This is a continuation of my previous post regarding the five month time lapse before I resumed writing here. I mentioned some of my medical travails during part of that time. Since then I happened to view an episode of the old TV show "Laugh-In" that featured so many funny one-liners. This one seemed apropos: "A new hospital has opened - Our Lady of Perpetual Maintenance."
Now that I’m pretty much on the home stretch of resuming a more energetic life style once again, I think — I’ve been reflecting on my ongoing grand “living in place” experiment. As committed as I am to this type of independent living, there continue to be times when I wonder if I might want to reconsider the advantages of living in a retirement community offering all levels of care, or maybe just move into a smaller condo or an apartment ultimately to go into an assisted living environment, if needed. Then, I remember the giving up some independence aspects -- do I really want to do that?
Shortly before the new year my daughter who lives on the east coast surprised me that she would be visiting me which contributed to my months delay in writing here. Her long holiday weekend darting in and out, her connecting with old friends to celebrate new year's eve, still allowed for us to have a most enjoyable time together. She provided some first hand guidance on my adapting to my new MAC, from previously using Windows.
Digital and Internet is an area that is mostly "tech gurued' for me by her younger brother. Once she returned home she's been in the process of changing employment from her decade long previous position, plus moving, now, too, but will continue to reside on the opposite coast from me. Who knows when we'll manage time together again, but when we do she receives my undivided attention.
Then, last month, my son who lives in the Midwest surprised me, also, and spent a whole week with me -- more excuse for my not blogging. He’s been establishing himself with his own business, having left his decade-plus-longtime employer. He is able to provide his services remotely, so when he learned while here that an unexpected deadline had arisen from one of his contracts, that simply meant we altered our activities a bit, but he could address the issues while remaining here. I truly appreciated technological benefits in this instance. Once again my time and attention was absorbed by his presence.
My much slower Internet speed than my son's accustomed to did cause him to sometimes go to a nearby cafe for a faster connection. I did get my provider to ramp the speed up as high as the older system permitted when we discovered I wasn't even getting the speed I was paying for. Had this happen once before. The moral is I'll periodically check my Ispeed in the future. Meanwhile, I did get the maximum of three months refund. The time together with my son was most productive, and fun, allowing us to address some matters as I’ve long intended, and are continuing to resolve here.
Still, I reason, continuing to live on my own, I have been able to rise to the occasion as my needs have presented me with new challenges. I acquiesced to acquiring a new “foul-weather friend” -- my buddy, an attractive shiny blue cane for the period when I've needed a little support. Another first for me with this most recent health challenge was on one occasion requiring I use a special local area transportation system for a medical appointment.
My advance planning, years ago, by signing up for the privilege of using an area inexpensive “Get About” taxi was in place for just such an occasion when I decided my driving that day would be unsafe. Also, my pharmacy effectively provided my first, and so far only experience using them for same day home delivery of needed products. One pharmacy, only a city block away, offers a drive-thru I’ve appreciated using on more than one occasion in the past when exiting the car to go inside seemed just too much.
Years ago when my husband was no longer able to do our gardening we had to hire a gardening service which I’ve subsequently continued using, necessitated by very tall privacy hedges that must be cut. So, on one occasion when I thought I might best hire my next door young neighbor (recently learned they're moving) to place my large greenery recycle bin at the curb that the gardeners had previously filled, another neighbor spotted me in our drive and spontaneously came across the street to move the bin there for me. I’ve since been able to resume that weekly task moving any one, or all three of the various two-wheeled containers we have — one for garbage, one for greenery, and one for recyclables.
I haven’t yet needed to utilize groceries home delivery from several nearby stores where I routinely shop, but have confidence their staples, increasing choices of deli items, fresh fruit and other produce their staff would select will be satisfactory. I do have available a local “Girl Friday” I had occasion to use once in the past who is able to provide a variety of services. There's always the Internet on which everything and more can be ordered from a variety of web sites for posthaste delivery.
I’ve not used restaurant home deliveries, (other than recalling the pizza our family used to periodically order), but any number of local eateries are increasingly offering that service as are websites offering delivery for multiple restaurants. I did treat my son and family to a variety of restaurant fare I had him order when I visited them a few years ago which was most satisfactory. I think it works best if ordering for more than just one person if I want freshly prepared food, but would be left with servings to be frozen for later, or re-heated the next day. I don't object to doing so, or having left-overs -- in fact, some items are even better that way.
Usually when I’m ill I thrive best on very simple plain foods, so find having a ready supply in my refrigerator's freezer compartment and pantry is better than seasoned restaurant fare would likely be, ordering for just one person. Chicken, vegetable, lentil, minestrone soups, clam chowder with crackers, yogurts, cottage cheese, bread for toast are a few basic standby items for me. My microwave and toaster oven are a real boon much of the time in preference to using the stove or oven, but especially when I couldn't wait to sit down again.
These experiences provide me important lessons to utilize in preparation for future unexpected occurrences. I prefer to have given in advance some thought and consideration to how I'll manage in a variety of possible situations. Writing down contacts, sources, any helpful information can be a wise action, especially for anyone who is the household's sole responsible party as might even be true for some couples as well as single people, widows, widowers.
I'm paying special attention to thinking about this concept I'm practicing called "living in place", or "aging in place" as some describe what older people are doing when they continue to live in their residences. I'll explain in the future why my focus on this living style option.
There are a variety of living options, so we each have to decide what is best for us. Many factors enter into our decision-making process. Ultimately, we may even settle for what might not be our first choice, or later we may have to alter our plans. Accommodation and adaptation, sooner or later, are terms with which we become most familiar.
Have you determined what sort of living arrangement you want for your older years? Or, maybe you've already made that choice. How's it working out?
