Back To Work In Year Seven

Almost time for going back to work for the summer. It’s been nice to have nearly 7 months off, and now I’ll have 6 and a half months of labor before the next break. My boss called today and gave me some of the particulars for this season at the campgrounds. My first day back will be the 10th of April; giving me only 2 days to get organized, clean up the 2 campgrounds, get 10 restrooms cleaned up and stocked with toilet paper, move the 400 pound picnic tables to their proper placements, rake out 34 campsites, empty garbage cans, blow off the roads and driveways, unload the firewood and cover it with a tarp, sweep out the bear boxes, clean out 34 fire-pits, pick up branches and logs from campsites, and more. Can’t be done, even with the help of a couple maintenance guys (who are usually lazy as can be). So, I’ll be playing catchup for the first few weeks. I’m only given 6 hours of paid time per day for the first few weeks, too. But at least I’ll be able to ease into the workload somewhat, since I have no plans to work any hours for free. My body is out of shape and overweight after 7 months off, though I have done a lot of hiking over the winter. If I don’t injure myself, I should be in great shape and 25+ pound lighter by November. I’ll do the usual 5-7 miles per day and only 1 daily meal, so the fitness and weight loss should come quickly.

I have a doctor’s appointment tomorrow, to check all my vitals, and run some tests for heart disease and plaque in my arteries. My cholesterol has been high this winter, for the first time in my life. So I’m playing it safe, by having medical tests done. EKG’s and ultrasound, plus a couple others. Can’t let my health get too critical, like some of my friends have done and died of early heart attacks as a result. My neck has really bothered me lately, but that might be from too many hours in bed and reading. I’m hoping the pain will go away with more activity and better fitness.

I traveled much less this winter, spending most of my time in Ventura. I did go for a couple weeks in Yuma, until the temps got uncomfortably warm. 4 days in Las Vegas, too. One day in Los Algodones, Mexico was enough. Yuma was fun but Vegas was a downer. Things have gotten a lot more expensive and too many crowds wore me out. I haven’t been social or even that interested in people-watching, so Vegas had little draw on me this year. Usually I’ll spend time in the desert, away from folks. But the Ajo area is overrun with illegal aliens, so not safe at all. And I was late arriving in Arizona and Nevada, so it was getting uncomfortably warm in the areas around Quartzsite, Boulder, and Laughlin. Money was tight, so I didn’t want to do much exploring anyway. Lake Isabella is a higher elevation desert and pretty, but it was actually too cold to stay there. Maybe next winter, I’ll do more traveling. But will have to save plenty of money for that.

I got a notification yesterday that I qualify for a senior housing complex in Salem, Oregon. The location is good and bad. Close to plenty of stores and restaurants. Near a freeway interchange, for quick traveling on I-5 north and south. The rent on a one bedroom apartment would be 30% of my income. The wait time is 2-3 years. Say 2 and a half years from now until I could move in, I would have 3 more summers for saving money and would be 65 by then. After paying rent and Medicare, my remaining SS would be around $800 per month for all other expenses. Food, insurance, utilities, cellphone, dental, optical, entertainment, gas and other vehicle expenses, eating out, etc. It would be a tight budget, and even more difficult if I did much traveling. Saving would be hard to do. I could take a part-time job; like janitorial, Walmart worker, fast food. But couldn’t earn too much or I would lose my apartment. I am going to sign up for the waiting list, just in case my health gets bad by then or I really want to retire. Waiting until 70 makes more sense, if I can make it until then. That would add $600 more per month, and my budget wouldn’t be as tight. I’ll see. The area the senior complex is in is a bit sketchy, as far as crime goes. Vehicle thefts and property crimes are common, though apartment buildings for 62 and older are less likely to be hit. I would rather be downtown. There is a tall brick building for seniors down there that I really like. Slightly more expensive, but quite deluxe and safe. A few other places near there are also desirable. I plan to sign up for waiting lists in Eugene, Albany, and the Oregon coast; so I’ll have more choices and flexibility. Most of those lists have a 7 year wait time, which puts me close to age 70.

I’ve done very little writing on this blog this winter, maybe 10-12 posts? This is just a diary for me now. My writing on Quora is much more extensive and covers a wide variety of subjects. A lot of readers follow me there and millions have seen my posts. Someday, I may save all my writings that are on WordPress onto a hard drive or other storage, and delete this account. I’m not to that point yet, but could see that happening. WordPress isn’t doing that well and may shut down anyway. If I do retire and remain stationary, there may no longer be much for me to write about. What would be the point, keeping track of my bowel movements or the weather? I will try to write more this summer, but only if it’s interesting, at least to me.