Covid19 Spare time

[Donstar]

Covid has impacted all of us to varying degrees whether we believe the response by our elected officials is inadequate or excessive.  Our habits, routines and expectations have changed resulting in how we allot our time.   Many "work" more now than ever, and others have been forced into new habits due to increased discretionary time.  In my house, the level of pre-planning that we put into outings has increase insidiously.   We seldom kept "lists" as either my wife or I would pick up what was needed, as needed.  Now we keep store specific lists (Costco, Grocery. etc.) and never let ourselves become low or out of the basics.  Our efforts to reduce  exposure have become part of our routine.   This change in itself has resulted in more efficient use of time and a healthier budget.  An additional spinoff is my unavoidable increased time with my wife.   Over the past two years the long established separation of our household responsibilities has reduced noticeably.  When you truly treat each other like BFF's, your activities have a tendency to meld.  As an example, last night Mrs. Donstar shared her plans for building a bench c/w drawers.  She even had a partial parts list!  A discussion on "how" followed.  Two years ago, this same conversation would have involved her simply telling me what she wanted with little interest in the how.  I wonder if she thinks I'll share my tools?  

[KARNUT]

Since retired I do more inside work. My own clothes and the daytime dishes. I get up early so if I’m doing anything it’s early. My working schedule left little time for tv watching. I’m still catching up 7 years into retirement. In the winter with no yard work I get off the chair every hour and walk the driveway. My wife is a night owl. She’s usually not up to full speed until about 11. About 5 days a week she checks on her mother, shops for her etc. A couple days a week she does light book keeping for the church. Two-four swimming at the rec center as part of physical therapy. This time of the year she does taxes for the AARP. At 5 she’s home making dinner she loads the night time dishes. After dinner we watch TV until 8. We retired to the master more tv 10 o’clock she’s back down stairs until about 1:00. Four times a year we’re traveling usually cross country to visit the father in law. After my very exciting business traveling working life. My seemingly boring retirement is very rewarding. I still get the calls to go back to the rat race. I’m doing what I tell others. Retire as soon as you are able. Can’t be beat. 

[txab]

Good to stay active

[customboss]

11 minutes ago, txab said:

Good to stay active

Even if it hurts! 

[txab]

[KARNUT]

Moving around some does definitely help. I got all into 10K steps a day. My hips, knees, back started complaining I was just 58. I backed up to 4K steps that helped. Now at 66 I’m around 2K 6 days a week. Feel better than at 58. Just an knee complaint in a blue moon. There ain’t no pushing through after a certain age. Of course one size doesn’t fit all.

[Donstar]

I'm not a model of fitness but appreciate the importance  of keeping mobile if you are able.  I believe the adage, "Use it or lose it".  Those of us enjoying the aches and pains common with older running gear don't need to exercise until it hurts.  We hurt before we get started!   I clip the cheapest Walmart pedometer to my belt when I get dressed in the morning.   Before bed, I record my steps on a calendar.  I am also not at the 10K+ average I was several years ago but I am aiming to get back there.  I went for awhile recently without counting my steps and my numbers plummeted.   My renewed awareness and accountability to myself is reflected in a slow, yet steady rise heading back to my previous daily average.   (BTW Monitor the count on the same device, worn the same way.)  My arthritic joints may complain bitterly but my other body parts appreciate my efforts!      

[customboss]

At Cummins I supervised the R&D chemistry lab and they issued us the pedo meters to carry all day. You got a discount on insurance I think if you walked or moved enough. 

 

One of my young chemists was walking incredible distances daily and every time I came down to do a test or engage the crew he was sitting in the office.   

 

I noticed one of our electric vibrators/agitators constantly running near the ICP machines....... had a closed oil sample mailing container on it turned upside down so I could not see under it.......YEP his pedometer!!!! LOL  

 

Never trust chemists or chem engineers......LOL 

 

 

[KARNUT]

I Believe genetics play a big part in the health and longevity game. Most of the non smoking or quitting before 50 males in my family usually make the mid late 80s. My grandfather drove a delivery truck then had a grocery store. If he did 2K steps a day that was a lot. My dad just like his father never went to the doctor. My father passed out in his mid 70s and found out he had diabetes. Still wouldn’t go to the doctors. My sister got his meds mail order from Canada and my mother treated his diabetes. My grandfather made almost 90, my father 83. They both quit smoking at 50. My step father in law retired at 65. Until his passing at 84. He got up at 7 after breakfast he walked across the house to his computer room until 5. Then dinner to the living room until 10. 500 steps a day maybe. Now my father in law is 93. He claims he didn’t feel old until he hit 80. He quit working at sears at 74. Only because his younger wife retired then. He put 20 in the army before that. He shuffles walking  still drives. He could out work me until 80. I never seen anything like him. His wife passed 2 years ago, he’s ready he says. He too just walked enough to get where he was going, no more. It took me about 10 years of exercising  pain to find my number. It’s around 2K. Spread through the day. Basically keep moving. Losing weight requires eating less, not busting your butt. Everything wears out even your body. I’m glad I figured it out before knee or hip replacement.

[customboss]

My steps today are with a snow shovel. That yard stick is touching the walkway that was dry yesterday. If that trailboss 4 popper moves through this I’ll be surprised! 

[Donstar]

20 hours ago, customboss said:

My steps today are with a snow shovel. That yard stick is touching the walkway that was dry yesterday. If that trailboss 4 popper moves through this I’ll be surprised! 

 

 

Go easy with the snow shoveling!  I'll shovel/plow until I hit the point of where I'll regret the hangover and then hire the boy next door to do the rest!  My neighbors usually come out and help once they see me throwing snow anyway.  I guess they feel guilty watching their elderly neighbor throwing snow around while they're inside procrastinating!

[customboss]

I had nerve ablations in January that burn off nerves in damaged areas of back and it can last up to 3 years. VA won't do surgery yet but aside from weakness and muscle cramping I get after it as long as I can move. I hear ya Donstar, 5X5. 

 

It was so fun to run that Trail Boss and find out it can push 3' of snow pretty well and not hangup. That was worth it after shoveling around the house. 

 

We have nothing but old folks up here. I pay a fella to snow blow or plow but he's a geezer too and not really on time. Our main roads get plowed when snow stops falling but they haven't cleared my road yet. I may have to push out to that cleared road later today for safety. Good to know the Trail Boss can do it. 

[customboss]

41 minutes ago, Donstar said:

Go easy with the snow shoveling!  I'll shovel/plow until I hit the point of where I'll regret the hangover and then hire the boy next door to do the rest!  My neighbors usually come out and help once they see me throwing snow anyway.  I guess they feel guilty watching their elderly neighbor throwing snow around while they're inside procrastinating!

I posted more pics elsewhere here but I was amazed how an unloaded Trail Boss did.  Check this out. I never got hung up. 

 

[txab]

12 minutes ago, customboss said:

I posted more pics elsewhere here but I was amazed how an unloaded Trail Boss did.  Check this out. I never got hung up. 

 

 

 

You left the gate open and you let some of that what crap get and into my yard.

 

 

 

 

[customboss]

3 minutes ago, txab said:

 

 

You left the gate open and you let some of that what crap get and into my yard.

 

 

 

 

twice!  You must be in NorthWest Texas somewheres.....LOL