You have to maintain balance in life. You work hard and you retire harder, regardless of whether you’re stuck at home or out seeing the world. I enjoy my time as a homebody, but it has to be balanced with enrichment. For example, if you spend the whole week watching all those classic Western movies that you missed because of school and work, you need to turn to the Hallmark Channel for a few love stories. All that gunfire and killing can throw your emotions out of balance, just as too much lovey-dovey can turn you soft. As you balance the tires on your car, where the key is rotation, maintain such balance in your life.

Curse of Oak Island keeps my treasure hunting juices flowing while Ken Burns gives me history lessons. I can also imagine life as a Knight’s Templar, Cowboy, Russian Spy, Mobster, Viking, Pawn Star, Bastard King, or Spartan in my daily television “continuing education” classes. I will soon have my TV Masters Degrees in history and geography, while improving my language skills through closed captioning. It all keeps my nightly dreams well-balanced and interesting. Sex education is another side benefit.

I was inspired today by the National Geographic documentary Free Solo, about one man’s quest to conquer the steep cliffs of Yosimite’s El Capitan without a safety net of any kind. The granite monolith wall is about 3,000 feet straight up and certain death if you fall. In June of 2017, Alex Honnold completed the first solo climb without protective equipment. Historically, it’s claimed over thirty lives between 1905 and 1918, and therefore not on my list of potential conquests. Watching his Spiderman-like moves took my breath away even though I knew the outcome. I have trouble climbing a step-ladder, even with someone supporting my ankles. You won’t find this, hang-gliding, bungee jumping, or parachuting anywhere on my bucket list.

It was also a dramatic viewing swing this afternoon from The Magnificent Seven and The Wild Bunch, as Western Week continues. (See Post #856). Some Spring Training baseball and a few Hallmark Moments gave the day additional balance. Tonight, my wife and I will continue watching the comedy series, Schitts Creek, for a few laughs. I did run a 5k first thing this morning, so sitting on my butt pretending to be a couch potato was not my only activity. Oh, and I did walk the dogs and fetch the mail. Once again – balance.

I accompany my wife to Broadway productions in an effort to balance those hours of sports viewing. As I often say, “When my sports knowledge tends to suffer, I always know what’s playing on Broadway.” We have tickets for college baseball in Seattle, the Cubs in Chicago against the Angels and for the musical Beetlejuice in New York City. It’s well-rounded culture that we strive to achieve, especially as my wife continues to travel on business and I can tag along. Mixing business and pleasure is another form of life-balance.

Balancing the check book is a whole different challenge. Pet expenses, personal gifts, car repairs, fancy dinners, wine clubs, weddings, taxes, and designer shoes are making things difficult in retirement. I often feel that I’ll soon be back at work, so enjoying every free minute is important. Right now, it’s “Happy Hour,” so I’ll soon be balancing Aspirin with wine. Cheers!