Retirement has afforded me so many joys, not the least of which is actually having and taking the time to notice little things around me.

In my working days, I was juggling a full time job, volunteering, raising our daughter and getting her to all of her activities (mostly alone because my hubs’ job was on the road), cooking, cleaning, looking after a big yard filled with flower beds in the summer and snow to shovel in the winter, plus my own activities of curling in the winter and golf in the summer, and so much more.

In those days, I didn’t have much time to marvel at how a frozen leaf blends in perfectly with the paving tiles on our balcony.

“Real luxury is not working like a maniac to take an expensive vacation–it is living a life you enjoy every day.”

~ Kathy Gottberg