Road Rules during Retirement #3

   
      You've seen the Rules 


                          now let's talk Fun.....


       
Caution: Here's my list of enjoyable things. While you read be thinking of your own list. Jot 'em down.

1. The  News...I am not as good about keeping up with current events as my parents. My folks read three newspapers a day and until 1957 several monthly magazines. I read the local newspaper daily. I watch evening entertainment TV and catch radio talk when I can.

I think we have a responsibility to keep up, especially right now. I don't suggest you believe what you read, what you see on TV or even what you hear on the radio. But I do suggest you get as much information as possible and read between the lines. It's  up to you to come to your own conclusions. Luckily, our generation was trained to think and not "feel." Use that training and act accordingly. Politics is a two way street. Speak up.

2.  Pets are just like spouses, if you don't have one, get one. Their love will help you to live longer. If you don't have a spouse and don't  plan on getting one, you need a dog or three. I'm serious. If you're not a pet lover you have no idea how much company a dog can be. They can literally chase away the blues. Trust me on this one.

I would like to plug a favorite charity here. If you're looking for a super intelligent and loving pet, please consider adopting from the   Boykin Spaniel Rescue and tell them Boykin sent you. That ought to get a chuckle out of someone. We have adopted two of these little brown dogs and thank the Lord for them. They are the most loving critters you'll ever find. Trust me I have had dogs since I was two and I've never seen anything like them. Think chocolate Cocker Spaniel that can out retrieve a lab.

3.  Photography has not only been my livelihood for the past fifteen years, but it continues to be a great creative release. I still enjoy what has become my part time profession.

4.  Writing.....O.K.... so I can't fool you. I didn't say I was good at it. I like it and have a good time with it. If I were any good I would be doing something serious like mysteries or outdoor stuff. This blog is a way to force myself to write and learn. We all need to push ourselves. If you have always wanted to play the piano, now is the time for lessons.

5.  Music....No, I don't play anything. I just appreciate good music. Music has been a big part of my life. I'm hell on rock-n-roll trivia. I try to keep up with new music coming from the areas I really enjoy and pretty much ignore the rest.


6.  Sitting in my own back yard....Every one needs a place they can go and just soak in a little nature. The closer the better. The more often the better. For me it's my back yard. The shade from the oak trees helped create a perfect coolness before a day of South Texas heat. The doves and squirrels work the fig trees and each other. I am observer in their world. The cooing of the doves and the chattering of the squirrels is like a soothing musical tonic.

             Next up....more fun ideas 
                   for your retirement...

         This story brought to you by the "usual suspects" at :




                    The Boomer Magazine


                                      and


                            John Boykin



               The Hard Hat Photographer




                        john@commimage.com