And that’s okay

I had an epiphany during the first COVID-19 lockdown in 2020. I realized the best way to live my life was to determine what I truly enjoy and celebrate those things as much as possible. This revelation is one of the many positive outcomes of blogging and quiet contemplation. Writing has forced me to express my thoughts and feelings with conviction. Lying to myself (or you) about anything would only take me down a woeful path. Onward and upward we go.

Because I love making lists and because I think some of what I am going to share will resonate with some of you, I have decided to boldly put it out there (random order):

• The best time I have spent in my life has been creating a comfortable place to sleep. A firm mattress, soft cream colored cotton sheets, a couple of goose down pillows and a light goose down comforter, matte blue/gray walls, photos and paintings that evoke the best parts of my past, and a toilet only a few steps from my bed. All money well spent.
• Fresh ground beans used to make that first cup of coffee. Sometimes in an espresso machine, sometimes in a French press, sometimes poured over, but mostly in a drip pot. I want it soon after I wake and I want it with a little whole milk. That watered down, low-fat crap, is not for me.
• My Paco by my side, especially after he’s had a bath, and especially when he’s sleeping.
• A good novel, read in a quiet place, makes me very happy.
• Eating good food is probably my greatest pleasure.
• A provocative and engaging conversation with someone smart and present is time well spent.
• Sitting in a beach chair in front of the ocean on a warm, blue sky day, provides enough fuel to last days or weeks. Warm sand between my toes adds to the beach experience; as does a beautiful sunset.
• The laughter of my toddler nieces and nephews is the elixir of life.
• A glass or two of a good red wine at dusk is about as good as it gets. Paired with an aged gouda, takes it to another level.
• Finding a bargain when I least expect it is extremely satisfying.
• A good game of Texas Holdem’ is hard to beat.
• The realization that I am enough cannot be overstated.
• A good friend reigns supreme.
• I am an unabashed and proud TikToker. Hours of watching humans be human has been a recent guilty pleasure.
• Sundays where I reside are peaceful and quiet. I have made a practice of staying at home and opening my terrace doors to allow the outside in. The absence of cars and kids makes hearing the wind and the birds easier.
• A one euro café com lait after a workout is hard to beat.
• A freshly cleaned apartment puts a huge smile on this worn out face.
• A productive hour at the gym.
• A pair of fresh pajamas, a good film, a curled-up Paco, a comfy sofa, on an evening at Twilight is pretty fucking awesome.
• Solitude
• A good night’s sleep followed by a pre-dawn, unleashed Paco, walk in the park, is a great way to start the day. When the moon is full, it’s an added bonus.
• A competitive game of croquet, mah jongg, or poker with my fellow expats, are once-in-a-while, gratifying social activities.
• Discovery of a part of the world I had yet to explore or the comfort of the familiar I love returning to, are gifts that keep on giving.
• Good health is not to be discounted or ignored. All of the above are nothing without it.

You won’t see a luxury yacht, the Maldive beaches, or a $200,000 Lamborghini on my list. It took a lifetime for me to realize that the simplest things provide the most pleasure. An occasional indulgence becomes a treat I can savor and a hassle-free day is all I can hope for.

I’ll keep adding to this gratifying list. It’s hokey, it’s corny, it’s self-indulgent . . . it’s me. If you notice, there is no mention of men.

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Future Travel

A couple of short, local trips to Spain and parts of the Algarve coming up soon; an Iceland cruise by way of Northern Europe in May; Oslo, Norway with Paco for all of July (with visits from friends); a much anticipated trip to the Puglia region of Italy in the spring of 2025. The United States sometime in 2025 is likely: Brooklyn, Florida, Portland, Maine, Maryland, and North Carolina. I can now fly direct from Faro to Newark, thanks to a new United route. I booked a Mediterranean cruise for October 2025 — it sails from Tel Aviv, so it’s a bit uncertain. It includes parts of Turkey and Egypt I have not yet explored.

State-of-Mind

Being satisfied with the status quo is not a bad place to be.

Please forgive typos and grammatical errors; proofreading is the part I detest.