Back in the Desert

I am extremely happy. 

Part of the malaise of COVID is the inactivity, and the fear that one will never be able to do things again.  I guess I needed to show myself that I could be my usual decisive self.  And I did.  First of all, I actually retired.  It finally seemed like the right thing to do.  I will be 75 years old this year, and will shortly have been at the organization for 25 years.  It seemed like the numbers were aligning in my favour.  Then, there were considerable changes in law and policy, and in COVID world, without meetings and available colleagues, it was too much like work to try to assimilate them, particularly since the amount of work I have been getting makes it hardly seem worth the effort.  So, I retired as of February 1.  The boss rewarded me with the nicest going away letter I have seen in my 25 years, so even without an official sendoff, I felt valued - more than I have in a long time, actually...

And then I decided to go down to the Desert, in a better-late-than-never bid for some warmth and sunshine, and, more importantly, to get the COVID vaccine.  It is readily available to anyone my age, whereas the lack of vaccine in Canada would mean I likely wouldn't get vaccinated until July, at the earliest.  The trip from Vancouver to Palm Springs is one that I have done many, many times before; nonetheless, it took some doing to overcome the above-mentioned malaise and put all the moving parts together.  

I am here to tell you that it can be done.  I got the plane reservation.  I got everyone organized to take care of outstanding matters in Vancouver.  I got John on board to drive me to the airport in Vancouver, and my Palm Springs John to pick me up at the other end.  I got the required COVID test scheduled within 48 hours of departure.  And the trip was smooth sailing (so to speak) all the way.  Nonetheless, by the time I got to Palm Springs, I was exhausted; I could barely speak.  Overstimulation, maybe - I saw more people on the one day of travel than I have in 11 months!!!

I can't tell you how happy I am to be here.  I got the first vaccine within 4 days of my arrival, and have a scheduled date for the second.  The sun is shining and it is warm.  The pools in my complex are open.  And because everyone I know has had one or both shots, there is more comfort seeing one another - on patios, because it is warm enough to sit on them, and with masks and distancing, but still.....

As you can see, I am back walking, but instead of walking the hallways of my building, I am in the great outdoors.

More pictures and raves later.  But just in case, in the rush to get away I forgot to call and say I was leaving, I wanted to let you all know that I am alive and very, very well.