…through my first year in the Philippines.

No major insights on reaching this milestone. You are who you are wherever you are. I’m not going to pretend that my life here is anywhere close to perfect. It is what it is and I don’t imagine it would be particularly better had I chosen a different venue in which to spend my future. It could damn well be worse, I know that. I also know that I have the power to make this time and this place the best of all possible worlds. Happiness is a choice when everything is said and done.

I’d say I’m getting better at accepting the frustrations that come with living in a third world developing country. There is bad and good everywhere, and really the people here tend to make it all worthwhile. Watching them live happily despite crushing poverty is an inspiration. As I have been told many times, I’m one of the lucky ones. I need to stop bitching and moaning about what I don’t have and learn to embrace my good fortune. I do think I’m getting better at that as well.

Of course, my circle of acquaintances is largely the expat community. And looking around at them, well, yeah I am lucky there as well. It’s true that I may drink somewhat to excess but I sure as hell ain’t doing it at ten in the morning! I think all of us living here have to find a way to fight the inevitable boredom, the day-to-day sameness, and the lack of intellectual stimulation or other worthwhile challenges. Again, that’s on me and at least I have the resources to find and do things that make life satisfying. Honestly though, looking back on my first retirement the boredom then was palpable as well. That may be a natural state when you leave the meaning and purpose of a working life behind.

Anyway, I’m not complaining at all. Things are good and bound to get gooder.

Here’s some outtakes from a typical day in paradise:

The local electric co-op helpfully gave advance warning that there would be a scheduled power outage (aka “brownout”) today from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. so they could do line maintenance and tree trimming. I had observed the need to get those damn branches out of the wires months ago, so was happy to see they noticed too.

On my morning walk I saw the power guys working hard at the task at hand. Power went out at 0900 and was back on at 1600. Good job!

On the beach walk portion of my hike I observed this bottle. Was there a message in there for me? The secret to a happy life perhaps? Or maybe it contained an evil genie wanting to capture my soul. Decided in the end it wasn’t worth the risk…

Had a foot scrub and pedicure…

and when I got home Buddy said “she missed a spot!”

Hurricane Florence is on her way to the Carolinas. My kids are inland at Columbia, but when Hugo blew through in 1986 Columbia still suffered. Florence appears to be much stronger.

Here’s hoping the folks on the coast don’t get fucked too hard…

And finally, I guess the President must have read my rare political post yesterday:

Thanks, Don. And right back at ya!

Oh my! Look at the time. It’s beer o’clock! Photos from yesterday’s Hash will be posted tomorrow. Stay tuned!