I’m living what could be every homebody’s dream. All alone for two straight days with nearly all my time devoted to what I want to do. The pets interfere on occasion – they have things they want to do, too. I haven’t gotten in the car and have worn nothing but running clothes and tennis shoes. I don’t expect to start the car until Thursday after noon when I have lunch and happy hour dates. I haven’t spent any money, even on-line, and haven’t shaved for three days, maybe one of my hairiest streaks ever. Most of my pitiful beard, however, is growing in gray, so it undoubtedly won’t last long. I figure this is how hermits get their start!
Am I really the homebody my wife claims me to be, or simply celebrating the freedom of retirement? I’ve spent almost three hours outside today, away from home, running hills, walking the dogs, and relaxing with a book on the back deck. I’ve seen and waved to people, but have yet to talk to anyone but my wife. My fellow retiree friends are traveling, and I’m not due to get on a plane for another week and a half. I’ve thawed and unwrapped my own meals, and the postman hasn’t even knocked once. I have watched TV, listened to the radio, and checked e-mail, so I’m not totally isolated from the real world. I guess the fact that I’ve spent 42 or the last 48 hours in air-conditioned comfort, does make me Howard Hughes like, however my fingernails haven’t grown long yet and I’m not isolated in darkness. Howard also probably didn’t run 15 hilly miles during any two consecutive days of his seclusion. It takes a lot of money to buy privacy, so this temporary withdrawal from society really is a luxury for me!
I’m also practicing to be homeless for two days, living in a van with five essential strangers, as we each take our turns running the Hood to Coast course from Mt. Hood to Seaside. It will surely be an experience that will make me want to be more of a homebody, considering the only times I will be separated from them over 35 hours will be when I’m battling the hills along my individual legs of the race. I won’t be showering or shaving, and so will all of them, so it will be cramped and stinky, as each of us fight for fresh air and leg room. The one thing I won’t be practicing, however, is lack of sleep. I get at least an extra hour of two when I’m home alone.
I’ll be well rested by the time she gets home tomorrow night, and she’ll be exhausted. I will make sure that I clean and dust the house, and remove any evidence of my homelessness, including the beard. She’ll be upset that I will be out for a couple of hours the day after she returns, but I’ll be home in time to take her out to dinner. It will be another “Date Night” disrupted by work or travel, but I will be all hers until we travel together to San Francisco, when I’ll once again be a roam body. I understand there are some hills to run in San Francisco. Maybe I’ll just take the Rice-A-Roni trolley!
I hope you enjoyed your solitude. 🙂