It is amazing how when I think things look the most bleak that the unexpected happens and good things happen. I have been fortunate this way in life.
Just over a year ago when Alan died I was in a bit of a panic as with his death went the loss of alimony payments for the next few years. I was sitting okay financially for the remainder of 2022 as he had won a nice bit in the Irish lottery and had pre-paid the alimony for the remainder of the year. I just had to figure out 2023 and going forward. I talked with Abate and let him know that he would have to take on more of his expenses for car insurance and cell phone, Fantu was already and had been paying hers for quite some time. I had a hard look at my budget and cancelled a few subscriptions to get my monthly expenses down. I did feel it would be manageable but I would not be living frivolously in the future (not that I was anyway). Well my guardian angel was looking out for me and when pay raises came around at work I not only got a surprisingly great raise - I received a long fought for promotion that I had given up on. The raise more than made up for the loss of alimony.
So with my finances back on track I began to plan a dreamed of trip to Alaska with a friend of mine. It is something we had talked about for several years but it got delayed due to Co-vid. Plans and reservations were made, we began to purchase items we would need for the trip when suddenly out of the blue my friend cancelled. Well crap. I knew I wanted to go so I decided to go on my own and pay the single supplement. When I mentioned to my daughter Fantu what had happened she immediately said she wanted to go with me. She felt she could afford it and wanted to do a dream trip like this while she was still single. Fantu is a nature documentary nut so for her this trip is something she dreamed of. I am so excited that she is going with me as I know I will have so much more fun with her.
So with my life changing and finding I love the single unattached lifestyle (I am so done with men right now) I got to thinking that I really should pursue my dreams and do the things I love. I joined a social media group of single women over the age of 50 that love to travel solo. Not only was I inspired by these women, I found inspiration for what I want to do when I retire. So this is what I came up with based on my love of the following:
1.Hiking
2.Mountains
3. Forests
4. Camping
5. Volunteering
6. Adventures off the beaten path
With those in mind I stumbled across a volunteer group that offered Nepal as one of it's locations .. yes Nepal,as in the Himalayas. While there I could go on the 14 day Everest Base Camp (EBC)Trek. an 80 mile round trip trek from a 9000 foot elevation to 18,000 foot elevation to the base of Mount Everest. What a dream! But oh I am so not in shape for a hike like that, but I have three years to train. It will be difficult as I am 64 years young now and by the time I go I will be 67 - pushing 68. Age is but a number and I certainly don't feel 64 ( I feel as good as I did in my early 50's which was amazing at the time). So provided I can stay healthy and keep on my training schedule my goal is to go to Nepal in the Autumn of 2026. I will do some volunteer work for 4 to 6 weeks. I hope to do a bit of sightseeing and travel and then in early November head off on the EBC trek. I have started yoga and Wim Hoff breathing exercises and working out on a stair stepper. Weather permitting I go hiking on the weekends. Unfortunately with it being summer in Texas it is often dangerously hot to get out and hike. Once cooler temperatures arrive though I'll be back on the trails and will take time off next year to go hiking in the mountains of Big Bend and New Mexico. I need to work up to hiking 6 to 8 miles a day for 3 to 4 days in a row.
I love having a big goal like this. It pushes me to get up early every morning and exercise. To be active and not sit watching TV all day. I don't want to grow old gracefully sitting around my house, puttering in my garden (even though I do love gardening). I want to go out on a wild ride and inspire others to do the same. I want my grandkids to remember me as one helluva old lady that lived her adventures and dreams!
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