“Cook Book of Family Favorites,” Photo by Sue Kimball
Do you have a favorite cookbook? Did you receive it as a gift? The cookbook in the photo above was a wedding present to my oldest sister by our great aunt Frieda. It is a well used and much loved book. I also received cookbooks as wedding gifts. Searchlight from maternal grandmother and Sokol from my friend Dena. I still use them from time to time. Seems we weren’t the only ones who received cookbooks as gifts when we were starting out. They became a sort of family history of recipes prepared and meals eaten together.
Last fall, I found myself in an unfamiliar and stressful family situation. This situation made me feel extremely anxious and literally scared. I was afraid I might lose my job due to debilitating anxiety. After a couple of weeks of trying to tackle the feelings alone, I called my primary care physician and a therapist. Asking for help is not something I usually do, but I did not like how I was feeling.
I received a prescription for anxiety medication from my doctor and began weekly virtual counseling sessions. Both the medication and the therapy have helped tremendously, but I believe designing and creating xeriscaping in my yard this summer also helped. As a long time gardener and landscaper, I believe dirt therapy may help people who suffer from anxiety or other mental health issues.
We’ve all heard this common phrase over the years. I hear it from my friends a lot when I preparing to hike alone or when I go to my cabin property where I have no cell service. One of the most unnerving aspects of doing these solo activities is possibly not having contact with others if I get into trouble. I recently became “better safe than sorry” by purchasing a satellite communication device, to the delight of my worried friends.
The prospect of needing medical attention or just letting someone know I’m all right created a bit of anxiety in the past. After receiving a tax refund check from the state of Colorado, I decided to lessen that anxiety by purchasing a satellite communication device. Now, with the Garmin inReach Mini ($320 from Amazon), a subscription for service and the Garmin Earthmate app, I am more confident I can reach help if I need it.
Features of inReach Mini (From Garmin.com website):
GPS
Two-way messaging
Interactive SOS alerts
Location sharing
100% global iridium satellite network
inReach weather forecast service
Compact, rugged design (only 3.5 oz)
Flexible satellite airtime plans
Cloud storage and trip planning
Battery life – up to 90 hrs (varies depending on use)
SOS Button, Photo by slc
Monthly subscription safety plans in the US are $14.95/month or for a 12 month commitment it is just $11.95/month. Not much money for peace of mind when needing off-the-grid communication. After all, it’s better to safe than sorry.
Note: I am not receiving compensation from Garmin for endorsing this satellite communication device. It is just something I have purchased for myself and believe it may help others on their adventures.
August 22, 2022 was a special day personally and for LivingLifeRetired.com (LLR). We both had birthdays. I turned 63 years old and LLR turned 6. I celebrated this special day at my cabin property in Glen Haven, CO and it included several firsts.
First, I had a fire in the new fire pit. Despite the county fire ban in place, a small fire burned just enough to heat up a couple of brats and some beans. There is something to be said for cooking on an open fire. Is it the fire or the natural outdoor environment you’re cooking in? Either way, it just makes everything taste better.
Shooting tin cans, Photo by slc
The second first occurred when I loaded and fired the Glock 19 BB gun I purchased for target practice and to use on wildlife, if needed. Empty tin cans provided a fun shooting range for target practice. After only a couple of tries, I was able to hit several cans. It made me feel like a kid at the fair trying to win a prize.
Lastly, the third first was a really BIG deal. I stayed overnight in my “she shed” for the first time and I survived to tell about it. I have owned this cabin property for five years and had never stayed overnight. It was past time to try it out.
Antique bed in she shed, Photo by slc
While the shed’s interior isn’t finished yet, I had the near comforts of home: an antique twin bed with an inflatable mattress to sleep on, water to drink, food cooked on the open fire, music from the radio, a lantern, a bucket to pee in during the night, plenty of blankets, and my small dog, Goldi. While I didn’t sleep at all, mostly due to the bed’s slats falling down off the bed rails when I moved, I “woke” to a beautiful and peaceful 50 degree morning.
Then, I let Goldi out and I got dressed quickly. I could not wait to get outside to explore and photograph the awakening light spreading across Crosier Mountain. After several wild turkeys surveyed the property, I devoured the thick and gooey cinnamon roll (my birthday cake) I purchased the evening before at the Glen Haven General Store. I paired it with a cup of Earl Grey tea I made from the thermos of hot water I brought from home.
Reflecting back on the purchase of the cabin property five years ago, I am reminded of how blessed I am to have such a great place to explore, write, and hone some of my design and building skills. I also look back on the six years I’ve been dabbling with the LLR blog site. I hope and pray I can continue to have adventures to inspire you and more firsts to inform you. At the beginning of LLR, I said I wanted to create a community of solo retirees who can inspire and inform one another. I know I can with your support.
