Still healthy, thank goodness.
But I am in an isolated place, far from even the center of town and the one medical facility. So I do plan to move, hopefully closer to my daughter and her new husband. And at least, closer to people I can befriend, and help at the same time.
I have had the opportunity over these almost 10 years, to observe what I actually do and use most of the time, so downsizing can proceed logically. I'm sorting through things now. My hobbies will thrive anywhere as they always have: piano and photography. I got an electronic keyboard for when my wife was working shifts, and plugged in the headphones. Great sound!
The baby baby grand is from my parents, and I plan to bring it with me wherever it will fit. It is over 100 years old and wonderful. Even if I have limited hours to play it. I'll get a new electronic keyboard when I can't repair the Roland any more. Epoxy will be used tonight.
My faith (I am Buddhist) sustains me and gives me strength and courage. I have always helped others, even at work, and I help myself most when I help others.
I have lived in suburbs all my life except for this recent post-divorce stay. It has been great, especially the photo opportunities living on a ridge with mountain backdrops for sunrises and sunsets. I did have some nice photo expeditions nearer the ocean, in those previous and upcoming years. I have visited my daughter's place right on SF bay, and adjoining a marina and the very very long bay trail system, and got great shorebird, beach, bay, cloud and ocean photos. I did so when I lived nearer the ocean, even as a young person in New England.
But the main thing for me will be to be closer to people. Photos and music are meant to be shared. I do have lots of friends in my group, 50 miles away, but as I say: "we are everywhere, just not so many in the woods"
I joined a thread on Hacker News asking techies to come up with great solutions for seniors, not useless doodads and internet scams.
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=40951324
I very much look forward to seeing some of those become real, and the ideas I didn't share on the thread, becoming real, especially since my new son in law is a software engineer. So I had a 40 year head start. I don't keep startup hours. I spent a lot of time coming up with real practical ideas, and that may very well be the next phase of my life adventure.
I still stay in touch with my ex, solving tech problems. It's actually very often, because she is good at finding problems, and I am a problem solver. That kind of work is never boring and never done.
So, Saint Peter, don't you call me, because we've got a phone that rolls over to voicemail without ringing.
Fixed it. Don't tell him.
Cheers, everyone.
= new reply since forum marked as read