Stronger In Retirement

Today I took the bus to St Vincent de Paul's, to drop off a bag of donations but mostly to shop for suitcases and outerwear in support of SCM, taking advantage of the 99cent sale on Mondays. There was not much, possibly because I got there a couple hours after they'd opened; perhaps next Monday I'll take an earlier bus so as to get there the moment they open.

Around 4 I took the128 to the Y, but was so engrossed in my cellphone that I missed my stop, and that got me all the way to Seattle. Fortunately I could hop out at the 1st stop and take the C line back, which got me to the Y in plenty of time for the Strength And Fitness program. While the program was strenuous, it was well within my abilities and I feel confident that I am now or soon will be fitter than I was before retirement. It reminds me of what Hang (if I got the name right) said last week after class; when she turned 40, she noticed that she was feeling less strong than when she was younger, but after a regular program of exercise - and pushing herself - she was strong at age 51 than at age 40. I feel that I can be stronger this time next year than I was at the beginning of the year if I still with it, and I'm enjoying being at the Y anyway.

One of my pals on Buy Nothing was looking for a mattock - either to borrow or keep - and since my last use of my thrift store mattock was pre-pandemic, I feel comfortable letting it go. After all, if I need to use it, I can just borrow it back.

Art Near The Junction

 

I am trying to get back into the habit of posting a picture a day; this one I called "Another young couple strolling through West Seattle" although it's really some art near the Alaska Junction.

A Nice Cat Picture From The Sierra Club

Ok, it is not my original work, it's a card from the Sierra Club, but come on who could resist those expressions!

On Tuesday, I was filling out GOTV post cards (for the upcoming Wisconsin Supreme Court election). I was going through some free notecards that charities, such as the Sierra Club, send to encourage joining. I've been a member for years (probably decades) so I do not at all mind tearing off the picture so it makes a nice postcard, and using it for GOTV. I have plenty of normal "VOTE!!!" cards also, but I think people may be more likely to pay attention to more attractive cards. It is kind of unknowable.

Art by Carlos Espinoza

 I'm not sure what to do with this beautiful piece by Carlos Espanoza, but it's a gift so I want to care for it. Does it go inside or outside?

White Center Art

 

There's all sorts of art to see around here, if you just walk about

Seahawks Moon

 On my walk this morning. My younger sisters are big Seahawks fan so I thought they'd like this when I posted it on Facebook.

Me, mostly I just like the full Moon and clouds in the morning.

Shadow approves the holiday gift from our housemate

 

Shadow approves the holiday gift from our housemate! She loves snacks above all else; she is willing to tolerate having her nails trimmed so long as she is crunching on a snack. I don't know whether this is a recently acquired taste or whether she has learned that if she meows loudly enough, then I *will* respond, but either way it seems to be harmless.

I have a perfect housemate; we have separate lives and don't run into each other much, as their spot is downstairs with a separate entrance, but we help each other out as needed and are friends. A shared love of animals helps!

Shadow doesn't know all this; she just loves the snack!

Winter Grass

 After walking with Hannah and Julie this morning, I went over to the Y, where I saw this beautiful grass in its winter colors. I don't know if it's like this all year round, so let me take a photo and check in Spring.

I packed only a towel, as I am experimenting with how much I can ruck during our walks. With the towel I got a nice shower before going home. Next time I'll add a swim suit as I re-integrate the Y into my healthy life routine.

The Blue Saturn

IN THE LAST CENTURY I purchased this deep blue Saturn new from the dealer. It has been my partner in motion and helper in many a scheme.
Together we've hauled enormous quantities of stuff (5 banker's boxes n the trunk, 8 in the back seat, 3 in the passenger seat (including the legroom). tt helped me move from apartment to apartment to rental home to permanent home. In the early days of Amazon it made possible supporting myself with used book sales. More recently, it enabled me to collect coats for refugees from sources from North Bend to Kent. It made my lifestyle possible.
The Saturn and I have been together longer than me and any two of my wives. Make of that what you will.
Lately, I've been replacing things as they wore out. Water pump, starter, wiper motor. Last month, it was the switch that controls the headlights; that may sound like a small thing, but it cost over $1000 and there was some question whether we could find the part at all.
When I got the car back, the lights worked fine. However, we were hauling loads of donated coats and such to a programs that distribute them when, gradually, the Saturn began having trouble climbing hills - and Seattle has a lot of hills. Even flooring the accelerator produced speeds of 10 to 15 MPH - the tach got over 4000 but not much was getting to the wheels, in any gear.
I am told that it must be either the clutch or the transmission. Either of these is several thousand dollars to repair, and that only if the parts can be found, and who knows? perhaps both are failing. The car is four years past being old enough to vote.
I have long profited from the philosophy of "There Is No Car Like A Paid-For" but everything has its limit. It's time to let the Saturn go.
This is unfortunate, but it is also an opportunity. I will be riding the bus for a month while I research new cars, and this is pushing me to figure out ways of doing things without a car. Already I've got the bus to the Y figured out, which means no more frustration looking for a parking spot!

A car is not a living thing, so it has no feelings to consider as it moves on to the next phase of existence. However, I will miss the Blue Saturn.