Challenge(s) Accepted

Today's solo ride on the Heldeberg-Hudson Rail Trail - 20 miles, 2 hours.

 The reality of the upcoming winter has set in, and I need strategies to deal with it to keep depression at bay.  The financial reality of travel and my Mom's needs, means I won't be jetting off to warmer climates but once or twice this winter. Last winter I learned that challenges suit me well and keep me motivated. I also read an article in the Washington Post that was a study about how we are spending more time alone than ever, which is not good for mental health. And the pandemic is not to blame, just a cultural shift.

All this to say I've set myself some goals to help me endure, even enjoy, the coming 4 - 5 months. 

1) The bicycle challenge to ride at least twice every month in 2023, as well as a distance goal of a  cumulative 1000 miles. 😳

2) I want to explore Tucson AZ this winter including a ride the 40 mile bike path around the city and visit the biggest Rock and Mineral Show in the US there in Jan-Feb.

3) I have started a list of things I want to do right in this area that I am always seeing and making a mental note to do, just to have those notes disappear into the ether of my mind. Now there is an actual list on my phone that I can go to when I'm looking for a diversion.

4) Meet up with a friend or two every week I'm here this winter. My neighbor Annette and I went out to breakfast Wednesday and discovered we both need to work on winter coping strategies to get us through, so we agreed this is a good one. 

That is it so far, and there are some other nice events to look forward to as well. My daughter 😍 is coming to visit for 2 weeks in December which I am so looking forward to. 

Me and Glennie in California.

There are 2 Christmas parties on the calendar, and the monthly dinner date with friends. My bathroom project will hopefully happen in January and a friend and I booked a trip to Switzerland in June. If I just string happy events together, life will be grand and the warm weather will be back soon enough. This is my plan and I'm sticking to it. Right now, I'm off to ride my bike because it's sunny and 50 degrees today, and there will be precious few days like this for awhile.


I couldn't resist going inside the big barn on the Heldeberg-Hudson Rail Trail.

Update: Apparently that dinner with friends, usually at a restaurant, is being hosted by me - next week! So today (after the bike ride) it's full on decorating, dusting, and menu planning, not in that order. I'm glad I ordered another pencil Christmas tree for the dining room - instant ambiance!





Comments

  1. MargaretNovember 26, 2022 at 7:06 PM

    I love the systemic way you approach this. I'm much more random which reminds me that I want to arrange a couple coffee dates. And a visit out to my older daughter's while her in-laws are still here. I try to walk every day and need to start running again. I lost my mojo for a year ago and haven't gotten it back. Switzerland is such a gorgeous place; have you been before?

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Another Rainy Weekend

Image
Another rainy Saturday to contend with, so I decided on a Van Morrison playlist while I cleaned out the garage and danced and sang. My gardening supplies and planters and pots that need sorting and recycling  were cluttering up my space. They are now sorted and the garage is cleaned out for at least another week or so. I think the shed in the back yard needs to be a project to get it into a more useful state.  The amount of rain we've had is remarkable. May was one of the wettest months in eighty years and June is starting to look the same. I would rather have too much rain rather than a drought though.  After dropping around 3 inches of rain, the skies cleared up later in the afternoon. I loaded up my bike for an impromptu ride on the Electric Trail with the thought of dinner or ice cream at Samascott's.  The first of many turtles on the bike path. Now I see just how rough the path was and how I had no business riding on it.  The trail was very wet on the way s...
Read more

Summer Solstice

Image
Vroman's Nose overlooking the valley. Summer has begun! To mark the solstice, my hiking group held a picnic at the top of Vroman's Nose, which is a short little hike up a 657 foot hill. It overlooks the Schoharie Valley and has a beautiful rock 'dance floor' that easily accommodates our group of forty. The weather was a perfect 74 degrees with a breeze to keep any bugs away. A pleasant gathering on the dance floor near sunset. I drove Sue Ellen who had her gall bladder removed last week, and we hiked up with a guy who has spinal stenosis. As I listened to them discuss their ailments, I silently gave thanks for my health and thought about how 'mature' our group is becoming.  Once at the top, the party began with burgers and dogs, salads and desserts, and great conversation.  Most of our group made it into this sunset picture. Saturday started with me being woken up by my neighbors chatting down below in the street - it was garage sale day. I didn't join since...
Read more

Random Thoughts In My Little Life

Image
 The orchids I bought in February (!) catch my attention each day and I have to marvel at their longevity. Four months of continuous flowers? What other plant does this? I just may become an orchid collector. A new stem with buds is forming on one of them too! This long horn beetle was inspecting my snow peas. They have blooms, so peas are not far behind! I drove up to the Plateau to meet a friend for a paddle. The wind picked up for awhile so we got a nice upper body work out paddling into the wind. Then we just floated near the dock when the wind died down and the sun was shining.  This wetland was covered in yellow flag (iris) on the way to the Pond. Enjoying the calm water after the gusts. This is not proper paddling form, but it was so relaxing. This angle makes my kayak look tiny! Thursday was a nice dry day - perfect for lawn garden work. I'm diligently putting the plants I keep buying into the ground. I have a dozen sunflowers I grew from seed that need planting, but t...
Read more