February 11, 2020
Hi Friend,
It was a pleasant surprise to find your letter in the mail! I don’t even know the last time I received a letter. Such a treat!
I have given much thought to travel to Florida, because I have other friends (besides you) encouraging me to visit, too. I had to think through why I was resisting the idea. Part of my reticence is that I traveled for work for 15 years and likely got travel out of my system, and it’s difficult to leave the animals for more than a couple of days. Also, I figure that if my friends and I can’t make time for one another when we are in proximity, then it’s silly to spend all that money to travel to be together. My snowbird friends can’t imagine that others wouldn’t want to escape northern winters, but that is the case. I decided a few years ago, that if I were going to long for 70-degree days, I would only be happy about 5 days out of 365. I decided to embrace the weather, whatever it is. I decided that if I were miserable with the Michigan weather conditions, I wouldn’t live here. Even though I just love long, sunny summer days, I am content here in every season – love something about them all – and although I would love to see more of you, there is something to be said for making time for what is important to us – one another. It’s all about priorities, huh?
Your dental bills sound nightmarish. Jeff has said about dentistry, “Pay a little regularly or pay a lot later.” I guess you are the living embodiment of that?
I have my life pretty much categorized into winter activities and summer activities so I can stay organized and (somewhat) peaceful, and still get LOTS of garden time in the summer. In the winter, I clean out cupboards, purge closets, complete household projects, attend dental and doctor appointments, run errands, touch base with friends I have neglected, complete mundane paperwork like wills and taxes and budget. I cook more in the wintertime. Jeff and I usually watch a video series on winter evenings and play board games. In the summer, I am mostly outside and in the garden. My volunteer work keeps me busy, as well as my rabbit breeding and competition, and writing. I am always busy, rarely frantic, and I am productive.
When you are in town and if you have time for lunch or dinner, please let me know.
Love,
Nancy
