This morning is the final “Schnauzerthon” through Portland’s Forest Heights neighborhood. First, however, I have to complete my warm-ups that consist of some mild stretches, 100 sit-ups, and 88 push-ups. This routine proceeds each daily run, and has also been a consecutive 10-plus year discipline. The “Schnauzerton” was designed to get my wife and our schnauzer pups involved in weekend exercise. I complete my 3.1 mile route rotating between pushing a dog stroller, leading our other dog on the leash, and doing some solo sprints. Future “Schruns” will be held on downtown Portland streets. 

Tomorrow, the moving truck comes, and with it perhaps the end of several restless nights of sleep. There is still a lot to do today in preparation for their arrival. The personal sports museum that has been my writing office is in complete disarray, after years of careful refinement. The pictures of my athletic heroes are off the wall, and many shelves of the trophy case are bare. A lot of my treasures will be in storage for several years, although I’m taking some of them with me to give to my son next week. He’s in Central Florida and will take good care of the uniforms, signed balls, baseball cards, and other memorabilia that I’ve collected through the years. I will no longer have room for them in our downsizing plan. As I pass these items down to him, it signifies the beginning of the end. At least, I’ll be able to visit them, along with my grand-kids.

 We’ll have half the living space when we start next week. I’ll have room to display a few autographed pictures along with some select sports-related items on the walls of what will now be a combination office and guest room. I’ll still have my big desk and computer, along with a mounted T.V., so the daily retirement routine won’t be drastically altered. I’ve cut back on a few premium channels and added Roku to reduce costs. The apartment is costing a lot more than I anticipated, and my wife is no longer bringing in a work paycheck. The fourth leg of my retirement stool has been eliminated, as we’re now down to relying solely on Social Security, Pension, and 401K income. (See Post #982). Little going in and a lot coming out, as my wife and I enter the era of joint retirement. 

This will probably be my final post for several days, as we reorganize, unpack, and hook-up. In fact, I won’t have internet service to post anything I write in the transition. We’ll make two trips down to the apartment this afternoon and a stop at Goodwill, as thousands of dollars in purchases over the year are no longer needed. Hopefully, someone else can benefit from these slightly-used items. With that, I shut down the computer and say, “Over and Out!”