Where Do I Begin?

Tampa Skyline at sunset

Plenty on my mind so I don't exactly know where this post is going so buckle up, hold on, and we'll get somewhere eventually!  I hope you all had a blessed Resurrection Sunday or Passover.  I tried to go all in this Lenten season, making a very concerted effort to give something up of significance.  If you aren't familiar, there's a Catholic tradition to give something up for the 40 days of lent- a sacrifice that helps one focus on prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.  I have tried giving up booze and/or sweets in past Lenten seasons, but both St. Patrick's Day and my birthday are smack-dab in the middle of lent so those are impossible goals.  Actually, they'd be really good sacrifices, but I want to enjoy my birthday!   I should give up sweets for the whole year actually, but that sacrifice, and others I've chosen are a lot like past New Year's resolutions.  I either couldn't stick with it, or it what I did pick was such an easy choice that didn't mean a whole lot to me.

Anyway, this year I was very successful with that choice, which helped me focus on the reason for the season.  So I guess that's the point.  I didn't do so well on the no meat on Fridays rule though- a perfect run going into Holy Week, but blowing it on Good Friday.  I completely forgot about it as I bit into a Mickey D's Sausage & Egg Biscuit while I waited 6 hours for my car to be serviced*.  Fortunately it's just a rule and not a law, so no harm no foul. It's a symbolic sacrifice, which can be substituted for something else, like some charitable act.  Somebody remind me to do something charitable.

The 10 days prior to Holy Week were spent visiting old friends in Tampa, then on the beach in Cancun, with one excursion of note.

El Castillo Mayan Temple at Chichen Itza

It was a very interesting site and we were excited to visit.  It's a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and one of the "Wonders of the World," but apparently that second notation isn't all that special as there are a bunch of them.  The Mayans, despite being brutal pagans, really knew their math and science.  And their calendar is one of the most accurate in the world, with only NASA's Atomic Clock besting it.  

The Great Ball Court                                                                                             Source

The Mayans had a fairly brutal civilization, making sacrifices to Kulkulcan, one of their gods.  And a game played on the ball court above that had one stone ring on either side.   The goal was to get the ball through that ring, and the winner was the one sacrificed at the end of the game since his win made him so worthy.  

The Ring - look at the top

It was quite hot there- 77 F, which doesn't sound too unbearable, but the humidity and the packed ground seemed to make the place even hotter.  So the next stop on the excursion below was a much needed respite.

This was taken at Tsukan Cenote- a natural sinkhole in the jungle with refreshing cool water.  Apparently there are thousands of these swimming holes dotting the Yucatan Peninsula.

Margaritas just taste better in Mexico

Coming back from vacation I read Sarge's posts about his future retirement plans.  And how his plans are being delayed slightly by CINC-HOUSE. 😬 On Saturday morning I was running some errands and heard one of those morning finance talk shows about when to retire and when to take social security, which gave me pause.  He had some good reasons to withhold taking social security until you are older, that I will have to consider.  I am still 6 years out from being eligible for social security, (56 this past weekend), so I have some time. But then again our travel interests, and frequency of those trips is ramping up.  So maybe sticking around for the higher pay, and foregoing retirement at that early age might be necessary.  I will of course involve my wife in that decision, just as Sarge is doing, but I hope that any delays are only due to minor financial concerns, house projects and such, vice her not wanting me at home like I've heard some men experience.  

I have too many relatives that died in their early 60s though so I know on my deathbed I will not wish I worked longer.  That's part of why we are increasing the frequency of our travels.  I know in retirement I will continue and increase my volunteer activities, as my KofC friends are looking to me to help lead them and this state someday.  I'm not sure I want that though as it's a four-year process to the top position, a year at the helm, and a year as an advisor to the helm, all with a very unforgiving schedule of meetings all over the state.  It's not something I can do while still working so I have time to think about it. 

I probably need some sort of hobby though so I may serve an apprenticeship under Juvat!  Then again, planning my travels is sort of a hobby, and one that doesn't risk the tips of my fingers.

We'll be going back to Cancun at some point as we really enjoyed it.  And as I mentioned in my previous post, it's actually quite inexpensive to get there from Tijuana ($140 round trip), nor does it take many of our time share points either.  

So where else are we wanting to empty that bucket list?  The Bourbon Trail, the Holy Land, Northern Ireland and Scotland, Machu Picchu, Cinque Terre in Italy, Capri and Sardinia, the Greek Islands, Kyoto, the Danube and Budapest, Arches National Park, and others are all in our future so I better get planning, and saving!

Happy Easter week to everyone.

*No, I had no idea that an oil change and a new visor due to an inop garage door remote that was under warranty would take 6 hours.  They weren't giving me any updates so that review won't be all 10s.