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Daily Thoughts and Inactivity

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The freedom of procrastination

One of the best parts of retirement, perhaps the absolute best part of retirement is the freedom associated with procrastinating one’s day away with delaying “must be done” tasks until some future unknown time. This tactic is not part of my personality and I rarely delay personal tasks. Debbie’s presence changes this, however, and sometimes I forget to do things. It has become over time a relaxed existence with Debbie in my life.

A heart attack inspires me to relaxation. The cardio rehabilitation classes that I participated in for twelve weeks or so, those are now complete, emphasize relaxation techniques which centered on breathing and yoga-like mental control. I have come to recognize the value of having an external commitment to consistent exercise. Cardio rehab taught me this. Previously I did not see the value of a class-like exercise program. I am autonomous in nature and prefer to operate alone. Competition with others does is not interest me. I do, however, find that a little push does get me moving to exercise.

I have been and am procrastinating about finding another commitment to exercise such as the cardio rehab class made available as part of my heart attack recovery program. Health insurance paid for these exercise classes.

I thought I would be rigorous enough in my pursuit of bike riding. An attainable goal of mine is twenty miles in one ride. Persistence is necessary but elusive. I have discovered a little untruth within me, I tell myself I will ride more, maybe every day but sitting still is easier and some days more satisfying.

I am a member of a local YMCA. In the past Cheryl and I went there regularly to exercise. She to a deep water aerobics class that she selected as her own recovery program from an automobile accident which left her weakened on her left side. Me to the gym to pedal an upright stationary bike and lift a few random weights. I also took a Pilates class that required no special equipment. We did this rigorously for a decade or so. Life happens and she is gone now.

I will start by riding consistently five miles each day.

Maybe tomorrow.

Carpe Diem.

HOA – and other thoughts

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A home owners association is the lowest form of government. In our little group of condos, I accepted the task of president. A lofty sounding office with no pay and occasional grief and I should add a job, position, office and title one cannot get rid of without death or at a minimum sale of one’s own real estate. I wish to do neither.

Recently one of our residents began the process of making application for a home improvement loan from a local bank. The bank loan office is plowing through its own internal procedure for finding out if a condominium is of a certain value and more importantly if the loan goes south what other obligations it has after it takes the property in foreclosure.

Banks and their loan staff are masters at covering their asses. Two times in the form sent to me as President and chief executive officer of the Crestpointe Condominium Unit Homeowners Association Inc. (lofty), they asked the question – Is there a special assessment in place or will there be a special assessment coming soon? – twice.

I wonder why that is important to the loan? If I had a bank officer nearby, I would ask.

I pressed on in my head about other questions; the previous owners did an extensive rehab before selling, what needs fixing? And is there a mortgage? How much equity remains?

Debbie and I discuss often the rabbit holes I fall into as I think about nuances of the various properties we have looked at the past few weeks. She likes imagining a different house and refers to herself as a hobby realtor. (One day we may find a better living situation than the one we currently have but that is off in the future somewhere, hiding where the universe put it.) Those discussions sent me to the county auditor’s website which tells a story about previous ownership. Sometimes it leads me to imagine previous life histories, although the stories can be fictional.

There is no mortgage. The resident paid cash. The previous ownership page does tell a story. I merely have not sussed out the time line completely.

I am still wondering about the resident’s need for a loan to repair or rehab what was done previous to his purchase. The houses Debbie and I look at are often recently rehabbed perhaps to justify a bigger selling price. How much does a $40 can of paint add to the final selling price.

A question for another day.

Carpe Diem.