September Update:
Financial: NW dropped in August a bit. This was mostly due to the market, but we also had a few large expenses. Finally replaced the tires on our rig, and had to replace the coils and spark plugs as well. The tires put me over a minimum spend on a new credit card, which will probably be the last I open for the foreseeable future. We've been doing lots of social stuff with friends and families, but most of it has been relatively low-cost. I went to a couple concerts which weren't particularly cheap, but they were a lot of fun and I have no regrets about spending that money. Grocery bills have been quite a bit higher lately, but that is largely because DW has been doing her own thing for food. I'm on a bit of a health kick lately so eating very basic and clean.
I'm slowly trying to ramp up the cash reserves before leaving work. I have a little over two years of expenses in cash and want to give that a nice bump over the next few months. I have a rough budget of 1K per person per month for future travels, but I suspect that will vary depending on location and activities.
DW picked up a part-time gig at her old school. She's a permanent sub through at least mid October, and that may extend to the end of the year depending on the needs of the school and the kids she's working with. She was initially looking at some seasonal gigs in a candle shop or with a spice company, but when she contacted her old principal about a reference they swooped her up. Another example demonstrating how a good work ethic and an aversion to slacking can pay yields down the road.
Professional: I'm cranking away at work and doing my best to keep things professional with my team even though most know I'll be leaving shortly. I picked up a new project because one of the managers was overloaded. It was a few months behind, but it is mostly taken care of at this point. We have quite a few promotional opportunities right now with new projects and funding sources, so I'm anticipating some more musical chairs among the larger team along with some outside hires.
I'm actually enjoying the flow lately, and part of that might simply be the choice to not be stressed. The main project I'm working on has a very competent team and they are relying on me for guidance and expertise based on the project I recently finished. It is really refreshing to meet with sharp people who are engaged, do their work before our meetings, and quickly move forward without a lot of ego on anyone's part.
I'm saving most of my vacation to pad an extra 6-7 weeks on my final date, but making sure to take plenty of breaks throughout the day and some long lunches on the bike and/or at the gym.
Health: I've been really consistent with workouts and physical activity this year. It is basically part of my established routine and one of my highest priorities. Nutrition and diet has always been a bit tougher for me. I stepped on the scale a couple weeks ago and was the heaviest I've ever been. My waist hasn't changed, and I think I look pretty good in the mirror but I'm overweight by BMI calculations. It is a little hard to gage as I've been lifting consistently 5-6 days of week, with additional walks or cardio on some days, over the last 28 months. Nonetheless, I decided a cut was in order and I'm about a five days into that. No alcohol for the last week, and I started tracking food and macros again. I really don't like tracking macros, but I know that it makes a big difference. Something as simple as a couple handful of nuts will add 400-500 calories for the day.
One nice thing about the cut is that my cooking is at a level in which I don't really feel like it is much of a sacrifice. Small changes like boiled eggs instead of fried or scrambled, and spray oil instead of oil from the jar help move the needle. I'm making all my own dressings, and pickled a bunch of veggies to add some extra flavor to salads, soups, and other dishes. The meal plan has consisted of lots of leafy greens, cruciferous veggies, high-protein tofu (surprisingly cheap at Trader Joe's), lentils, beans, rice, mushrooms, kimchi, eggs, baked chicken, ground turkey, fish, and vegan protein powder as a supplement. I'm happy with the results so far (down a little over 4 pounds) and want to keep the momentum going.
A nice supply of pickled veggies to keep things interesting:
Social: I'm making a pretty strong effort to connect with family and friends. I still spend a lot of time on these forums, but leaning into my local community feels healthy. At the end of July, we had a family reunion to celebrate my parents' 50 year wedding anniversary. Extended family on my mom's side came out from across the US, and we had a lovely 3-day weekend with about 30 people. A few groups rented lake houses near my parents cabin, and we spent all day Sunday showing it off to the extended family (and some of the grandkids from Seattle who hadn't made it there yet). I made a 30 minute digital slideshow with music with photos of the family over the last 70 years that was really well-received.
One of my best friends had his 40th birthday in August, and I spent a couple days camping at their river property and connecting with a wide group of friends. I brought out the acoustic guitar, and spent multiple hours playing with a few other musicians. I saw an old friend from college who I hadn't seen in 20 years, and found out he had a really similar taste in music and style of playing (old folk songs, John Prine, Neil Young, Bob Dylan, etc...). I've been spending a lot of time with this group lately, and the passing of one of our friends after a battle with ALS is a reminder to appreciate some of these 25+ year friendships.
DW and I celebrated our ten-year anniversary, and 18 years together as a couple. The upcoming trip is our gift to each other and a chance to build more memories.
ERE: I'm rereading ERE for the axelheyst MM group. I think it has probably been 5 years since I originally read it. I found my old WOG and a long list of activities I planned to do in retirement tucked in the pages of the book. I'm only on Chapter 2, but I'm planning on heading out to the mountains today for my last backpacking trip of the season and will bring it with me. An alpine lake sounds like the perfect backdrop for that book.
I had my 3 year EREversary on the forums a couple weeks ago. Time flies! Strangely enough, this journal is cruising right towards 500 posts as I'm leaving work and jumping on the SemiERE train
