After nearly four years of retirement, not a week goes by without me wishing for a few days off. I would often say to myself during the work day shower ritual, “I wish I just had ten days off.” I still catch myself doing it, even though I now have forever off. It’s a funny habit built during years of work frustration that is a pleasant reminder of how good it is to be retired. Yes, I have every day off and never have I wished for 10 more days of work. 

The closest thing to work will be the rigid structure of the upcoming cross-country drive. A different destination to get to every day, a strange bed, and an unfamiliar running route is all part of the challenge. We’ll be gone from home for two-and-a-half weeks – one of the longest stretches I’ve ever faced. Yesterday, we started the paperwork to build our Florida home. By the time we get down there, we’ll be picking out the design elements, Six months later we will be in a new home. It’s a big life change for a 69-year old man like myself. 

We finalized the hotel route yesterday and booked a week on South Beach, Miami for mid-January. The plan is to drive down to Marathon and Key West, long desired places I have yet to visit. This is in conjunction with my wife’s girl trip to St. Kitts. We continue to make plans despite the COVID threat, still hoping that December in Kauai, Hawaii still happens. There will be plenty of beach time over the winter months for the two of us, while the home building goes on in Venice, Florida. It’s an exciting time of many Days Off.