Sunday, October 13, 2013

Hello? Is there anybody in there?

Hello? 
Is there anybody in there?
Just nod if you can hear me
is there anyone home?
(Roger Waters, David Gilmour)

Remember me? The gal on a 5 year plan to retirement? The gal who thought life wouldn't start til I retired? The gal who met a life changing man named Michael?
The gal who is now on the final leg of her working career? With only 259 days left til retirement? 

Yup, that gal! That's me, Jane! 

Now that I'm into my final year of teaching Part 37A, Section 271B has kicked in. Basically - get rid of as much sh-t as I can so I don't have to move it when I sell the condo...and fix up the condo so someone will actually want to buy it. Ah yes, the final lap!

We are now surrounded with storage bins and boxes which are rapidly filling up with the detritus of the past 20 years that we've lived in this condo. Much has found its way to garage sales over the past 3-4 years, some has gone to second hand stores, some is listed on Kijiji and the rest we trip over constantly!
Shelves and cabinets are being emptied. Flooring is being ripped up - yes, we haven't always lived with plywood floors!
There are currently 15 gallons of paint in the basement waiting upon us to fill in nail holes in the walls.
There he is - wave to Michael! He's had the wonderful job of ripping up the carpet. And right now he's driving with the truck full of patio stones to our former trailer where the current owners are going to put them to use.  We are going to replace the patio stones with flagstone to upgrade our patio area. He sure got a good workout yesterday loading them into the truck!
So we are living in chaos but oddly it feels just fine. Actually it feels great to finally reach the final stages of divesting ourselves of one life and preparing for another. 
We feel we are going on an adventure and the waiting is finally over! The idea of having an adventure before us as we head toward our 60's is exciting and scary and magical!
Kazi's room - obviously we haven't started in there yet!!
It would be nice to get everything done by Christmas so we could enjoy our two week break but I think that's being a bit too optimistic. 

When I look at these photos I see so much STUFF still to deal with.  But we've made a great start! We've ordered new carpet for the upstairs bedrooms, new ceramic tile for the kitchen and bathrooms and new bamboo hardwood for the dining and living areas. We'll have professionals install the carpet and we are going to do the ceramic and hardwood ourselves with the help of experienced family members.

I hope I can get in the habit of keeping you updated on our progress but I think it's better not to make any promises :) I've been on a blogging break now since May so who knows if I'll be able to keep it up now that I'm working AND redecorating. 

My feeling is that I don't really want this to be a personal finance blog - that was never my intent but that was the habit I sort of fell into. So, I've eliminated my financial goals (which really don't change anyways) and want to focus on our day to day adventures...or maybe there won't really be a focus at all! 




16 comments:

  1. Yay! So glad to see you back! I've been sporadic about blogging lately, too. I will say it - I'm jealous. I would love to get rid of the stuff and start a new adventure. I'm so excited for you!

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  2. Oh Jane I've missed you!!! Glad you are back, and I can't believe you have LESS than a year before you get to retire! Good for you!!

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  3. Jane Woffindale-MooreOctober 13, 2013 at 8:54 PM

    I wondered where you were, thought you'd run away to PEI.
    We are beginning renovations...the time will come to sell this place and move on....things are a bit more tiring to deal with. Can't wait to see the new look!
    Janex

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  4. Hey hey, glad to see you back! Looks like you've been busy :)

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  5. I am so glad you are back and yes you have too much stuff! Get rid of most od that you will be happier. I have missed you. So excited for your future retirement.

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  6. livingrichonthecheapOctober 14, 2013 at 1:16 AM

    She's alive! So glad you checked in. How exciting- the final stretch!

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  7. Yes, I'm alive!! and busier than ever! I so missed you all!!

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  8. STUFF! it just weighs us down. I have been steadily getting rid of things but still a long way to go. I'll need lots of encouragement! I've sure missed you too!

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  9. Thanks Lena :) I've really missed blogging but it was hard to get back into it. Hope I can keep it up!

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  10. I'd love to run away to PEI but all in good time. And speaking of time - it is whizzing by quickly. It just seems like such a monumental task right now but taking one day at a time!

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  11. I've missed you too Sharon! Everyday I wonder how everyone is doing - hope I can catch up with you all!

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  12. It's going to take some careful planning to set time aside for blogging. Once out of the habit it's hard to get back into it - but I'm going to try!

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  13. Welcome back. I will chime in and say I'm so excited for you. Sure, it's a heck of a lot of work, but what an adventure waits at the end of this box-walled tunnel.

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  14. Welcome back, I love to read about your adventures.

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  15. I AM SO SO PROUD OF YOU! You came up with a plan and it is working. By sharing all of this, you give hope!

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  16. Sonya Ann!! I sure have missed your wacky sense of humour!! :)

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Thank you for your comment - it means a lot to me that you read my post and are leaving a comment - you just made my day!