Profound Happiness and Enjoyment

One of the decisions that my wife and I made during the last few years of working before retirement was for me to take some consulting and teaching jobs since whatever income I generated would not impact or reduce my Social Security since I waited until age 67 to claim Social Security.  We decided to use that extra income to refurbish the house, especially the kitchen and bathroom...  but also to put in a 26 foot round pool, surrounded by a large deck with a gazebo and hot tub.

We knew that we could make this financial commitment because 5 years earlier, we achieved our financial freedom by becoming debt free 

Looking back at our paperwork...  all of this was done 10 years ago and I have been retired 6 years.  There have been some repair bills on the hot tub but that is because we were advised to use powder chemicals when we should have been using liquid chemicals...  and just normal wear and tear.  However, the pool has never needed maintenance but we have had to purchase a new motor.  During the summer months, the motor operates 24/7, so replacing only one motor is not that bad.

I am in a state of PROFOUND HAPPINESS AND RELAXTION every time I lower my body into the hot water of the HOT TUB.  Out hot tub seats 6 people, so there is plenty of room for me to extend out my entire body with my arms over the sides to hold me up.  I close my eyes and remain in that position for a good 30-40 minutes.  Then, I turn on the jets that massage my upper and lower back which is especially comforting when I have overworked in the yard.   I have lower back issues anyway so the massage is just a good way to keep my back relaxed.

I would say that I am in the hot tub every other day/night out of 365 days for a total of about 180 times a year and I get in the pool during the summer weeks about once or twice a week and typically that is for exercise purposes because I walk around the perimeter for about 20-30 minutes...  after 4-5 revolutions one way, I turn and walk in the other direction against the water currents that my movement created.

This past summer, when we could not go to MYRTLE BEACH because of COVID, our backyard pool and hot tub got a workout and while others stayed inside, we were outside enjoying ourselves either in the sun or the shade, it did not matter.

This was money well spent...

BTW...

most hot tubs last 10 or years and most pools last a little over 7-8 years...

my wife and I made of point of taking good care of both...

and, it has paid off.

At 73, I figure I only have 5 good years left maybe 7, but after 80, it is going to be a little difficult getting in and out of the hot tub.

Since my wife no longer enjoys the hot tub (for reasons that only her own), if we ever need to replace this one, I will invest in a 2-3 person tub as I really don't need all the extra space.

EAST TN: Ideal Retirement Location

As I have mentioned many times before, I am living in the Tennessee Valley of East TN and as far as I am concerned, it is an IDEAL place to live, especially if one is retired...   because of:

• its physical location weather protection
• its physical location geographically
• 30-60 minute access to everything
• Oak Ridge National Labs
• TVA Parks and Recreation
• Country Life and exposure to nature
• Tranquil surroundings
• University of TN
• its lower cost of living index
• its lack of urban influences
• its lack of crime

NOTE:   Not everyone is suited for this type of lifestyle...  but, let me assure you that we have local watering holes that serve beer, wine, and alcohol.  We have illegal drugs being sold to our elementary school children and high school students.  We have local prostitutes and call girls.  We have several members of the Mexican Drug Cartels living in our area as well.  We have political crimes and influence peddling.  We have telephone scams and computer hacking and all sorts of people trying to get access to our data to perpetrate a variety of crimes against us.

WHAT WE DON"T HAVE IS:

1. Racism
2. Black Lives Matter
3. ANTIFA
4. White Supremacists
5. Police Violence against Black
6. Blacks killing cops
7. Protesting and Riots
8. Burning of city buildings
9. Pipe Bombs
10. Domestic Terrorism

TODAY...

there is a light rain falling instead of snow.  The temps are in the 40's but will rise to the 50's but it is doubtful that we will have all the sunshine that we had yesterday.  Each day, the light extends the day against darkness by ONE MINUTE....  so, we are getting closer to spring and the rebirth of nature.  All our bushes will blow and grow.  All our flowers will return.  The Japanese Maple that I cut back will sprout new limbs as will the Crepe Myrle that surrounds our pool.

REGRETS...

My physical health and all the cuts I have on my body and all the recent procedures I have had, have kept me out of my HOT TUB for almost a month.  But, as they heal, I will return to its warmth and once again sit in the warmth of its waters and look up and see all the stars in the absolutely clear night sky.