Thank you for spending a few moments with this ever-curious Placid-Adventurer as I share my thoughts and explorations…. remember follow The Placid Adventurer page on Facebook.

  • The Root Cause

    I am a placid adventurer. I spent years waiting to go “here and there” with partners in my life. Those plans never came to fruition. Eventually, I realized that life was passing me by, and that if I really wanted to have an adventure, I was going to need to do it alone. I had long been riding my bike and kayaking locally. Sometimes I had the pleasure of family members, but mostly I was on my own. Little by little, I began to branch out a little farther.

    As I relocated, with work, to new regions, I made a point of exploring new parks and wildlife areas. I celebrated a divorce, by making myself a hotel reservation, packing a bag, and, after loading my kayak atop the car; taking a trip to Mount Rushmore. It was liberating!

    Later, I bought a tent, and began spending as much of my downtime as possible, exploring, camping, and kayaking with my dog in tow. Okay, it is probably more like “glamping;” I will often pay for an electric hookup, and carry a tablet along for entertainment. Many years later, I have still managed to avoid making a campfire. I am not above bringing veggie sticks, granola, and jerky along, however; I was a Girl Scout for many years, and I still remember how.

    I am really concerned about us baby-boomers! It is comfortable to plop down in front of the TV and binge Netflix, but that is not going to keep us strong, fit, nor alert! This project has been in my heart for some time; I really want to encourage my fellow Boomers to make a point of getting outside every day, and embracing opportunities to try something new, even if it means doing it alone. I am not promoting extreme activities (unless that is what you are already into), but I am promoting activity, curiosity, and a healthier lifestyle… I will show you mine.

    A couple thoughts to leave you with…

    1. Always pack out everything you packed in!!!

    2. When it comes to increasing your activity level, and adding some adventure to your life; start small if you must, but start today!

  • Signs of Spring

    We are currently enjoying our 2nd false Spring here in the Mid-West, and I want so much to break out my new Kayak and head to a nearby lake for its maiden voyage. The problem is, that these false Springs are heralded by some gusty weather, and even flatwater paddling can be exhausting in those windy conditions. If you think that 27mph gusts sound wonderful, as I once did, let me tell you about the multiple experiences I have had that required me to beach my kayak on a rocky outcropping or a sandy shoreline, and hike a mile back to the car and then backtrack to pick up my “boat.” Those emergency landings usually included a few scrapes and scratches to both the kayak and me.

    Nope, my water festivities will have to wait a little bit longer. Those warm air currents push fast and furious out of the south, but they are not yet a match for the cold air huffing and puffing and carrying that chill back down again. I could don some cool weather gear and hit a small lake on Sunday, but even when the air temperatures are pushing the seventies, the water temperature is still only in the low forties. There is nothing to worry about as long as you do not wind up in the lake. At least it will be sunny, and only a 9mph breeze out of the south. Tuesday, however, looks like the best day for an outing, yet I keep hoping I will land the job of my dreams and get back to work by then. It has been a very long time since I had a couple months of not working, and I sometimes wish I had planned my future better. I have had plenty of time for Yoga, and we have numerous projects going on here at the house.

    We have broken our to-do list into indoor and outdoor projects, and today we tried to put a dent in some of the tree work that needs to get done. The windy days have wreaked havoc upon the trees on our property, and we did some trimming and gathering of deadfall. When we have a calm day, we can look forward to quite a bonfire. There are several old willows that still worry me. They are way past their prime, but too close to the house for us to deal with properly ourselves. I get nervous when the winds reach gale force; we do not need a tree splitting and landing on the house or the currently immobile RV…do not ask.

    In other news, I am thrilled to see that some of the perennials I introduced into the flower bed last year seem to be making an appearance. We had reclaimed some large areas, that had been overpowered by invasive bush honeysuckle, for a flower garden. The results last year were not wonderful, but I have high hopes for this year. I am starting early with new additions, and have just ordered some lupine. My hollyhocks and foxglove look like they will be hardier this year, and that makes my heart soar.

    The job search has been a bear, but I have not given up. I am adamant that I will not choose something that I do not really want, and I am not driving an hour each way to work. It was that commute that had me looking to change jobs last Fall, but I got sidetracked by a bright shiny opportunity that kept me doing that commute. May that be a lesson for me! Heck, may it be a lesson for anyone who comes across this narrative! All that glitters is not gold…, if you need to make a change in your career, your relationship, or in your lifestyle; do not let yourself be sidetracked for something less that what you were looking for! Live with purpose and do not compromise your intent.  

    Hope you are making the most of the transitioning seasons and preparing for a wonderful spring and summer. Namaste.

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