tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2541846551315802129.comments2023-05-02T09:04:53.315-04:00Early Retirement the Middle Way MWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13421430633168170078noreply@blogger.comBlogger2076125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2541846551315802129.post-24701714463727884982021-04-24T09:47:16.469-04:002021-04-24T09:47:16.469-04:00Our stay at home order has been extended until May...Our stay at home order has been extended until May 20th now. Buying time until a larger percentage of the population can get immunized. They probably know with each order, a greater number of people will not listen but hope that there are still enough that will to hopefully make a difference. <br /><br />You can also look into "lucky iron fish" https://luckyironfish.com/<br /><br />Easy to use, just pop it in soups or boiling water with a bit of citrus to release the iron. My iron numbers continue hold well so using it and eating more lentils is part of my routine now. Hope it can work for you!<br /><br />Have a great weekend!MWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13421430633168170078noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2541846551315802129.post-37721599438597709092021-04-24T03:25:12.967-04:002021-04-24T03:25:12.967-04:00So frustrating to be locked down again! Only a few...So frustrating to be locked down again! Only a few more days, though, right? Fingers crossed you can reopen again and stay open. It's madness here, but not surprised. So much for a 'slow reopen'! :P<br /><br />So iron cookware is good for low iron levels? I had no idea! Perhaps I should invest in at least one frying pan then, as I tend to be slightly anaemic. I think it's been cost and care (like you) that's turned me off, but it's a sound investment, really, so will have a look. xxNorthern Living Allowancehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06663851212929175711noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2541846551315802129.post-54644406116836236552021-04-24T03:25:01.522-04:002021-04-24T03:25:01.522-04:00So frustrating to be locked down again! Only a few...So frustrating to be locked down again! Only a few more days, though, right? Fingers crossed you can reopen again and stay open. It's madness here, but not surprised. So much for a 'slow reopen'! :P<br /><br />So iron cookware is good for low iron levels? I had no idea! Perhaps I should invest in at least one frying pan then, as I tend to be slightly anaemic. I think it's been cost and care (like you) that's turned me off, but it's a sound investment, really, so will have a look. xxNorthern Living Allowancehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06663851212929175711noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2541846551315802129.post-40458357021354905692021-01-05T18:59:53.153-05:002021-01-05T18:59:53.153-05:00Thank you! I sent you a note through your site --...Thank you! I sent you a note through your site -- Hope it reached you!MWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13421430633168170078noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2541846551315802129.post-27465995829420588922021-01-01T07:31:23.506-05:002021-01-01T07:31:23.506-05:00Hi MW! Happy New Year to you as well. What a year,...Hi MW! Happy New Year to you as well. What a year, what a year! My goodness... I hope to be back to post at some point, I actually have a reasonable amount of news to update everyone on (if anyone's interested anymore, that is!). Anyway, wishing you health, wealth and a brighter, more magical year this year. All the best! NLA xxNorthern Living Allowancehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06663851212929175711noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2541846551315802129.post-76037609221939929582020-09-08T10:02:05.326-04:002020-09-08T10:02:05.326-04:00Hello! Great to hear from you. The last we conne...Hello! Great to hear from you. The last we connected, you were preparing for a number of oversea trips starting with Iceland. Hope they were inspiring and fun. <br /><br />Eight years already -- Wow, time moves fast. I'm in a good place mentally with retirement. Am mostly past the heavy emotional part and excited for what is to come.<br /><br />I too, am worried about the collective loss we continue to experience and what may be the post traumatic aftermath on a world level. Hope we are able to come through this without losing all of our innocence and joy. <br /><br />Trawler life sounds so peaceful. We ended up selling our sea kayaks earlier this summer. I miss the water, so will need to look for other ways to get back out there. <br /><br />Continue enjoying life! We are fortunate to be where we are. MWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13421430633168170078noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2541846551315802129.post-21500490354357214112020-09-07T00:15:51.062-04:002020-09-07T00:15:51.062-04:00Hi MW. Been away for some time taking a break fr...Hi MW. Been away for some time taking a break from social media. Glad to see you are doing well. Embrace retirement ( if that is in your plans). I did it 8 years ago and while it has cost a significant amount to the bank account, I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Reviewing your “places I miss” it reminds me of something I was discussing with our adult children. COVID may change the way we view world travel for some time... we should be thankful and grateful that we have had the opportunities presented to us over the years to have travelled and explored as many parts of this wonderful planet that we have... we are very fortunate.<br /><br />Enjoy your camping here in our home province... we’ve been doing the same albeit from the water... sailing and now enjoying trawler life; a foot in both camps - unlike my spouse, I’m just not quite ready to pass on the sailing life... yet. All the best.<br /><br />I'd rather be sailinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17885377725781681746noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2541846551315802129.post-90673738657956528602020-06-09T20:01:18.321-04:002020-06-09T20:01:18.321-04:00I feel it is necessary to continue being gentle wi...I feel it is necessary to continue being gentle with yourself. Who knows how long this simultaneous state of pause and rupture will last with different regions of the world at differing paces? And it drains my sense of hope and motivation some days. <br /><br />Right now, having that base of the pyrimid covered with respect to basic needs is more than a lot of people have and like yourself, I'm more than grateful for that. <br /><br />I am worried that we might emerge fearful of the world and fearful of each other. That would be such a tragedy on top of what already is. <br /><br />We are starting to open up again although I've given up hope of travel within Canada this summer as travel much outside of our immediate area is still not encouraged. Who knows when our international borders will open. <br /><br />What seemed like a long ways away (fall), is no longer. As negative as it may sound, I'm gearing up for "not much different" for the remainder of this year.<br /><br />Hope you continue to enjoy your outdoors time. I'm still staying quite isolated for the most part. Just had my first massage in 3 months today! Followed by blood work and eye exam this week. Little things right... Keep well yourself! MWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13421430633168170078noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2541846551315802129.post-77995535029941455642020-06-08T10:34:01.520-04:002020-06-08T10:34:01.520-04:00It's a strange and unsettling time, isn't ...It's a strange and unsettling time, isn't it? We've been doing fine, and have arranged meat and fish deliveries, as well as a weekly veg delivery, so we've barely been out other than to walk regularly. I've been off work since w/c 30 March and not at all sure when I'll be going back, although the office has been reopen for several weeks now. The country feels more or less back to normal which is both disappointing and somewhat of a relief, although I have no idea what will happen this autumn with respect to (re)rising numbers.<br /><br />I had grand plans to do a gazillion and one things but haven't had the focus or concentration to do much of anything. It's hard not to feel that I've wasted this time, but I think that's unfair to myself, seeing as none of us know how to prepare for this sort of thing or know how we're going to get through it.<br /><br />But it could be so much worse.<br /><br />It sounds like you're really enjoying being back out and enjoying the little things. I hope you can maintain it, so stay well there! xx<br />Northern Living Allowancehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06663851212929175711noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2541846551315802129.post-57765155328695136902020-03-11T18:05:53.522-04:002020-03-11T18:05:53.522-04:00ps. I was mistaken... the run on toilet paper and...ps. I was mistaken... the run on toilet paper and bottle water has reached my area Costco.. cannot believe it...MWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13421430633168170078noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2541846551315802129.post-88241631287627165522020-03-09T09:47:12.496-04:002020-03-09T09:47:12.496-04:00Haven't experienced the run on toilet paper ou...Haven't experienced the run on toilet paper out my way yet...hopefully it won't come to that but fear does strange things to peoples' minds. <br /><br />Our ability to get totally worked up can be more harmful. All those reports of people getting harrassed and assulted for being Asian -- Some of us human beings aren't showing our best sides right now. <br /><br />Combined with all the natural disasters, this year is packing a not so nice wallop. And we are nearly a quarter of the way in. <br /><br />Can't believe it has been 7 years since your move! It has gone by fast! All we can do right now is have fun planning for the positive and should it not materialize, at least the work is done and all you have to do is shift to a new date. <br /><br />Hope your running is going well!MWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13421430633168170078noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2541846551315802129.post-34318613676924488402020-03-08T03:08:05.713-04:002020-03-08T03:08:05.713-04:00Agreed. I've been following kind of closely, b...Agreed. I've been following kind of closely, but it's exhausting and ridiculous and I need to stop. We can only do the best we can do anyway, and panicking and worry helps nothing.<br /><br />It really does make you think, doesn't it? How we rely and trust blindly others to maintain us. Shelves are emptying of toilet paper here (for some mad reason), so while I'm not getting overly concerned, I do have an Amazon order in process should I need one. Otherwise, it's more or less business as normal.<br /><br />My trip was just to visit friends and family (BC/Yukon) as it's been 7 years and I felt it was about time! I can wait until spring, though, if I need to. I'd rather wait than risk anything really. If I don't HAVE to go, I won't. xxNorthern Living Allowancehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06663851212929175711noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2541846551315802129.post-38361450489369955862020-03-01T21:58:52.431-05:002020-03-01T21:58:52.431-05:00It's overwhelming, the scope of infection that...It's overwhelming, the scope of infection that is developing. Need to step back from following the news so closely. The level of suffering with healthcare workers in China working around the clock got to me.<br /><br />I've been forced to really appreciate, for better or worse, the scale and consequences of how we move about in the world as well as our reliance on China for so many things.<br /><br />We've cancelled plans for this month and that's not a big deal. It wouldn't have been much of a vacation in the current heightened environment. <br /><br />Makes total sense for you to wait and see. What type of trip are you planning? MWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13421430633168170078noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2541846551315802129.post-48147086039055739262020-03-01T05:27:56.500-05:002020-03-01T05:27:56.500-05:00So frustrating and frightening, isn't it? Misi...So frustrating and frightening, isn't it? Misinformation, 'hoax' claims, lackadaisical preparedness - the list goes on. It's 'easy' to feel smug and comfortable in more enlightened (shall we say?) countries, but even here I don't fully trust the current gov to take it as seriously as they should. I'm planning for a trip to Canada in September, but am holding off buying a ticket for two reasons: one,waiting to see how this plays out (airports - nightmares generally, and the heightened potential for transference doesn't add to my enthusiasm), and two, as a dual citizen I apparently need a Canadian passport to travel to/transit through Canada. So I have to arrange that first.<br /><br />Anyway, welcome to 2020. Yeesh! Stay safe xxNorthern Living Allowancehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06663851212929175711noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2541846551315802129.post-85263302802888636792020-01-02T13:06:52.004-05:002020-01-02T13:06:52.004-05:00Thank You NLA!!! We all need a bit of Magic and w...Thank You NLA!!! We all need a bit of Magic and wonder in our lives.<br /><br />(I didn't realize that your Mom held a traditional view of things.) <br /><br />Hope the New Year is off to a great start for you and that you aren't working too hard. <br /><br /> MWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13421430633168170078noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2541846551315802129.post-66814966717175054152019-12-31T05:25:08.546-05:002019-12-31T05:25:08.546-05:00Absolutely nothing wrong with settling - it's ...Absolutely nothing wrong with settling - it's underrated (imho)! Everyone's idea of it is different, however. My mother's idea of 'settled' is being married, yours is much more appealing - being happy and content with your own decisions of what makes a good life, and the ability to create that. Wishing you a safe, happy, healthy and successful 2020 (with a little magic thrown in) NLA xxNorthern Living Allowancehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06663851212929175711noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2541846551315802129.post-58862160384461307852019-10-07T07:54:28.759-04:002019-10-07T07:54:28.759-04:00Thank you!!! The slow healing has made me feel ol...Thank you!!! The slow healing has made me feel old! You are right -- The ever rushing of the overly scheduled life seems so silly, especially when it is self induced...That lesson has been on repeat the last few years. Think it is finally getting it through my stubborn skull. :)<br /><br />D is a much different person at his job. Am super pleased for him and us that he is able to experience that at this stage of work. <br /><br />Speaking of work, I admire your perseverence and focus with your book, your extra job, debt reorganization and search for your living space. That's a awful lot of balls in the air, on top of keeping healthy and everyday life... Keep up the excellent work!<br /><br /><br />MWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13421430633168170078noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2541846551315802129.post-80047199525093942392019-10-06T03:31:04.534-04:002019-10-06T03:31:04.534-04:00Hi MW! Sorry to hear you've been so sick, but ...Hi MW! Sorry to hear you've been so sick, but glad you're recovering, if slowly. I think in our light-speed-running world it's easy to forget just how long the body takes to actually heal from an illness or injury. Makes you realise how ridiculous all this running and chasing really is, doesn't it? Hope your recovery continues to go well and your energy is back to 'normal' levels soon.<br /><br />What a pain about your credit card issues too! Stupid fraudsters. I don't know how they live with themselves, but they obviously do, and quite happily, so it really confounds me. But I suppose it's sadly normal these days, this cyber-crime. Just a result of our continued progress as a 'civilisation'.<br /><br />Wishing you well and hope that D continues to be happy at his job. Sounds like he's really found his niche! xxNorthern Living Allowancehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06663851212929175711noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2541846551315802129.post-676668384365802162019-04-11T06:44:42.583-04:002019-04-11T06:44:42.583-04:00So sorry for the delay in replying!
I didn'...So sorry for the delay in replying! <br /><br />I didn't get notification of your message and also happened to have flown out the night before. <br /><br />Thank you so much for your well wishes! <br /><br />Things are starting to settle slowly but nicely. And because D and I feed off of each other energies, it is helping both of us. It's also a good test of the various foundations across the board.<br /><br />Am grateful for the luxury of time right now. <br /><br />MWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13421430633168170078noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2541846551315802129.post-18461341684203926062019-04-03T15:49:22.909-04:002019-04-03T15:49:22.909-04:00Time to reflect is always needed, and part of that...Time to reflect is always needed, and part of that reflection is always the realisation that you should have done it sooner! Quite ironic, really. But always worth it in the end. It's so important to focus on your inside 'world', it affects so much of the outside. <br /><br />Glad to hear that D is happy at his job! Great news. Long(ish) may it continue. I wish him much success.<br /><br />Good luck and best wishes to both of you as you continue forward xxNorthern Living Allowancehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06663851212929175711noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2541846551315802129.post-53201933265860250192018-07-07T07:32:10.435-04:002018-07-07T07:32:10.435-04:00Thank you so much. It does feel super unfair. Bu...Thank you so much. It does feel super unfair. But who can explain why some things happen to one person and not others? Good reminder to the rest of us to be mindful of our own path and to take stock of what we really value. MWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13421430633168170078noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2541846551315802129.post-71139537213388709662018-07-07T01:48:45.895-04:002018-07-07T01:48:45.895-04:00Oh, MW, I'm sorry! One loss is hard enough, bu...Oh, MW, I'm sorry! One loss is hard enough, but what a shock to lose two, and so young. It's 'easy' to say 'that's life' and while on some level it is, when it's sudden or something more progressive like your surrogate dad - even if it IS anticipated - it feels unfair and doubly hard. Take care of yourself xxNorthern Living Allowancehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06663851212929175711noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2541846551315802129.post-63846578503279350562018-06-16T09:27:11.722-04:002018-06-16T09:27:11.722-04:00Thank you!!! I'm happy to read your move went...Thank you!!! I'm happy to read your move went well and are settling in. Lots going on in the home front for both of us. <br /><br />We will be counting down to the closing date. Don't believe there is any reason why it wouldn't close as expected. D is heading up to see how things look after having so many people walk through. <br /><br />Our realtor just told us that she couldn't get any water for the water testing we are wanting to do, so that tells us someone turned the power off to the pump... hopefully nothing more serious than that...never a dull moment.<br /><br />While I was getting my stuff for consignment sales, I did a lot of self questioning as to why I even bought those items in the first place and then find myself clinging to them because of their expense. Can't win sometimes battling with oneself!<br /><br />Good luck with sorting through everything on your end!MWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13421430633168170078noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2541846551315802129.post-52290573869929745352018-06-15T14:44:07.225-04:002018-06-15T14:44:07.225-04:00Wow! Well, that's exciting (and sounded utterl...Wow! Well, that's exciting (and sounded utterly exhausting - cheeky folks, some of them!), but hopefully you're already feeling a bit lighter about having less to worry about. One step at a time. Funnily enough, I was pondering items I have for sale here (not so substantial as homes and cars, however). I have to come to honest terms with why I'm hanging onto these things: bike, camera, etc. that I haven't used in, well, an embarrassingly long time. Do I like the IDEA of them more than I actually like the item now? But it's all in the thought stages.<br /><br />Good luck with the handing over of keys, etc. Hope the rest all goes well too! xxNorthern Living Allowancehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06663851212929175711noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2541846551315802129.post-11209429622512709512018-02-26T10:32:07.215-05:002018-02-26T10:32:07.215-05:00He is somewhat torn with having time and feeling g...He is somewhat torn with having time and feeling guilty that he isn't working. But he is recovering from the physical exhaustion well. <br /><br />It will take more time for the mental emotional part as he's also realizing the toll his work choices has had on us.<br /><br />I have another 6 weeks before my next blood draw. Fingers crossed that enough of a difference can happen to show that it isn't all genetic. <br /><br />Haven't gotten around to writing about Taipei yet, but plan to. Glad you like seeing them! I liked it there much more than I would have thought.<br /><br />Hope your no sugar program is continuing to work well too!MWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13421430633168170078noreply@blogger.com