Third Year of Freedom

We made it through another year of retirement (although this post is a day late - we're blaming island time!). This retirement thing gets tougher all the time. Just kidding, it's all good, todos bién!

I think this from a previous post, remains true: "this whole thing started as a small idea, grew into a big idea, and then a leap of faith with only stubbornness as a parachute. Step by step we went down the path, knee deep in it from the start, taking each event as it was presented to us and doing what we could at the time." That's still about right, we continue to take things one step at a time. You can expect more changes in the coming year (and not just because of the damn COVID-19!), we're just going with the flow.

As we've said before, music continues to inspire us and we like to embed songs in each blog post. So in looking back over the year, we've made another youtube playlist of all the songs we linked from our blog posts in the past year. We listen to the songs and remember where we were and what we were doing and thinking at the time. We hope you click through to youtube and enjoy the playlist. If you do nothing else, please check out Kenny Chesney's song "Better Boat". It just seems like an anthem for the current times. Now and then we let it go, we ride the waves we can't control. We're learning how to build a better boat.

We'll be back soon with new posts and new plans. In the meantime, we're having some bubbles.

DebNormBubbles

Here's TODAY'S SPECIAL:

Knee Deep In Retirement 3rd Anniversary Playlist

From the youtube page, click PLAY ALL and enjoy! And remember that you have to live life, don't let life live you!

For more of these annual summaries:

The first year wrap-up can be found here, and that first-year playlist is here, for your listening pleasure.

The second year wrap is here, and that playlist is right over here, enjoy.

Thank You!

We would like to thank you all very truly for following us on this journey. We're nearing 14,000 readers now and have gone way past 100 different countries and territories. We are humbled that so many people take time from their busy lives to read our words and look at our pictures.

As always, please send your thoughts to us on our Contact Us page, or comment in any of the posts, including this one.

All the best,

Norm & Deb

11 Comments

  1. Lisa h on April 29, 2020 at 11:04 am

    How are things there? Do you have to wear face masks whenever u go out? We are still planning to be in dorado the first week of June! I’m gonna be very disappointed if we can’t make our trip! Hope y’all are safe and healthy! Many blessings to y’all!!!

    • Deb on April 29, 2020 at 1:57 pm

      We are only allowed to leave the house between 5am and 7 pm. Only for emergencies, groceries, gas, post office, and restaurant’s are take out only. No driving or walking otherwise, not even beaches. Yes we can’t get into the store without a mask…we are safe and healthy, thank you. Stay safe….????

  2. Sue Kennedy on April 29, 2020 at 11:12 am

    Hi Norm and Deb, My friend, Lisa Howard and I ran away for the week to South Padre Island. We have been talking about how much we love your blog. We love Puerto Rico and have talked about moving their someday with our husbands. We are scheduled to fly over in June for vacation. One question I have, did you keep your drivers license from Florida or did you apply for one in PR? Every time we have visited PR the residents have been very welcoming and loved talking with us. If you decided to move to the mainland of PR where would you live?
    Stay well and thanks for the entertainment!

    • Norm Pyle on April 29, 2020 at 2:46 pm

      Hi Sue, thanks for the support – both of you! I hope you’re enjoying S Padre.

      As you can see from Deb’s answer above, we’re pretty well locked down here right now. It can’t go on forever, but I don’t know that June will be very good this year. I’m not even sure Vieques will be taking tourists by then. As for driver’s licenses, you’re supposed to get a PR license after some time period (can’t remember what the limit is). Some people don’t. Puerto Ricans are some of the friendliest and welcoming people I’ve ever met. Very good people. There are a few bad apples, but all in all, I’m very impressed. On the mainland of PR, I like the Rincon area, maybe Aguadilla, but I haven’t seen Cabo Rojo yet. I hear it’s really nice too. There’s a lot in PR to explore and we have a ways to go on that!

      Thanks again for coming along for the ride.

  3. Kevlar on April 29, 2020 at 12:13 pm

    Wow! Three years already?! Happy you are both safe, healthy, and happy. Same here, but still encumbered by a day job. Keep the blogs coming!

    • Norm Pyle on April 29, 2020 at 2:48 pm

      Thanks Kevlar! We are well, glad to hear you are also. We’re trying to get to 100 blog posts (it’s kind of a natural limit to blogs), currently around 90. After that, who knows? Have fun, Norm

  4. Maureen on April 29, 2020 at 2:37 pm

    Happy Anniversary! Envious Canadians!
    Maureen and Rob

    • Norm Pyle on April 29, 2020 at 2:49 pm

      Hi Guys, hope all is well with you!

  5. Angie and Johnny on April 29, 2020 at 3:43 pm

    Hi Deb and Norm,
    Wow 3 years has passed at rocket speed now that the anniversary is here, congratulations! We sure enjoy your blog and can’t wait to test retirement starting in just a few days. Stay safe and cheers! It’s 5’0clock somewhere.

    • Deb on April 29, 2020 at 4:53 pm

      Hey Angie, I’m glad you guys enjoy the blog! Seems like yesterday we were packing to leave Colorado. Congrats in the coming days on retirement! Have fun. ????????

  6. Betty on April 30, 2020 at 1:25 pm

    Well I guess that means I have been in PA almost three years. Goes fast doesn’t it. But, other than the virus, it has been a good 3 years so I’ll take it. Your thoughts and pictures have been so much fun to follow. Continue to stay safe and I will try to do the same.

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