I slept great in my own bed last night, after another 6 nights in hotel rooms. It’s the 108th day of the year, and I’ve already stayed away overnight 23 times (21%), in line with my 80/20 retirement travel rule. (See Post #323). However, over the next 30 days it will be more like 43% away from home. I certainly didn’t mind doing multiple loads of laundry this morning and catching up my favorite TV shows. In fact, I feel like a 1960’s housewife, but without the responsibility of children – just dogs. Instead of watching I Love Lucy, I’m enjoying Curse of Oak Island, Billions, Fosse & Verdon, Jack Ryan, and Game of Thrones. Soon, Lost Civil War Gold and Bosch will join the couch potato rotation with their new season kick-offs.

I ran my normal 3.1 mile neighborhood route this morning, adding that to my restored homebody routine. This afternoon I have to pick up my glasses and go to the dentist, before tonight’s Be Great Ball fundraiser supporting the Big Brother Big Sister’s cause. My wife has returned to work, and this event is part of her corporate duties, along with an American Heart Association board position. I’m proud of how she balances home, work, and charitable responsibilities, as I once did before retirement. I will add some volunteer work to my retirement routine, once I’ve selfishly enjoyed these first three years of being a homebody (80%) and traveler (20%). I haven’t yet found the charitable organization that I want to passionately support with my free time.

I’m having trouble keeping up with the first Game of Thrones episode of the final season. I had gone back and watched Season One, hoping to refresh my memory. However, it was really Season Seven and The Battle of the Bastards that needed the most attention. The show truly is a genealogical nightmare, that unlike the other dramas I’m drawn to follow, it requires my full concentration. It’s also good that they have the “Inside the Episode” feature that concludes each segment and summarizes the content through the eyes of the producers. This made it easy to review the past, as I re-watch the initial episode, but it still demands that I do some internet research on many of the character relationships. It’s complicated!

These other cable productions I watch are much easier to follow, and they often serve as background entertainment. In other words, I can multitask and still manage to understand the plot. My other TV interests are primarily sports, so early afternoon baseball games are always welcome. Tomorrow, I’ll join some fellow retirees at Buffalo Wild Wings for lunch and the Cubs game. This will really make me fell like I’m home and back in a comfortable routine.