Country Savvy

I know that I have been lax in keeping this blog updated and interesting.  The success of a blog is said to be the attention that is given to it.  I would like to explain a few things that I view are important in viewing the “Big Picture”.

As a retiree living in the country, it is often said that there is plenty of time to do things.  This is not true.  As with working, it is important to prioritize and schedule things that need done.  I have three categories for the things I view as items to consider.

The first category is identifying the things that impact your quality of life.  By these, I mean, the items such as doing the essentials that keep you from being hungry, cold/hot, dry, etc.  To give an example, I will discuss the weather.  With winter coming on, it is necessary that I prepare by winterizing the water for the cows, chickens and house.  I have a utility vehicle, which has not top, so I need a shed to park it under so it can be used without the seat being wet from snow or rain. I use a wood stove in my workshop that needs attention, and need a new antenna for TV in order to watch TV on cold snowy days.  These are just a few things that will impact my quality of life as the weather becomes colder, wetter and more windy.  These are outdoor activities and as the saying goes, “you have to make hay when the sun shines”.  Also canning fruit that is in season cannot wait.

The second priority is identifing the task that can be done either when is cold and can be done inside, but are still necessary and cannot be postponed indefinately.  This could be working in the house or shop to build cabinets, minor welding, etc. This could also be the time to clean and fix equipment in preparation for the next usage.

The third priority is to not be a priority at all.  This is doing things you enjoy, but are not essential to quality of life as established in one and two.  The first two priorities are what allow you the time to enjoy things like reading, doing things on the computer, watching TV, or doing hobbies.  I view this blog as a third priority.  It has nothing to do with my quality of life, it contributes nothing to my income, and impacts only my mind in that it keeps me thinking.

So with all things considered, I will write more on this blog when I am able, willing and ready.  Yes, I will write more on the Joy of country living, and whatever pops into my little pea brain.  Until then, please be patient, Love Life and remember that when all is said and done, God, Country, Family, and Friends are our real priorities.

It is amazing how far we can get behind on things when we are away from home.  You would think that as a retiree, a person could not get behind.  Not True.  Since I was gone for eight days of the last two weeks, (not this week), I have had so many things to do that keeping my blog up to date was not high on my list of things to do.  Being retired is a full time job.  What with maintaining home and property, livestock and people interfaces, there is little time to dally.  Of course, I need to define a normal work day.  I start when it warms up some in the morning, and quit when it starts cooling down or when I am tired whichever comes first.  This will usually average about a six hour day. Not included in that six hours is computer time which is about two hours in the morning, and an hour at night.

Now for what had to be caught up, so to speak.  I have spent two days getting cows ready and taking them to the auction.  Spending time to go to pick up a friends bull to take with mine, took one afternoon, and it is an all day trip to the auction and back home.  Now I have to spend a couple hours cleaning and putting the trailer away.

Then there is the time needed to get a pen ready to move the chickens to for the winter. So far, I have spent a week of work time on it.  Still have to build a lean-to on the cat house to store ATV under for the winter (I had picked up materials during my travels). I’ve had to get the stock tank in the winter pasture ready for the remaining cows, and will have to pick up hay for snow days.

Then, there is football to watch, web sites to do, blogs to write and tools to fix and clean up.  But most importantly, there is a need to rest and recuperate from all the traveling.  A body can only take so much of being on the road without suffering ackes and pains.  There has to be time to stop and enjoy the clean mountain air, have a cup of coffee and just relax.

Doing the things you enjoy in retirement is a gift from God.  We should take that gift and make the most of it in our short lives.  I really enjoy all the things I do here at home, there is no real stress to building, taking care of livestock and growing a garden.  The pains of growing older is a joy because God gave us the ability to continue with life rather than dwelling on the pains, enjoying all that is around us.  God placed us in our little spot on earth to meet our needs.

So enjoying live in retirement is doing things in your time, doing things you enjoy, and not worrying about tomorrow, or the world around you.  It generally takes care of it’s self without us anyway. And catching up is a neverending affair that can and will be done eventually or not.