Traveling with a Tour Group

I study with great interest all the brochures that come our way--from Duke, Harvard, National Geographic, Viking Travel and now Roads Scholars as well.  In fact, so many came that I asked Harvard to stop sending paper copies.

Jim does not care to travel and traveling alone has its dangers and drawbacks.  I feel encouraged by my travels in the last two weeks, much of it on my own.  I made mistakes but they were easily corrected.  I did what I wanted to do and I relaxed when that seemed good.

I watched tour groups in a couple of settings and was grateful not to be a part of them.  The breakfast area in the Holiday Inn Express was packed with travelers as was the lobby.  The elevator was literally full up to the ceiling with luggage.  People were waiting for the single bathroom in the hall before they boarded the bus.  I was glad to be on my own time schedule.

Later at the NY Historical Society Museum Shop I was asked if I was with the tour group.  The woman ahead of me was in a mad hurry to choose and pay lest she keep her bus waiting.  Earlier another group came into the room where I was quietly contemplating the art and listening to my audioguide.  The chatter was so loud that I decided it was time to go.  Again I was glad to be on my own before the invasion.

Yet, maybe I will give it a try.  Susan's parents liked their Road Scholar experiences--at a craft camp and in the Everglades.  I would like to try one of a limited time frame, staying in a single room in one or two hotels without frequent changes, and within a time zone or two.  Maybe Costa Rica!  That looked interesting--one week, two hotels, no single supplement, same time zone, and not terribly expensive.  Could be fun!

Goals for 2014

Laura wrote of checking on goals for 2013 and setting new ones for 2014 on her blog  www.lauravanderkam.com November 19.  I haven't been doing new year's resolutions for a while--and don't really write down goals although I may have some especially for work.  But this year I am thinking about how I am going to keep busy, be productive, and help others.

So here is a start on my list:

1.  Keep a blog about adjusting to this next chapter of my life called "retirement" and share it with others.

2.  Take docent training at the Snite and SBMuseum of Art.

3.  Travel with Jim and extend those trips like I am doing right now.

4.  Relearn geometry with jmath.net.

5.  Learn lots of new organ music--maybe even some challenging stuff.

6.  Watch videos online.

7.  Read longer books--instead of quick reads.

8.  Find a way to help out in adult education--maybe not in the spring but in the fall of 2014.

9.  Spend more time with children and grandchildren--as I am doing this week.

10.  (added November 25)  Learn Greek so I can read the New Testament with greater interest!

Letting Go!

This morning's USAToday says that it is the 150th anniversary of the Gettysburg Address.  I
immediately thought about using that in a lesson for the students.   A few weeks ago I learned that most of them did not know when the Civil War took place and that Abraham Lincoln was president during it.

I couldn't resist.  I texted Tracy, my sub, and suggested using this anniversary as a subject of cell phone searches.

This is what I will miss as much as anything--the planning and the carrying out of those plans.

Thoughts from 2 Northside Piers

I am at Dan's apartment overlooking the East River and the skyscrapers in Manhattan.

We left home on Thursday and I have been on the road for four nights with eleven to go!  Next spring when I travel it will not take as much planning.  I worked hard to get things ready for a sub and to make sure that each student knew what he or she should be working on this week in my absence.  I hope it all plays out according to plan.

I am having a wonderful time.  It was great to be with family in Princeton for a couple of days.  It was great to be here with Dan who was a wonderful host even if he did have more energy and physical stamina than his 67 year old mother.

One needs to do this kind of thing while one still has the ability to do so.  We were on six subway lines total yesterday en route to the Met Museum of Art and back.  No one gave up a seat for a white-haired lady.  In fact, I may have been the oldest person I saw on the subways.  Dan says the older folk take buses and cabs.  Today I plan to get to Manhattan by the East River Ferry and then a crosstown bus.

But for now, I am saving up energy and going with a change of plans for the day that will take less time and effort.  I don't want to get to the Cloisters badly enough to spend 30 minutes at least each way underground to get there.

I am very contented to sit here and read and look out over the river and just be grateful for the ability to enjoy it.

Suggestions from "Friends"

Mary Vanderkam

October 28 near Granger

I'm retiring on December 31 and am enjoying the suggestions made just in the last few days for what I could do with my life. Any others?

Jim--take up golf (sorry, Jim)
David Banga--the musical saw (inspired by the last Subkirke band!)
Dan Vanderkam--calculus (geometry on jmath.net first?)
Ruth Engbers--a visit to Milwaukee (that would be fun!)

• Jevon Groenewold, Mary Kroon Brown, Sally Bawtinheimer and 4 others like this.
  
  

  • David Banga Musical saw is the way to go. No question.

    October 28 at 3:09pm · Like
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    Bill Svelmoe The Dead Sea Scrolls need their own opera ...

    October 28 at 3:40pm · Like
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    Linda Ward Smyth Why not ask Laura ~ I've often thought she should write a similar book to her first, only geared to seniors ~ perhaps when she gets there herself, but that won't do us any good.

    October 28 at 3:56pm · Like
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    John Haas SEAL Team 6 . . .

    October 28 at 4:35pm · Like
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    Linda Mickler Bolt Color tour through Corning, New York, next fall, on the way to visit your kids out East. I know a place you can stay... 

    October 28 at 8:05pm · Edited · Like
  • 

    Wendy Baxter Take up some completely new, different and bizzarre hobby like... Glassblowing or...lute building.

    October 28 at 9:22pm via mobile · Like · 1
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    John Haas Yes, a hobby! Where you make something, and then sell it, and use the money for a worthy cause! Hmm. I know! Have you ever heard of a TV show called "Breaking Bad"?

    October 28 at 10:03pm · Like
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    Marvin Bolt Glassblowing isn't bizarre. Try it. I know just the place.

    October 28 at 10:04pm · Like
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    Wendy Baxter Hahahaha... But Mary, it needs to be fashionable ... From a recent sermon, I understand cocaine is the white person's choice... OR, you could really really get to know and understand your former students...

    October 28 at 10:05pm via mobile · Like
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    Bill Svelmoe One word ... Proust ...

    October 29 at 12:04am · Like
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    John Haas Moby-Dick . . . translated into Aramaic . . . now there's a project . . .

    October 29 at 12:08am · Like
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  Kathleen Ann Plantinga Painting is a very engrossing hobby!

  October 29 at 12:10am · Like · 1
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  Madge McLaughlin How about plans to squander time - like you've never been able to do before..

  October 29 at 5:25pm · Like
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  Cyn Haas Whatever your heart desires. 

  October 30 at 7:56am · Like
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