now and we are doing our best to embrace the opportunity. We hope it all comes together nicely, but if not, we will figure out how to pivot.
I look forward to reading about the wonderful destinations you will visit in the new year. Happy travels and Happy New Year!
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Suzanne, your year was filled with ups and downs with lots of decision making. Thanks for sharing all of your amazing trips with us. I’m glad you got the ok from your doctor to go on your road trip to Nova Scotia. Good luck with selling your hour. I hope everything works out so you can enjoy your April trip.
Wishing you a fantastic 2025! Happy New Year!
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Beth, I am ‘decisioned out’ at this point, and April 1st is getting closer by the day. I’ve enjoyed your photo challenge entries this past year. You are becoming quite an accomplished photographer. Happy New Year!
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You had a very interesting year! And I’m in awe of all that you manage to accomplish in just 12 months. Happy New Year!
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Thank you, Ann. We like the direction life is heading and look forward to following this new path for the next year. First step – sell the house.
Wishing you a new year of joy and good health.
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Well, that was a year, Suzanne! You really seem to have the cruising and travel life down pat! My hubby and I want to be in that situation sooner rather than later. I remember reading most of the posts you referred to, and I was glad you moved into your family home for now. I feel your angst with the paperwork nightmare you went through with your MIL’s estate. Hans and I both reached a milestone age this year, as you will read when you can.
You make great decisions about your health, trips, and family. 2025 will have its share of ups and downs, as life wills it. Feel free to link when you can. Happy New Year from my family to yours 🙂
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Terri, I think we have figured out how to combine cruising and land travel in a way that is fulfilling and won’t exhaust us. We have some ideas for what happens after Portugal, but haven’t booked anything. For sure, there will never again be a 6,000-mile road trip!
I can relate to your SS and Medicare issues. What a joy that was! But, now that it is done you can enjoy your new benefits.
Happy New Year and thanks for hosting Sunday Stills.
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There are so many ways to travel. Hans wants to stay in Germany for a month. He’s pretty fluent and I’m 5 yrs in with Duolingo German. But we have a dog! Other things have to happen before we can be gone that long without him. He’s a great road trip dog! Have you ever taken the Viking Cruise to Europe? My neighbors did the Seattle to Alaska inner harbor tour last year through Costco. That sounds right up my alley 😁
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You’ve had a jam packed year, and it looks like you have a great year planned. I know even when we are busy and doing things we love, we still grieve. It honors those we have lost to make the best of our days. You are doing just that. Blessings for the new year. It will be fun and interesting to follow your path forward.
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Betty, thank you for your thoughtful comment about grief. Not a day passes that we don’t think of Nana, but life goes on. Wishing you joy, good health and new adventures. Happy New Year!
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The new year sounds full of new adventures. May your new path be filled with health and happiness.
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Karen, thank you. We are excited about the next chapter. May you have good health, joy, and exciting travels in 2025. Happy New Year!
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Such a thoughtful retrospective of your year with all its ups and downs. I’m always inspired by the pragmatism coupled with optimism with which you face the coming years. I too will hit that milestone birthday in 2025 and am somewhat daunted at the thought but like you I’m hoping there are still plenty of adventures in front of us 😀 I hope all your plans with the house sale, travels and finding your new home all work out well!
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What a truly full year you have had – sad and happy times, with lots of great adventures. I’m surprised (or maybe I missed it?) that you are moving again. What energy you two have! We’ve made the decision to move in 2025 to something that is better for us in the long term. We’ve loved our adventure, but real to move on. More on that later. Happy New Year!
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Hi Tracey, selling the house we inherited from Malcolm’s mom was a recent decision. We have lived here since last April and have decided it is not for us long-term. We are not looking forward to another move, but selling the house now (while we can still get a reasonable price) makes more sense than waiting.
This year will be our time to travel and explore options, but we still need a place to land between trips. We will decide what that might look like within the next few weeks. Meanwhile, we have begun sorting, purging, and packing. The long-range plan is to find/build our last house sometime in 2026 or 2027. The ‘energy’ you mentioned will run out at some point.
I look forward to reading about your move – what prompted it? Where to? Wishing you joy and good health. Happy New Year!
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We are going back to the Houston area. We’ve really enjoyed our adventure out West, but the home we bought does not meet our long term needs. We have established health care providers, friends and family in the Houston area so will start house hunting in the Spring of 2025. Better to move when we still have the energy!
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Sarah, cheers to the new year and the beginning of a new decade. It feels a lot different than turning 60, doesn’t it? I don’t like to dwell on the pitfalls that might lie ahead, but quiet acknowledgment makes sense.
Wishing you all good things in 2025. Happy New Year!
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You had quite a year! I don’t feel much different in my 70s than I did in my 60s except my balance is not as good. Try to stay off ladders! Oh, and suitcases tend to get a lot heavier so travel light.
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Jan, I have noticed that my balance isn’t as steady as it used to be. Not happy about that. Suitcases, well that’s another story. Happy New Year!
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Hi, Suzanne – You and Malcolm have had a very full and diverse year. I greatly admire how you reflect, stay positive and continue to move forward. That is very inspiring. Wishing you a happy and healthy 2025 ahead!
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Donna, 2024 was a bit all over the place but satisfying in many ways. We are excited about the future and look forward to the path unfolding. There will be bumps and bruises, (literally and figuratively) but we will figure it out.
Cheers to your good health and happiness. Never stop learning and growing. Happy New Year!
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Well you’ve certainly had an eventful year, one way and another, Suzanne, and it sounds like “eventful” is the adjective for 2025 too. Kudos! As for retirement, I absolutely am on the same sheet…well, we both are. I can’t fathom why people perceive it as a problem, because it’s the only time in our lives where we dan absolutely please ourselves (health and finance permitting, of course). We’ve been retired 5 years now and it’s been wonderful, even with that (almost forgotten) COVID interruption. Here’s wishing you a good new year, and best wishes, good health and continued happiness for 2025. I look forward to reading your adventures.
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Phil, after twenty years of enjoying a ‘traditional retirement’, Malcolm and I are in a position to ‘please ourselves’ as you say. Many of our past choices were dictated by family obligations, but our time is truly our own these days. We won’t stray far from our comfort level (we are not Phil and Michaela) but will stretch a bit. Portugal is in the books and plans are taking shape beyond our time there. Thanks for cheering us on. You guys are always an inspiration. Maybe one day our paths will cross. Happy travels and Happy New Year!
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Really enjoyed this summary of your year. Wow, you did a lot of travel!
I had not caught your plan to sell your MIL’s home (I’ve been a bit distracted and not reading blogs consistently lately); I think the uncertainty you’re facing there would just lay me totally out right now! But I wish you the best, I love your attitude about it (what will be will be!), and like your WOTY. Path and journey are two words that have always resonated with me!
Best wishes for a healthy & happy new yer!
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Hi Pat, ‘distracted’ is an understatement for what you have been dealing with. Your last post sounds encouraging though.
Selling the house was inevitable and I have been hinting, but not outright declaring that as our intention. In retrospect, we should have placed the house on the market immediately after her death and continued renting the townhouse we were in. It seemed like a good idea at the time, and in some ways, I think it helped him delay decisions and process the loss of his mom a while longer before letting it go.
Anyway, here we are, at the beginning of a new year. I feel optimistic and I hope you will continue to feel that way, as well. What a wild journey, right?
Cheers to your health, happiness, and success (on all fronts) in the new year.
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Suzanne, this is a beautiful retrospective of your year, and the challenges, losses, joys, and realizations you experienced. I look forward to following along as you begin your next chapter. Wishing you and Malcom all the best in this coming year!
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Thank you, Laurel. It was an interesting year. I’m not wishing the new year away, but April 1st can’t arrive soon enough. I hope you guys are doing well and have some exciting plans for 2025. Happy New Year!
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Hi Suzanne, You and Malcolm have had a very full year. I’m in awe of what you’ve managed to accomplish in 2024. All the big events in your year take a lot of energy to handle. Thank you for sharing your year in review and photos. Wishing you a smooth house sale, a healthy and happy 2025.
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Hi Natalie, we pray that energy continues. We will need it this year. Thanks for stopping by. I can’t wait to see the places you’ll go in 2025.
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Suzanne,
You and Malcolm are an inspiration—two lovely people who face challenges head-on while maintaining an active (and enviable) retirement lifestyle. We’re taking an open-ended trip to the West Coast in a few weeks–it’s planned going out, but there are no plans for the return. I loved your decorations for Christmas–y’all are a class act—best wishes for a wonderful 2025. Please stay in touch. Joe
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Joe, thank you for your kind words. We feel encouraged that we are on the right track. I like the ‘implied freedom’ of not having a return ticket and I’m sure you and Helen feel that too. Safe travels. I look forward to your tales and beautiful photos.
Happy New Year
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Wow, you’ve had a full year, and it appears that you won’t be slowing down in 2025! Selling a home can be stressful and, I think, selling a childhood home full of memories is even harder. I have no doubt, though, that the two of you will figure it all out and end up just where you are supposed to be.
Safe travels! I always love traveling with you through your beautiful photographs!
Happy New Year!
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Hi Janis, it is a trying time, but it is also exciting for us to be in a position to move on. Just to clarify, Malcolm did not grow up in this home. His mom lived here from 2003, just one year after we moved to the area. We have always kept her close. Nevertheless, it is a bittersweet task as we close a significant chapter. Yes, I suspect we will find our way to our last home. In the meantime, the plan is to travel and have fun. Thanks for stopping by. Happy New Year!
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I find it interesting and awesome that you two have figured out the perfect formula for your travels and life together. What works, what doesn’t work. So many people just live, take things for granted, and stick to known routines.
For some reason, I didn’t know you are living in Stuart. We really enjoyed our month on a mooring there, while I dealt with my first greencard and we got our sailboat ready to start cruising, first to the Bahamas. Mark, I, and our two dogs had a fantastic Christmas and New Year’s period in town as well. That was in 2007.
Happy New Hear to you and Malcolm. Big plans and changes ahead. Very exciting!
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Hi Liesbet, I won’t call it the ‘perfect formula’, but it is what works for us right now. The combination of cruises and land tours (exploring on our own) that won’t require moving every three days and last one to two months in total might be ideal. We still need a place to call home though. I’ll be searching for an apartment soon.
We moved to Stuart from Ft. Lauderdale in 2001. Our paths could have crossed. Happy New Year. I’ll stop by soon to see what you have been up to.
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I am sorry to hear about your mother in law’s passing. You have had a very full year, 2024. It does take time to process things and make decisions after the loss of a loved one. There is so much to do, and so much to think about. I wish you blessings in this coming year with all of your plans and travels. I enjoyed reading this journey of months 2024…lots of memories to cherish!
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Hi Linda, thanks for your kind words. I’m glad you enjoyed the post. Stop by any time. I love to chat.
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Travelling and big changes filled out your year. Lisbon sounds amazing. I wish you a big and fulfilling 2025.
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It is shaping up to be an exciting 2025. Thanks for stopping by.
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Hi Suzanne, You remind me of the concept of constant change. You and your blog always emit a positive attitude and a grateful spirit. Last year of your 60’s … you look amazing! I was not aware how hot it can become in Dubrovnik. I look forward to reading the details about your upcoming transatlantic cruise. I still ‘follow’ your kids on Instagram – their life is surreal in my eyes. You make a great point about ‘perfect on paper.’ I have told you before how much I greatly enjoy all of your photos and I look forward to seeing more and the path you take. Happy New Year, Suzanne! 💕Erica
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Erica, we instilled a love of travel in Morgan when she was little, and she and her husband have taken it to a different level. They travel high-end, fast-paced, and short-term three or four times per year and work like little maniacs when they are home. Their joy makes my heart smile.
We have embraced ‘self-imposed change’ for the past 3 1/2 years, but feel confident it will make sense and we’ll end up where we are supposed to be.
As I write this, there is change on the horizon!! Stay tuned!!
Happy New Year
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Enjoyed your update and photos. So sorry about your Mother in Law. It’s hard to lose those we love.
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Hi Kirstin, thank you for your kind words. Happy New Year!
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Your year sounded much harder than mine, but you managed to travel all over the place in spite of going through all of that. Congratulations on turning 69, you certainly seem about half of that with your energy level. I’m so sorry for yours and your husband’s loss this year. From the sound of it, she lived a long and productive life. Thanks for sharing your life with us. I hope your 2025 goes smoother. xxx
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Hi Marsha, I am grateful for my energy and strength at this age. They surprise me some days, too. Our lifestyle for the past three and a half years wouldn’t be for everyone, but it is how things have played out on the way to where we want to be. We have one more move coming, then we will settle for a while and be on the lookout for our forever home.
Nana lived a long, happy life and was sassy almost until the end. We miss her but take solace in knowing she lived life well.
Thanks for stopping by and Happy New Year.
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I love these kinds of posts! It’s so inspiring to look back on a year and see all the changes, challenges, and beautiful moments. I’ve been thinking about making one myself—such a great way to reflect and set intentions for the year ahead!
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