It is evening – the sun is about to go down to my right – and it has been such a beautiful day. The clouds have cleared and the sun has been sparkling off the water all afternoon. This is part of our new ‘view’. Instead of the Meadow we now have the lake … Lake Ontario. A BIG lake!
When we needed to find a simpler place to live this apartment came up. WE LUCKED OUT! For the past few years Ede has been in and out of hospital and while she was there – especially during COVID – I found myself walking the waterfront trails in Kingston. Gradually I began to notice what a beautiful neighbourhood within the city Portsmouth was.
How amazing to somehow live IN the city and yet be on the water AND surrounded by Lake Ontario Park. The fortunes were smiling our way as we ended up right here! I cannot say enough about how important finding our new home was. Fresh air – walking paths – bike paths – an indoor pool – and even kayak launching space – all where we could live on one flat floor – with no more raking, shovelling, or lawns – or fields – to care for.
I discovered ORU’s folding kayaks. They fit perfectly into my prescription of DAILY EXERCISE. My sister, Cindy, was here for a visit and we took them for a trial run. They passed with flying colours!
They handle well – are VERY light (20 pounds) – and fold up to create the shape of a suitcase that is easy to carry. Even small enough to be stored in our bedroom closet and to ride the elevator down to the shoreline.
My new ‘job’ is to start every day with a walk in the park. I get up and go before I have breakfast. Instead I walk for about an hour and then return for brunch. Turns out EXERCISE – written in capital letters on purpose – is the key factor in slowing down the progression of Parkinson’s Disease. I am all for that!
In these first three weeks living here in town I have discovered MANY favourite places to rest and soak in the beauty. I have even found a few places where the critters have become very tame – looking to seek out human handouts – or even just plain not nervous about wandering around human feet. There is a trio of ducks that hang out in the community gardens behind our building. You can imagine how delighted I was to find them!
I love to finish my days with a review of the day’s beauty – and so after musing it over – decided I would keep blogging. This will not be the same ‘critter full’ blog of the past ten years. I am going to keep track of how I learn to manage Parkinson’s. I’ve learned it is good to be able to refer back through my posts. And I hope I will also continue to take beautiful pictures of the blessings around us. So come along on Retirement 2.0 if you like. And I will totally understand if your interest had been the hobby farm life and you wish to say farewell. I believe you can unsubscribe at the bottom of my emails.
Over and out!
Love from the newly minted ‘Lakeside Mice’
A Walk in the Park 