I’m at my new desk, actually the old desk in a new space, writing for the first time. Unfortunately, I’m still surrounded by framed pictures that need to be hung and personal stuff that has yet to find a place. I also was a few weeks behind on the 1,000 Places To See Before I Die Calendar that occupies a precious spot on my cluttered work surface. Three-fourth of the year is over, and it’s apparently time to order a new calendar according to one of the pages I just ripped off. Of all the others, I’ve only set eyes on Tuscany, Italy and Bordeaux, France. Places I haven’t yet been include Taipei, Taiwan; Spain; Lake Winnipesaukee, New Hampshire; Honshu, Japan; Arequipa, Peru; Ljubljana, Slovenia; New Guinea; Cambodia; Victoria Falls; New Zealand; Guangxi, China; Cornwall, England; Quito, Ecuador; Alberta, Canada; Nicaragua; and Latvia. I’ve at least been to New Hampshire and almost got to Slovenia had the weather permitted our cruise ship to dock. 

If I’m to finally get to all fifty states, I will need to travel to both Alaska and Maine. We would probably fly into Boston and drive up through New Hampshire and then into Maine. That way my wife could also cross New Hampshire off her state list. We might even consider venturing over the Canadian line like we just did a few months ago to Vancouver. It’s all part of my grand travel plan that will probably include an Alaska cruise while we’re still living on the West Coast. Our upcoming trip to Florida for the holidays will help determine a permanent retirement home. We’ll also explore the California coast at some point in the next year-and-a-half of apartment living. 

We already have cruises scheduled out of Cairo and Barcelona within this 18-month time frame of remaining in Portland. It’s hard to believe that once we finally get organized in this apartment it will be time to move again. At least, there won’t be as much to move, as we continue to strip away the possessions we’ve accumulated over the years. I’ll spend the rest of today hanging pictures in my small office that will double as a guest room. At this point, I’m far too tired to even think about world travel, but the calendar was staring me in the face and consequently became the topic of today’s blog. There hasn’t been much to write about in this hassle-filled downsizing transition, but things are slowly getting back to normalcy. Expect a poem soon!