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What We Are UP To: The Reentry Edition

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long bridge to reentry into paradise

Thank you so much for being patient the past few weeks. Like many people, we’ve been busy with vaccinations and thinking about reentry! While we’ve been waiting for this moment for a while, it’s possible that on some level, reentry could actually be more challenging that sheltering. Here’s what we’ve been up to:

Watching | Falcon and the Winter Soldier

> Regular readers of Unretirement Project know we’re Marvel fans. We finished watching WandaVision recently and just started on this new show. However, we do have a tough decision to make with our reentry: when will we feel comfortable going to a movie theater? There are lots of exciting movies coming out in the months to come.

Reading | The Stand

> I’m not a big horror fan, but I do love Stephen King’s writing. Since the pandemic started, people have been talking about “The Stand” and I had never read it. Finally got my hands on a copy. It’s the “uncut” version – 1308 pages! So far, it’s off to a good start but I have a lot more pages to go. Something tells me that I’ll be well into reentry before I finish this one.

Remembering | The “next normal” is what we make it

> I keep reminding myself that returning to normal doesn’t necessarily mean a return to everything we used to do. We’ve developed some good habits over the past year that we want to keep. And we’ve gotten rid of some old habits that we don’t want to start again.

Working On | Vacation plans

> Like many of you, we’ve had several vacations cancelled over the past year. I’m not sure if we will get a lengthy vacation in this year but we are finding that travel accommodations are in demand. We’ve looked at a few trips over the past few weeks that are marked “sold out”. It’s clear that we’re not the only ones missing travel.

Feeling | Good

> While we’re certainly not done with COVID-19, things seem to be moving in a positive direction. Vaccinations are up and cases and deaths are down in many places. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) are offering more guidance on the things we are able to do as part of our safe reentry and return to society. It’s great to be able to do more activities, but we’re playing it cautious.

Planning | A day trip

> As part of our reentry, we’re planning a few day trips. Gainesville is a small city, so we’ve decided to drive to a larger city (like Orlando or Tampa) to run some errands. It’s a good way to get our car on the open highway and when we’re ready to come home…we can. There’s also a terrific barbecue place right outside the city, so we can stop for some takeout on the way back home.

Loving | Nail Oil Pens

> One of the habits that I started during the pandemic was using a nail oil pen on my cuticles. I haven’t been going for manicures and my nails were quite a mess. I read somewhere about a writer who kept a nail oil pen on their desk and used it every morning. So, I decided to give it a try. Very easy habit to develop and it really makes a difference! While I’m looking forward to manicures as part of my reentry, I will not be abandoning this new habit.

Geeking | Spaceship Earth speaker holder

> If you have an Amazon Echo dot or a Google Mini Nest, this holder is so cool! It’s a 3D printed copy of Disney’s Spaceship Earth, the iconic ride at the entrance to EPCOT. The dot/Nest sits on top, and it has a port for the cords to come out the back. Fun for kids and adult kids alike. 

What’s UP with you? Let us know what you have planned for your reentry!

What We Are UP To: Researching Edition

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business sign analyze researching

As vaccine eligibility continues to expand, we find ourselves researching about vaccines and what we can do once we (finally!) get the vaccine. It’s exciting because it means we might be able to be more mobile by summer. But it’s also important to be careful. There’s so much information! And it’s changing on a regular basis. That’s not bad. As we learn more about COVID, we can and should expect new guidance. However, as we’re researching, we are trying to find some time for fun.

Feeling | Hopeful

> I’m sure that we’re not alone that we get closer to receiving the vaccine, we’re getting more hopeful about the things we might be able to do. Like eat in a restaurant. Or travel. It’s nice to be talking about plans for the future.

Watching | Sherlock

> We started watching this BBC television show starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman years ago, but we hadn’t seen Season 4. So, we watched the entire series from start to date. It was great! Love the way that Holmes and Watson go about researching their cases.

Reading | About Medicare

> I’ve listened to some webinars about Medicare before, but it’s time for us to start researching in-depth about what options are available. And what might be best for our situation. I found an older book called (don’t laugh) “Medicare for Dummies”. The book does a good job of explaining the complexities of Medicare in casual conversational language. I’m only a few chapters in and can tell it’s going to take some time to digest all of this.

Working On | Air Fryer Recipes

> When we lived in South Florida, one of the food items that we were able to regularly enjoy were guava and cheese pastelitos. Living in North Florida, we haven’t really been able to find them, so we’ve decided to try to make them at home. I’ve been researching recipes that will allow me to use our air fryer. Wish us luck! I’m confident they will not be as good as the ones we had in South Florida, but hopefully they will be good enough.

Loving | Everlane

> I have been researching a clothing company called Everlane for quite some time. They’re known for selling basic pieces like jeans, t-shirts, etc. You know, the pieces that all of us probably have in our closet. What attracted me to them is that they partner with ethical factories around the globe, and they disclose the actual cost of every item. I bought a couple of items recently and am impressed with the quality.

Geeking | WandaVision

> We are really looking forward to the Disney+ series WandaVision. That being said, we’re also getting ready for all of the research we’re going to have to do after each episode. LOL! To get us reacquainted with the Scarlett Witch, we’ve planned an Avengers movie marathon.

Planning | Re-entry

> While staying at home has been hard, I do wonder if starting to do things again will be even harder. We’re calling it our “re-entry”. ha.ha. What can we do? What should wait a little longer? We’ve been spending time discussing our comfort level for certain activities. Honestly, I don’t know that we will simply start doing all the things we’ve done prior to COVID.

Remembering | 2020

> As much as we’re looking forward to vaccines and everything that we’ll be able to do this summer, we’re also reminded of the pain and hurt that COVID has caused. This virus isn’t going to go away overnight, and we need to remember that masks, hand washing, and distancing are still important. They will be for some time.

What’s UP with you? Stay safe!

What We Are UP To: Winter Rituals Edition

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winter snowflake painted on a winter window

This is always the time of year when we’re thinking about goals and resolutions. But I’m wondering if instead of making resolutions this winter, would it make more sense to develop rituals. You know, like a morning ritual or evening ritual. Maybe even rituals by season? I saw this article on The Everygirl blog titled “10 Rituals I’ll Be Using to Stay Healthy During the Holidays” and it made me think that rituals could give us something to look forward to. Here’s what else we’re looking forward to this month. 

Watching | Netflix

> After ditching traditional cable, we’ve decided to check out what Netflix has to offer. I’ve heard nothing but good things about “The Queen’s Gambit” and “Bridgerton”. If you have a Netflix favorite, be sure to drop it in the comments. 

Reading | Annual Credit Reports

> The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) requires each of the nationwide credit reporting companies – Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion – to provide you with a free copy of your credit report, at your request, once every 12 months. I’ve set up a reminder to do this every winter. I guess you could call it a winter ritual. 

Remembering | Seinfeld Strategy

> I recently wrote a post about the Seinfeld Strategy and how to use it as a way to develop a new habit. On some level, I view rituals as habits. Like remembering to floss every day. Whether you’re setting a goal, making a resolution, developing a habit, or creating a winter ritual, the Seinfeld Strategy can help you stick to it.  

Working On | Our backyard

> We’ve been living in our new home for a little over a year. When we first moved in, it was really tempting to look at new furniture. Especially for the backyard. But we said that we wanted to live in the house for a while to get some sense of what we would use. It was a good decision. We bought a couple of things over the holidays and they’re not at all what we were originally looking at. 

Feeling | Stressed

> I’d like to think that regardless of your politics, we can agree the past few months have been more than a little stressful. And I’m not sure that is going away anytime soon. That being said, a certain amount of stress can be good for us. There are also ways to manage stress this winter. I came across this article in Lifehacker titled “Exercise is Stress Relief So You Should Probably Go Exercise Right Now”. Besides the title making me laugh, it reminded me that taking time for ourselves should always be a part of our rituals. 

Planning | Eating Better

> Honestly, eating better is always on my to-do list. Somedays I’m really great at it. Other days, I’m not. Part of the challenge right now is the pandemic. We love picking up fresh fruits and vegetables. But that means visiting groceries and markets more often. We’re trying to conserve our trips. So, I’m trying to figure out what to do with frozen fruits and veggies. 

Loving | Peakay Silver

> Speaking of the pandemic, one of the things that’s a PITA is trying to get your mask on/off with hoop or dangling earrings. And unfortunately, I don’t own a lot of small earrings. So, I picked up a pair of little heart earrings from Peakay Silver. Gorgeous! Excellent quality.

Geeking | Hot Cocoa Bombs

> Have you seen these? They are chocolate orbs filled with hot cocoa mix and marshmallows (sometimes other treats are added). You put them in a mug and pour warm milk over them. Viola! The orb opens up and you have hot cocoa. The “bombs” are beautiful to look at. The presentation is fun. And they taste good. If you’re looking for a little something to break up your winter routine…this might be it.

We hope you’re staying safe and warm this winter. What’s UP with you? Tell us your winter routines!

What We Are UP To: Happy Holidays Edition

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festive lights on palm trees for the holidays

Watching | Wonder Woman

> We decided to take a break watching holiday movies to rewatch the first Wonder Woman and then see Wonder Woman 1984. Keith and I do miss seeing movies on the big screen, but until things are safer, movies at home will have to do. I’m not going to give away any spoilers, but if you enjoyed the first one then I think you’ll like WW84.  

Reading | The Hustle          

> I’ve become a big fan of curated newsletters. My latest find is The Hustle. I like it for a couple of reasons. First, it curates the latest business news and I believe it’s important to stay on top of what’s happening in the business world. But the second reason is because it gives me some perspective on what other people feel is “news”. It’s easy to fall into an echo chamber and miss out on what others find noteworthy. Check it out.

Remembering | Quiet

> One of the things we love about our neighborhood is how quiet it is…well, at least until recently. This is a fairly new subdivision, and the builder has started construction on a couple new homes near us. Nothing like being awaken at 5a to the sound of cement trucks. ha.ha. The sad news is we’ll be living with some noise for the next few months. The good news is when it’s done…it’s done.

Working On | Rain Barrel

> The county we live in is very eco-friendly and they are encouraging residents to use rain barrels. So, we got one. We’ve never had a rain barrel before. This will be a new adventure for us. Hopefully we will see some positive results, not only for us individually but the county.

Feeling | Patient

> As much as I would like to wake up after the holidays and have the pandemic be gone, that’s not going to happen. There’s a lot that needs to take place. COVID-19 is only one of the issues we’re facing. It’s really tough and challenging but I know that patience is what’s needed. Oh, and don’t misinterpret patience for “not doing anything”. Being patient and working hard will help us achieve our goals.

Planning | Fewer errands and trips

> We’re all reading the same headlines. COVID-19 cases are spiking around the nation. We’re encouraged by the vaccine news but until more definite plans are in place, we’ve decided to curtail our errands and trips outside the house. The good news is that many businesses are being very accommodating to remote customers, especially during the holiday season.

Loving | Soup Season

> The cooler temperatures have arrived in North Florida and that means soup season. Last year, I discovered some soup mixes on the King Arthur Baking site. Easy to make and very tasty! We also made one of our favorite meals using leftover Thanksgiving turkey. It’s a pressure cooker chicken turkey, lentil, and bacon stew.

Geeking | YouTube TV

> We got a little frustrated with our cable provider and decided to see what other options are available. This isn’t the first time we’ve discussed “cutting the cord” but it is the first time we found something that actually suits our television watching needs. YouTube TV offers the channels we enjoy watching at a reasonable monthly fee. You can record programs. And you can cancel at any time.

What’s UP with you? This holiday season, Keith and I are thankful for our health and each other. We appreciate you taking the time to read and comment on Unretirement Project.

Happy 2021!

What We Are UP To: Breaking Tradition Edition

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scarecrow flower art that is breaking with tradition

One of my Facebook friends recently asked what people were doing for the Thanksgiving holiday. Someone responded by saying since they’re not having a large holiday gathering, that they took a vote and are having pizza for Thanksgiving dinner. I love it! I know that things aren’t ideal right now and there are many things we would rather be doing. But we have to think about our health and safety. That doesn’t mean we can’t have some fun by completely breaking the traditions we’ve adhered to in the past. Here are a few of the things that we’re up to.

Feeling | Grateful

> Despite all of my grumbling about the pandemic, I’m very grateful to have my health, family, and work. I’m grateful for a nice home and plenty of food. I hope that during the Thanksgiving holiday, we don’t break the tradition of taking a moment to remember what we’re thankful for. 

Remembering | The importance of face masks

> I’m confident that I’m not the only person who is tired of the pandemic and the masks, sheltering, etc. But that doesn’t mean I’m going to stop doing my part. While it does mean that we won’t be able to do some of the things that we’ve enjoyed in past holidays, staying safe and healthy is most important. Keep wearing those masks!

Planning | When to put up the Christmas tree

> We have friends who have already put up their Christmas tree. You might be one of those people too. And we totally get the reasons why. Typically, we wait until December, but we’ve been wondering if breaking the tradition in 2020 would be the right thing to do. I can’t help but think I’m cheating the Thanksgiving holiday. Maybe that’s okay this year.   

Watching | Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 1 & 2

> One tradition we will not be breaking is related to birthdays. My birthday is this month and we always watch the birthday person’s favorite movie. Mine is Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy. I love the soundtrack and the superhero fun. 

Working On | Our annual strategy meeting

> We typically try to get away once a year to set goals for our personal and professional lives. We call it our annual strategy session. Earlier this year, we were planning a trip to discuss goals and COVID-19 got in the way so we had the session at home. It worked well so we decided that we will be permanently breaking the tradition of offsite strategy sessions. 

Reading | Further

> Brian Clark is the founder of Copyblogger, a community dedicated to all things related to content marketing. I’ve been a big fan for years. He recently launched a once-a-week electronic newsletter called Further, focused on aging and finding ourselves as we age. I love the writing style and suggestions. Speaking of goals, one of his recent newsletters was about breaking the tradition of starting new goals in January. Why not just start them now?! 

Loving | David’s Teas

> When I’m regularly traveling, I love stopping in a coffee shop to try the seasonal teas. Pumpkin Spice Latte? I’m there! With the pandemic, I’ve been ordering some seasonal teas from David’s Tea. Some of my new favorites include maple oolong and sweet potato pie. 

Geeking | Jeff Granito Designs

> We’ve taken a fancy to tiki art. Our new favorite designer is Jeff Granito. Jeff has worked with companies like Disney, DC Comics, Sesame Street, and more. If you’re looking to add some tiki to your winter holiday season (and who wouldn’t?), check out his site for mugs, shirts, face masks, and more. 

What’s UP with you? Keith and I wish you the best of health and happiness. Thank you for reading Unretirement Project.

Image captured by Sharlyn Lauby long before the pandemic at the Conservatory & Botanical Gardens of the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas, NV

What We Are UP To: Halloween Edition

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halloween yard flamingo skeletons

Fall is our favorite time of year. We’ve always enjoyed Halloween, even though we don’t dress up anymore. But it’s sad to say that this Halloween is going to be different, with the pandemic and all. That being said, we’re trying to still get into the “spirit” of the season. LOL!

Watching | Lucifer

> A couple of years ago, we started watching this show about the devil taking a vacation in Los Angeles and becoming the civilian consultant to the local police department. Then our relocation interrupted things. So, we’ve started watching it all over again. It’s a fun premise and not too heavy on theology. And it’s kinda neat watching it during the Halloween season. 

Loving | Pumpkin Spice

> One of the things that I love about Halloween is pumpkin spice everything. I’ve always loved pumpkin and now that retailers offer limited edition pumpkin spice flavors, I’m in heaven. Besides grabbing a pumpkin spice latte at Starbucks, I try to catch pumpkintopia at our local Trader Joe’s. Their pumpkin bisque is wonderful!

Remembering | Trick-or-Treating

> We’ve made the difficult decision not to participate in Halloween this year. Oh sure, we’re decorating the house for ourselves and indulging in all things pumpkin spice, but we’re not handing out candies. As much as we love seeing kids in costumes, we agree with the Centers for Disease Control that finding an alternative to Halloween might be the best thing to do this year. 

Feeling | Cautious

> We’re starting to hear more people in the science community talk about learning to “live with” COVID-19 – not in terms of contracting the virus, but in being able to carve out some sense of a new normal. Keith and I are still being cautious, but we did venture out recently and went to the Apple Store. It was our first trip to a non-grocery store since February. They did a great job. Took our temperature, everyone wore masks, and practiced distancing. We were cautious and comfortable.  

Reading | Compromised: Counterintelligence and the Threat of Donald J. Trump

> There are lots of books out there right now about the current President. Almost too many. Being a politics and news junkie, I decided that I would read only one. So, I chose “Compromised” by former FBI Deputy Assistant Director of Counterintelligence Peter Strzok. The book is very interesting, but I do feel the title is a bit misleading. To me, the book spends more time talking about how the FBI works and the nuances of counterintelligence than really the current political environment. While the book isn’t what I expected, I am finding it insightful. 

Planning | My Vote

> My parents always told me about the importance of voting, but it wasn’t until I met someone from South Africa that it really hit home. Every election cycle, she would get the word out about registering to vote and participating in the process. Why? Because she knew what it was like to have her vote taken away. It’s not too late to make your plan. The next election is November 3, 2020 – three days after Halloween. 

Working On | Computer backups

> We all know that backing up our devices is important. What’s equally important is cleaning out those old backups every once in a while. LOL! We’re making sure that we delete those old files so we don’t max out storage…and end up spending more on storage plans than we need to. 

Geeking | BYGGLEK storage

> IKEA and LEGO have teamed up to provide a storage solution for your LEGOs. The BYGGLEK collection offers different size boxes that you can store LEGOs inside and even create a little LEGO scene on top. A couple of months ago, I purchased the monster sized LEGO pirate ship, and this will be a perfect option to store some of the pieces. 

Let us know what you love about the fall season. What’s UP with you?