Metamorphosis: Changing to Retirement in Ecuador: No Time for Boredom

When Mick began talking about retiring, he was always asked, "won't you be bored?" His reply was always, "I'll find something to do." In Cuenca, you find there is no time for boredom. You at last have the time to do the things for which there was never enough time. For me, that includes cooking, it was just quicker to grab a carry out in the old world. Cooking brings up one of Mick's favorite pastimes, which is socializing. He always says that if we go to the effort of cooking, others should be here to enjoy it.

Mick has always been a people person. He not only enjoys having our friends over, but his morning is not complete without a visit to the Coffee Tree, where he and his buds congregate. He equates it to the Old Farts Coffee Clubs at Hardees and also adds that he never thought he'd be participating; however, time does that to you.

The socializing continues past our home and the Coffee Tree and into the homes of our friends. You find that everyone who wants to be social can find their niche. Sunday we were invited to a great breakfast at Linn and Cardell's home. Here are Linn, Cardell, and Mick on their lovely patio.

Angie and Linn

Mick and Jim

We finally have a new additon to our family. After month's of changing feeders and having an occasional passerby, we finally have a hummer that has staked out our feeder. He visits continuously and also sits by it and guards it. We call him "Sugar" and he has a family.

We were contacted recently by some folks from California that were going to be visiting and they arrived last week. John and Robin Hand arrived last week, bearing dried lima beans and this beautiful table runner. Robin is a quilter and this is gorgeous.