After After the Storm

After after the storm, lots of beach glass. 99.9% of our beach glass comes from beer bottles.

Enjoying the return of my brain to normal functioning. I started reading the camera instruction book today. I started with the “Introduction”. And, I intended to read every single word up until I get to the software part.

I had an fine day. But, remember, I am very easily entertained. Started out by resupplying myself for the next two months. Got toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, bath salts, Fitbit batteries – that sort of stuff. Then I took myself to breakfast. After that, I rode the bus down to the end of road and back. The bus ride took just about as long as my New Year’s Day submarine ride. The bus ride cost $120 less. And, it was just as enjoyable. As, I said, I am very easily entertained.

It is still too cold for me to go in the ocean. Even with a wetsuit. The ocean part would be OK. It is the getting out that would be too cold.

Thoughts. Carlton would say that I should “accept what happened and get on with life with no drama or hysteria.” I think I am OK with the “accept” part. And the “no drama or hysteria” part. I don’t seem to be making much progress on the “get on with life” part.

“Get on with life” – I have been doing much thinking about the old folk’s asylum. I have been toying with going on an extended asylum search. Checking out asylums in Honolulu, Seattle, Portland, and San Francisco at a minimum. But, as I mentioned the other day – Carlton was the grownup in our little family. He sort of made it clear that I should move to the asylum that we picked out.

So, now that my brain is returning – I thought about where to live and what am I going to do. First, I love my current apartment. I love the view, I love the location, and the staff is great. I would cheerfully live there as long as my body and brain hold up. But, nobody is promised tomorrow. I do not want to end up in hospital with no place to go except the only nursing home in the area that has a vacancy. (And, in our area, the nursing home that has a vacancy is the last place you want to be. It has a vacancy for a reason.)

The “continuing care retirement community” that we picked out has been in business for 50 years. It is run by the Episcopal Church. They have very nice “independent living” apartments. Sizes from studio to huge. The view are good. Just not killer like I have now. The location is OK. It it not the pedestrian friendly neighborhood that I live in now. One has to take a bus to the metro. Now, I only have to take an elevator. (I will get a car service or at least become good friends with a cab driver.) I am comfortable in Northern VA. I know how it works, where stuff is, I have a doctor, a dentist etc here.

On the plus side. My monthly cost wouldn’t increase much. Unless I get one of the hugest units. Included in my monthly cost would be maid service, all utilities, and about one meal a day. If I am gone for 7 days – then I get a reduction in monthly charges.

And, when I am no longer sound of mind and/or body. They take care of my sorry ass. They would do for me much of what I did for Carlton over the last couple of years. Except worry. I doubt they would worry about me.

So, I am thinking that with this “continuing care retirement community”, a good elder care lawyer and a trustworthy money person – and I should be good to go for the final act. These three entities can sort of watch each other if I become unable to do my own watching.

Which sort of leads to “what am I going to do”? Well, I love going places. I will continue coming to Kona in the winter. And, I’ll go on at least one “adventure” every year. When long range travel becomes too challenging – there a lots of interesting places to go in our area. And the asylum has little field trips – when I get to the point that I can not get out and about on my own.

So, just for today, I think staying the course, staying in northern Virginia makes the most sense. Subject to change, of course.