A quiet July
Monday, July 18, 2022 at 01:25PM
July 2022 seems quiet. Over the past few years, I have had the good fortune to get out of Dodge and have a somewhat adventurous trip, often with my grandsons. Yes, I was biking in Europe in early June, but the summer is dragging on…
About this time last year, I was recovering from the ten day hike with grandson Miles in New Mexico’s Philmont Boy Scout Ranch. Previous summers, I may have been recovering from hikes in the Colorado Rocky Mountains and the Grand Canyon or from canoeing trips to the Quetico Boundary Waters. I’ve had biking and cruising trips with my friend Heidi in recent Julys. Despite the pandemic, I’ve traveled.
- Hiking the Philmont Boy Scout Ranch, 2021
- Biking and hiking the Iron Range, 2020
- Alaska Cruise, 2019
- Rocky Mountain hiking, 2018
- Biking in the Czech Republic, 2017
- Grand Canyon Hiking, 2016
- Quetico Canoe Trip, 2015
Trips this July have been short and sweet. Local hikes and bike rides, trips to Iowa to see my mom, and an overnight in Winona to see a play. All good, but not exactly “big.”
On retirement I purposely downsized so I have the funds to travel. My small townhouse costs less than $600 a month to live in, including HOA fees, taxes, insurance, and utilities. I have no boat, no motorcycle, a smallish car, no expensive hobbies. I eat modestly and avoid pricey restaurants.When I choose big trips, I keep an eye on their cost as well.
I am sure next July I will have figured out an adventure for which I will need to train. (Planning a possible backpacking trip to Yosemite if it hasn’t burnt down.) A big advantage of challenging trips like backpacking trips is the incentive to get and stay in shape. It feels weird not to be worried that I may not be able to complete a “vacation.”
Yeah, it’s a first world problem, I know. But it’s just not life without a few problems.
Reader Comments (3)
Fun to hear about the trip back to Iowa.
This is funny because July is usually the only month that we slow down. I have taught an in-person grad class every July for the past 15 years. I've been teaching 2 online classes in the spring but I can do that even while we are traveling. Next July, they are having a full time professor teach my July class instead of paying an adjunct to teach it so I will be off next July. We hope to be traveling to Minnesota in June (my knitting retreat is in Rochester every June), and then maybe some national parks in July. It will be my first July off in 15 years!! Woohoo!
Hi Matt,
Pretty hard not to get excited about a trip to small town Iowa. Good place to have grown up, but am glad I didn't stay!
Doug
Hi Pat,
Yeah, prior to retirement, July was my "month off." You sound very busy!
I hope you make it to MN next summer. June is usually a very pleasant month here. Enjoy the national parks. If you are up for an adventure, try Isle Royale in Lake Superior - very interesting place.
Keep up your blogging!
Doug