Last night the board that I serve on held an informal dinner event at a Greek restaurant downtown. I spent more than I usually do -- I guess I just decided to have fun and not worry for a change. The entire bill for drinks and dinner was $37 -- well, that's not really so bad, is it? Now that I look at it in black and white it doesn't seem like so much of a splurge.
And I really did have fun! It was a great group of people, lots of lively conversation, and the servers outdid themselves.
As it turned out, the restaurant was pretty close to the station, so I didn't have to get a taxi. I did have a bit of a walk in the rain, but I had company, which made it easier. I guess I pushed myself a little too hard, though, because in the night the pain in my leg was really bad.
I don't know if I've mentioned this before, but my brother's wife recently sold a business she started about 10 years ago. It was pretty successful, and I knew they were going to get a nice chunk of change. However, I just looked at pictures of the new house they're buying, and I'm taken aback! 3,800 square feet, situated on a lake with docking privileges, a pool in back, glass walls looking onto the lake -- it's pretty spectacular. I can tell my brother is kind of taken aback, too, but he says he is not going to stand in the way of his wife enjoying the fruits of her hard labor.
I'm not exactly envious -- well, I guess I am, a little. I wouldn't want so much responsibility, but I wouldn't mind having a little more of the good life. It just seems so odd that the siblings all live so differently. My sister throwing money away at every turn and living pretty much in squalor, my brother living in splendor, and me in a little walkup hanging on by my fingernails.
Oh well, it will be a nice place to visit!
A great dinner out, and my brother's new house
March 28th, 2014 at 03:06 pm
March 28th, 2014 at 03:16 pm 1396019793
March 28th, 2014 at 03:51 pm 1396021863
March 28th, 2014 at 04:13 pm 1396023231
March 28th, 2014 at 04:48 pm 1396025328
Do you really see yourself as 'hanging on by your fingernail?' Perhaps you're taking a negative view because your leg is causing pain. I see you making short term contractions to give yourself a more secure retirement... very visible on your side bar. I wonder if DS plans to stay in Fl long term? With real estate moving in the right direction, would you consider selling up and retiring in Fl which is so popular with seniors who are fed up with icy winters? We want you to be happy!
March 28th, 2014 at 06:19 pm 1396030796
March 28th, 2014 at 06:40 pm 1396032059
March 28th, 2014 at 06:41 pm 1396032089
I do still have a DS (with wife and two sons) who is just a block away, so I wouldn't consider selling unless they left, too! And I think that's unlikely.
I'm one of those people who is not crazy about Florida. It's too hot and sticky, with not a lot of culture to offer, and their grass is weird! That said, it IS nice to walk outside without a coat in winter. But ordinarily I don't mind winter. I just minded this year's mega-winter.
March 29th, 2014 at 01:44 am 1396057453
florida has HUGE bugs. Just saying
March 29th, 2014 at 02:27 am 1396060044
March 29th, 2014 at 12:27 pm 1396096035