Wednesday, September 25, 2024

Summer Has Fled ...

Mt. Ascutney
Windsor, Vermont
OAFS Photo
Fall has arrived, summer has fled and it seems that the warmer temperatures have gone with it.

We turned off the air conditioners on Monday, as they are dual purpose (cooling and heating) they will not come on until the real cold sets in. For now we can get by with the heating provided by the sun during the day, such as it is. It's around 68° in the house now, moments before sundown on Tuesday. Tolerable.

Took The Missus Herself out to the aeroporto on Tuesday, she's off to visit LUSH for a fortnight. The timing for us works, the timing for LUSH works. The Missus Herself is looking forward to seeing Lush and her kids. Big Time is at sea and will probably be there for another few months.

As for me, this is the last season of the year where I will be employed as a wage slave. Subject to the whims of the government and the mutterings of the higher ups. Will I miss it? As I've said before, I'll miss most of the people I work with and certain aspects of the job, Beyond that? It's time to hang up the cleats, as it were, I'm tired and don't feel like playing salaryman any more.

Oh well ...

The Muse is still on vacation, I have no pressing stories to tell, not even any non-pressing stories. A couple of ideas have bubbled up, but I can't summon the energy to pursue those ideas. Not just yet anyway.

Where will my writing go in the next few months? I can't say, there is much to do between now and December, work wise. Time to train my replacement, time to ease my way out the door.

It's going to be an adventure.

Then there is November, I view that month with a great deal of trepidation.

Will the Republic live on?

I have my doubts, but one thing is sure ...

God is still in charge.

That's where I place my hopes.

Stay frosty.



24 comments:

  1. Getting ready to pull the pin Sarge, brought to mind that song title....."Changes"....... :) Good Family Time for The Missus Herself and the grandkids will be happy to have Grandma around for a bit. More and more political ads are showing up on the tube.......(sigh)

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    1. The political season is upon us. Ho ho ho. Not that I would ever vote for that thing.

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  2. Retirement half the income, same bills and for the spouse twice the intrafamily time.

    My beautiful wife and I work part time and have to do all the yearly recertification.

    Happily they'll pay for it as work requirements.

    You seem to spend a lot of time in my area. Leaf changes can be pretty.

    Time of the year to put the gardens to bed for the winter.

    Michael

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    1. You'd be surprised how nice my pension is. I know I was.

      Define "your area" - I grew up 'round here, well, about 150 miles further north, but still New England.

      And yeah, the gardens are losing their luster.

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    2. Retirement also comes with not having to dress for work and the associated costs, not having to drive every day and the associated costs, not having to deal with drinks and food when at work and all the associated costs.

      Retirement on half-pay, as long as you aren't living large or have huge expenses, is doable.

      Which is why, all of 5 years or so ago, when our host first mentioned retirement I encouraged him to replace his old vehicle with a newer one before said retirement.

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    3. Turns out, it ain't "half pay." The military retirement check is 60% of my base pay at retirement, the company pension is rather short of 50%, but more than I had anticipated, and the other government check more than makes up for that. It too is much more than I had anticipated.

      We shall be living "comfortably," to say the least.

      Delete
  3. Early Fall is the time of sweeping temperature changes here in N. Calif. Monday and Tuesday were pushing toward 100. Today is supposed to be 70, tomorrow mid-80s, Friday, mid90s. Then yoyo between the 90s and mid-70s for a week.

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    1. LUSH informed her mother that temperatures have been in the 100s in the Central Valley lately.

      And she still got on the plane. 😊

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    2. I remember an S-3B Viking pilot lamenting that he didn't get Hornets..."But at least I'm not in Lemoore!"

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  4. Trust me on this. There is nothing like going to bed on a Sunday night and not having to worry about what you have to do on Monday morning

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  5. Sarge, we had what is likely our last Summer day yesterday. I am reliably informed by my coworkers that we have two to three weeks of pleasant Autumn weather before we fall into the rainy season, which we should emerge from in late March. Given the fact my apartment tends to retain heat (and only has a portable air conditioner), I am looking forward to the change.

    While I have always missed my coworkers when I leave jobs, the thing I never miss is the inevitable stress and constant drumbeat of "do this, do this!" when in my heart I know these things are not at all important in the long run. How much better to spend time on the things that one feels are important and make a difference or influence in the lives of those we are directly in contact with.

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    1. Which should make a big difference in my day to day existence.

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  6. Will the Republic live on you asked. Not a question I ever really expected to see...

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    1. The Republic WILL live on; if only because God IS in charge and we have it in our hearts. As I've said (and written) before "Pray like it's all up to God; and work like it's all up to you." Having recently had daily prayers answered; I see no reason to deviate from this practice.
      While we are indeed in "the times that try mens souls" and there are bad things to come, I'm certain but good WILL prevail.
      Boat Guy

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  7. Retiring just in time to protect home and hearth. Hope you have home hard areas for cover, not just concealment. Been stacking "precious metals"? If Camalhoe gets in, they'll keep kicking the can down the road as long as they can. If Trump wins, the Antifa shock troops and paid/unpaid illegals get activated. Can't be having any inconvenient, embarrassing, investigations gumming up the cash flow, power distribution networks. Glad I live in the hills of middle western Tennessee, all my neighbors are snipers, er. I mean farmer/rancher/dear hunters. Hope you get to enjoy some quality family time. It's entirely possible that we have years of relative peace ahead of us, but i'm skeptical.

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  8. Crusty Old TV Tech here. Just had a retirement do at work for an old friend. One day, yes Precious, one day, I tell myself. I get the problem with patience for stupid work. My stupid work de-clutter-filter gain has been going up daily. When it hits 11, that must be a sign for retirement, no? And the picture...Mt Ascutney. Nice TV transmitter up there, that's what I see. Oh, and the fall leaves, Vermont, the Adirondacks, ah, I miss that in the fall. We get fall down here in Space City, the leaves turn brown and fall off around December.

    I remember the rules for the A/C cooling tower from my father, drain at Thanksgiving, fill at Easter. Well, at least down South!

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    1. These are mini-splits, they drain constantly when it's humid out. (Which as I recall from my time along the Gulf Coast was every day!)

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  9. Trepidation, indeed...
    "I have my doubts, but one thing is sure ...
    God is still in charge."'
    You brought that point around smartly.
    Yo are still frosty.

    Rumbear

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Just be polite... that's all I ask. (For Buck)
Can't be nice, go somewhere else...

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