Reflections

 I guess I am going go introspective today--it being my birthday and all. 

What a very unexpected year it has been since my last birthday. 

Chris and I completed our first full year living in Florida full-time at the beginning of September. What a year it has been punctuated with joy and sadness! The separation from family has been challenging. But living in Florida has been everything that I had hoped it would be--and that includes going to the beach almost whenever I want to go.

Horseback Riding
Saint Anne, Jamaica
November 9, 2022

Highlights:

 - Travel: 

  -- Caribbean cruise on Holland America in November

  -- Caribbean cruise on Royal Caribbean in January

  -- Alaska cruise on Royal Caribbean in August-September

  -- Weekend in Key West during October

  -- Spring Training Trip

  -- Visiting Charlottesville, VA

Graduation Day
Odenton, MD
June 6, 2023

 - Family:
  -- Ethan, graduated High School and is off to college.

  -- Jax made the JV baseball team

  -- Lucas became a smart 8th grader!

  -- Patrick got married to Jen, a wonderful woman and companion, that was during the January cruise

  -- We visited Dad in Houston

  --  We enjoyed the holidays in Maryland with our family and friends

 - Recreation:

  -- We joined a boat club

  -- We went to a few concerts

  -- I biked over 2,000 miles

  -- Chris got a bike and we bike a lot together

  -- We bought new furniture for the living room

  -- We played golf a lot

  -- We saw fireworks on the 4th of July

  -- We survived multiple hurricanes

Alaskan Cruise
Juneau, Alaska
September 1, 2023

Difficult things:

  -- Jodie passed during July

  -- Makayla, my dog of 14 years, passed during October

  -- Riordin, my cat of 14 years, passed earlier this month

  -- Dad was hospitalized twice--but is doing great

 

I am not sure what the next year will bring, but I am thankful for family, friends, and the health to enjoy being retired. I hope we can all continue the ride.

Be well!

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL