Last week I wrote about keeping fit mentally and physically. This week the physical side was put to the test! We are in the process of moving from one Tucson location to another, and have many boxes and small things to tote from the old location to the new one, including emptying a storage unit we have rented since we first settled in Tucson. With my trusty 1993 Chevrolet half-ton shortbox pickup, I thought I’d just heft and tote all day long until it was done.
Wrong! A still modestly overweight 70-year-old guy with periodic back issues and arthritis here and there can do a lot, but not as much as he thinks he can! Coupled with 103 degree temps in Tucson today, not as much was accomplished as I had hoped. Oh, I forgot to mention that we painted the inside of the condo for three days last week, then I spent most of Saturday on my feet at a community festival at which my chorus was performing and had a marketing booth. That’s a lot of pushing the envelope.
Pacing oneself seems to be an important concept here. It is difficult to do, when one has been a doer for most of one’s life. However, it becomes more and more necessary as time goes on. I remember my father-in-law at around age 75 or so saying “I can still do a day’s work! It just takes a week to get it done!” He did like saying that, but it wasn’t true; after his retirement, he most loved working in his garden and did so for hours daily during growing season. The rest of the year, he found other things to do; sitting around was not in his repertoire.
We are very happy to be moving; we have loved the RV park where we have lived for six years now, but moving to larger quarters will be very satisfying. By the time I write next week’s blog, we will likely be sleeping there!
Until next week, get physical, but pace yourself!
David Updegraff
Relocating one’s home can be one of the most daunting and strenuous jobs which exists. Isn’t it also very high–top 5 anyway–on the list of most stressful activities one can experience? We have been through this about 15 times or more in our lifetimes, and now we think long and hard before embarking on such an endeavor. There is so much which is exciting in the process of creating a new home too, and I know you and Susan will find all of that fun for yourselves. Taking time to get it all done is major as we age for sure, and it is more enjoyable when the time frame isn’t tight by more relaxed. So some of the built in systems which come with aging that slow us down can actually work out in a more positive thing in the end.
Suz,
Thanks for your cogent comments! We are finding that we must pace ourselves a bit in order to get to the desired goal. A day off from the work of moving is a good thing! Also, the fact that we are so excited about being in the new place helps to mitigate the stresses of the move.
See you soon!
David