Not much, or a lot depending on how you look at things. I’ve been back from the US for about two weeks, so the first week I needed a bit of time to recover from traveling and to reacquaint myself with the my bass guitar before the weekend gig. Our drummer had a sore shoulder and there wasn’t a lot of time so we didn’t practice though.

Then, last week we had Friday and Saturday booked, and then got a last minute call for Thursday! All three were different venues, different audiences, and different song lists so it was interesting and a lot of fun. One of the highlights was Lee, a great sax player and singer who sat in with us for a couple songs both Thursday and Friday. By Saturday night we were all tired though.

Finally this week we have practice scheduled for tomorrow (Friday) since we only have a gig on Sunday. It will be good to tighten up a few things we need to review, and get started on a bunch of new songs we have been working on individually.

So, this is retirement? All you do is play music? Umm..  well, pretty much 😁 I’m definitely not bored in retirement! I’ve been on the bike a little, not as much as I should. Our main exercise last week was loading equipment in and out of venues. I’ve been puttering in the yard a little, visiting the neighbors, and working on the computer. I’ve been doing the publicity for the band which now involves twitter, instagram, a mailing list, as well as Facebook and I’ve been trying to make some more attractive flyers.

The weather has been a bit unusual. Dry season is supposed to arrive in mid December but it rained through January. Then rainy season came a bit early, closer to the beginning of April, but as soon as it came it seemed to leave again and we were back to hot, windy, dry, sunny weather. The last few days the clouds have come back and today we had a big downpour, the I can’t hear you from the other side of the room kind of downpour (we have tin roofs here). Now it’s raining lightly and everything is dripping wet. I know, not everyone’s ideal weather but I can enjoy it from the terrace. The birds are singing everywhere so maybe they are happy too, and when the breeze blows by it brings the sweet fragrance of our flowering limón tree.

Speaking of birds, my Seattle daughter had a crazy experience. She and my little granddaughter were eating breakfast just inside the sliding glass doors to the terrace when they heard a thud outside. A dead pigeon had fallen on the deck just outside, followed by a full size bald eagle who swooped down to retrieve it! Those birds are huge, and it about scared the wits out of my granddaughter.

I know I always sound busy, but I think I’m finally starting to relax a bit, finally, after 5 1/2 years. At first we were settling in. Joel’s mother was here for the first 6 months. After she went back to the US we did more exploring of Panama and a bit of other traveling. We hosted cyclists, and I did some bike trips myself which involved quite a bit of training to get in something like decent shape. Since the grandkids have come I’ve been going back to see family more often. Then, there was the intense process of learning to play bass in a short time. But now, nothing seems a urgent. I have even discovered the pleasures of laying around in bed in the morning! Of course part of that is the late nights with the band, but part is also if I don’t feel like getting up I don’t have to. It’s a luxury I’ve never allowed myself before.

Maybe that’s why I haven’t kept up well with the blog, other correspondence, and other things I usually do – too much laying around in bed. ☺ But, I hear that is allowed at this stage of life. I am so grateful to be here!!  If I was in the US I’d still be working to survive, and no laying around allowed.