Archive for October, 2011

It is really good to return to writing blogs …I am sorry that this has been something I have not being doing lately…..but I promise to do at least a new one a week, as well as develop the Travel Section and to explain the photographs taken especially in South America last year.

I was rather taken by a story I read last week  under the title of ” Finding Real Contentment.”

Contentment is finding your purpose in life, and sticking to that purpose no matter what. Sometimes we lose the purpose…through distraction, sometimes because the going gets too tough.

Here is the story….

A wealthy businessman was upset to find a fisherman sitting idly bedside his boat. ” Why aren’t you out fishing?  he asked. “Because I’ve caught enough fish for today.” replied the fisherman.” Why don’t you catch more fish than you need ? ” the businessman asked.

” What would I do with them ? ” replied the fisherman. The businessman said  ” You could earn more money, buy a bigger boat , catch even bigger fish and make more money. Soon you would have a whole fleet of boats and be rich like me.”

The fisherman said  ”Then what would I do? ”

The businessman replied ” You could sit down and enjoy life”

The Fisherman replied ” What do you think I am doing now?!”

We can smile but there is something very powerful in this story. And that is why do we want bigger, and better and more things in our life ? Why are we seduced by needing to acquire ” things” which the Bible reminds us will break, rot, rust and be destroyed.

I used to fear the day I would have grey hair. It was almost as bad as having thinner hair and a receding hairline. In your 20′s, 30′s, the  aging and growing old was something you never thought of ….listening to wisdom from your father  was something to be endured rather than be enjoyed.

Invariably all good advice went through one ear and out the other.

In your 40′s priorities changed ….teenagers were introduced into your life….and suddenly you were starting to sound like your father…..and guess what….the things you were saying to your kids about the perils of living , were the exact same things that were told to you several decades previous.

If you don’t believe that life comes in cycles and circles …well here is a good example.

If you are reading this and you are in your 20′s and 30′s…. Get out there and enjoy life. Grab the opportunities with gusto , but also be aware of the consequence of your actions.

Life is not a sprint race for most…it is a long distance endurance race. Protecting your long term health  should be as important as protecting your valuables…wallet, jewellery and car etc…

Which leads me on to this…

No NURSING HOME FOR me!!!

No nursing home for us.  We’ll be checking into a Holiday Inn!

With the average cost for a nursing home care costing $188.00 per day, there is a better way when we get old and too feeble.
I’ve already checked on reservations at the Holiday Inn.

 For a combined long term stay discount and senior discount, it’s $59.23 per night.

Breakfast is included, and some have happy hours in the afternoon.

That leaves  $128.77 a day for lunch and dinner in any restaurant we want, or room service, laundry, gratuities and special TV movies.

Plus, they provide a spa, swimming pool, a workout room, a lounge and washer-dryer, etc.

Most have free toothpaste and razors, and all have free shampoo and soap.
$5 worth of tips a day you’ll have the entire staff scrambling to help you.

They treat you like a customer, not a patient.

There’s a city bus stop out front, and seniors ride free.

The handicap bus will also pick you up (if you fake a decent limp).

To meet other nice people, call a church bus on Sundays.

 
For a change of scenery, take the airport shuttle bus and eat at one of the nice restaurants there.

While you’re at the airport, fly somewhere.  Otherwise, the cash keeps building up.

It takes months to get into decent nursing homes. Holiday Inn will take your reservation today.

And you’re not stuck in one place forever — you can move from Inn to Inn, or even from city to city.

Want to see  Hawaii?  They have Holiday Inn there too.

TV broken?  Light bulbs need changing?  Need a mattress replaced?  No problem.. They fix everything,  and apologize for the inconvenience.

The Inn has a night security person and daily room service. The maid checks to see if you are ok.  If not, they’ll call an ambulance . . .. or the undertaker.

 If you fall and break a hip, Medicare will pay for the hip, and Holiday Inn will upgrade you to a suite for the rest of your life.     

                         And no worries about visits from family. They will always be glad to find you, and probably check in for a few days mini-vacation.

 The grandkids can use the pool.

        What more could I ask for?

Have a wonderful day

I will write soon

Lindsay Walker

Thursday 13th October 2011.