Retirement, or, What To Do With the Rest of My Life?

It's about time!! 

Finally, it's over. It was a long and strange journey with many a winding turn, but I finally made it to the end of one major phase of my life; work. 

I was able to retire from TSA this last Friday, the 14th of June, which was also Flag Day and the Army's Birthday as well as my Retirement Day. 

It was somewhat of a hassle getting to the 14th but, y'know, it was so worth it. First, the manager hassled me when I took a sick day on Thursday, the day before my retirement. They've just started delaying everyone's breaks until after 1500 and also telling us, an hour before our shift ended, that we would have "mandatory" overtime. I was fed up with the whole thing. 

I simply didn't want to work and I had the sick leave available, and I used it. So, the manager scolded me for "just burning up" my sick leave and then told me I'd need a doctor's note when I came back to work. Uh, OK.

Then the supervisor screwed up my last time sheet for my pay. So, on Friday, I had to go back to the checkpoint from the HR office a half mile away to get a corrected copy and then the supervisor had to call a manager to find out if the 'mandatory' overtime I worked on Sunday would be paid at time and a half....because I had taken a sick day the day before, on Saturday. 

Gosh, I really am gonna miss it all.

But I finally finished all my paperwork and then I got my Retirement Certificate in a touching and appropriate ceremony. The woman who was doing my out-processing paperwork slid it over to me and said, "Here, you get this certificate, too."  Aw, c'mon, you'd have shed a tear, too.

But I'm retired. I AM RETIRED. And among all the things that have changed for me now, first among them, is the concept of time.

You see, I usually watched my hours on a weekend jealously. I had X number of hours in each weekend and I felt I had to make sure I used them so that I could rest and prepare for the next week of work. I really resented having any obligations that would take away the time I had to rest. I know this sounds petty and asinine, but I really felt that I needed all those hours to rest up. 

Always hanging over my head was the knowledge that, come that next workday, I'd be at it for five days before my next weekend. It was always there, that sure knowledge that I had yet another work week to get through.

That's over. I don't have any obligations now and can rest up everyday. That is so liberating. I actually just feel better and I don't resent doing chores like I used to. 

For example, today I resolved to mow the lawn. It wasn't a problem because I knew I'd have plenty of time to rest up later on, either today or tomorrow. I could do it and it was just fine. Then, while I was watching TV I got it into my head that a walk would be a good thing to do. And so I did!!

I walked for a bit over a mile. Just for the heck of it. I walked towards the Link. Along the way I passed the 'Boo Radley House', a semi-abandoned house. Strange place. For a while, a couple of older men slept in a tent pitched in the back yard. When I would walk by this place at night I always kept an eye out for Boo Radley. You never know, right?

I got to the intersection of Othello and MLK and walked down to the North end of the station to get this shot. Ah, the Link. What a blessing it was for me. I figure riding the link saved me nearly $1400 a year in gas and parking. Love the Link. Love taking a walk. 

Finally, walking back along MLK I passed the New Holly Housing. It was a beautiful Spring day in Seattle. It was such a nice day it even made this stretch of MLK look good.

But, the bottom line you see, the thing is, I walked!! I took a walk with my camera and, as a treat, bought myself a Hershey Bar with Almonds. Mmmmm

Time is available and I am enjoying using it. It is wonderful not having to worry about returning to work. Every day is Saturday and I am enjoying it.

The other thing that's changed is that I no longer have an obligation to my back. I really appreciate the safeguards that were available to me that allowed me to continue to work while injured. For a while, just getting to work was painful let alone having to be on my feet for all that time. OSHA and TSA allowed me to work with limitations and I appreciated that. 

Consequently, because I was being given this opportunity to keep working, I made it my purpose to not re-injure myself. I practiced safe lifting and watched how much I lifted. I really worked at protecting my back at home and at work.

 Now that I am no longer working, I don't have to worry about my back anymore. I mean, I can try things I wouldn't before because if I reinjure myself, the burden is on me. That's liberating, too!! I actually feel better not having to go to work or worry about my back while at work.

I am looking forward to enjoying my retirement. I am feeling up to the task of finding something to do each day. 

Life is good.

Spring Time In Columbia City

Got my Spring Cleaning done and this afternoon Happy and I answered the call of the sun and went for a walk. 

I had to cash a check so I decided we'd do that then come back and walk around Columbia City.

It's Spring and so my attention was drawn to the flowers. And there were plenty of them along my little walk. Happy was jumping around like crazy....he hasn't been on a walk for a while.

I'm practicing being retired so I paid no attention to the time. 

Time?  What's that?

One store had some fresh cut roses set out for sale.

Then there's the street art, aka posters.

And of course the beautiful old architecture.

I've always enjoyed looking at this old beauty. Here she is from the other side.

This old theater used to be a Masonic Lodge. They renovated it and divided the building into three small theaters. When I first went there it was really rough as they were just starting the remodeling.

Speaking of architecture, here's another old beauty. A Starbucks downstairs and apartments upstairs. Looks inviting, doesn't it?

Oh, yeah, it's Springtime!! They've set up the tables on the sidewalk and people are eating their fancy food and drinking their expensive drinks outdoors...al fresco, ya'll!!

Hey!! See!! There's some blue skies!!

Hooah!!

Saw this mural depicting the history of Columbia City, Incorporated 1898, up to the present.

I didn't get them all, I think this is the Psychedelic Phase...

Then, along the same wall was this interesting tableau...

No apparent reason for taking it other than I thought it looked interesting.

Then some flowers in the neighborhood...

Love Spring. In fact, my favorite seasons are the transitional seasons; Spring and Autumn.

El Puerco Lioran

Lunch downtown on another beautiful (almost) Spring day in Seattle. If I'm heading downtown then that means....The Link!! 

I was heading to El Puerco Lioran....another restaurant that Michelle and Matt sent me a Christmas gift coupon for. 

Woo, woo!!

From the Westlake Link Terminal, I crossed over on 3rd Ave to Pike Street and then went West on Pike. 

Along the way I got to stop and appreciate the juxtaposition of old and new along the streets. 

And, then, there it was....The Public Market. I appreciate how they've kept the original architecture, the lay out of the market.

The restaurant I was heading for was behind the Market on Western.

But I couldn't resist taking a short walk through and seeing the colors and sights....don't get the wrong impression that the Market wasn't busy by this picture. It was a rare moment when no one was at the counter is all. What a riot of color, eh?

Coming out the back of the Market, and several floors lower, I ran into one of Seattle's Famous Pigs. Since I was headed to El Puerco Lioran (The Pig Lioran), I thought it appropriate to get a picture of one of them in its natural habitat.

After some confusion and walking around looking for a street number, I figured out where the restaurant was....somewhere down there!!

A couple flights down and, viola!! There it was...

El Puerco Lioran!!

I haven't figured out why he's crying...

 

This was the best part of the restaurant...the decorations, the tables, the whole thing together. Here's what you see when you walk in through the screen door.

A long shot of the restaurant. You order and then pick up your food at the counter on the right. It's not fancy and they let you bus your own table at the end...ain't that special!?!

When Mike arrived, we went to the menu board and batted around some thoughts of what to order. I got the #1, Taquitos Asada with a side of tamales and Mike got the #8, Carne Asada. I sorta wish I'd gotten that one, too. It was a large chunk of beef!

We ate over near the windows looking out onto the steps. Kinda cool, eh?

Genuine Mexican Metal Card Tables!! And they put the silverware in a can on the table along with the napkins and hot sauce.

Here's my Taquitos Asada con tamales...

The food was good and we both enjoyed our meals.

But for me, I enjoyed the chairs, tables and the way the restaurant was decorated much more.

Mike waiting whilst I got me some pictures.

They had a lot of odd things hanging from the ceiling...

And on the walls...

Plus these two characters...former waiters, I think.

  

Wouldn't be Seattle without a large beer selection...this one seemed more Mexican than Northwest.

And, since it was The Pig Lioran and this is Seattle, they had their own collection of Pigs on display on the counter.

 After a good lunch, we took a walk through the Market.

Some things never change, do they? And, y'know, sometimes it is for the better.

Fresh fruit...

and flowers...

 

Along with some fish.

 

It's a winning combination.

Then, as we walked down we saw some.....blue skies!!!

It's another beautiful Seattle sunshiny day.

Walking back to the Link, I was thinking of all the restaurants I'd seen and how I'd like to try them all. I was struck by this one, it was in a series of three food wagons. Interesting idea for selling subs.

Street scene as the weather switches back to cloudy and overcast.

But the Ol' Sun pulled out when I was heading back home. The Link Station at Othello.

Again, another good day. Thanks Michelle and Matt. I'd never have found this place on my own.

Muchas gracias.