It’s February and around now many folks are taking stock of how they are doing on their new year’s resolution, celebrating their successes or re-evaluating their goals. Not me. I’m just getting around to making mine.
Clearing the winter funk from my demeanor is taking me a while longer this go around. As I have said before, since retiring I don’t have enough time to do all the things that I need, want or have to do and the list of these things continues to grow. So after taking all of January to ponder what I want to resolve for this new year, I have finally come up with one resolution and it is an all encompassing one, if I do say so myself. So here it is: Get off my…..as I was saying, and start doing things, all the things on my metaphorical list.
It seems that I am spending too much time thinking about what I could be doing and not enough time doing anything.
I have a routine (rut) that centers on some weekly jams and rehearsals and coordinates with my exercise schedule and dog walks. I can and do usually play 5-6 times a week from Monday thru Thursday and faithfully walk / exercise 4 to 5 times a week.
Here’s the rub. That is all I have been doing. My garden is suffering with no winter vegetables. My motorhome is sitting in the driveway. I did get off my…..as they say, and made ten gallons of beer before Christmas but that is my only deviation from the routine.
So my new year’s resolution, that I am kicking into gear a month late, is to start doing some of the things on my retirement activity list while keeping up with the important things from my routine.
For instance, I have already missed two great opportunities this year. The first one was that I didn’t get to the Great 48 and the other is I also missed the Portland Old Time Festival. I probably couldn’t have made both but I could’ve gotten off of my…..as they say, and made one of them.
Anyway that’s my deal going forward. I’m already booked for Walker Creek Music Camp and will be going up in my motorhome. I’ve volunteered to help facilitate (play bass) in some of the scheduled jams and I’ll be setting up my propane lava ring to host some jams there. I also have my electric only campsite reservation for FDF this year. I’m looking forward to finding more challenging jam opportunities in bluegrass, old time or other styles with high hopes and a few feelers out.
Our motorhome trip to the beach north of San Diego at the end of April is a go. Linda and I will be touring down the coast with our axes and our dogs to get down to see our grandson and play some music for him at the beach.
Continuing my quest to get off my…..as they say, I’m planning on expanding my summer garden this year and will begin the process at the end of this month, El Niño willing. I’m also staging another 5 or 10 gallons of beer in my garage brewery for brewing in mid march before it gets too hot to ferment.
Oh yeah, I have some writing projects queued up to start also. So hang with me. If you see me sometime, ask how I’m doing on keeping my resolution, as I won’t risk boring you with another monthly column on it anytime soon.
I know it’s hard to believe but I didn’t mention tequila or woodshedding this month…….or did I?
Catch you next month.
