Easy peasy:

Golden Age

If you had to live forever as either a child, an adolescent, or an adult, which would you choose — and why?

This prompt is easy for me. I’d choose my life now. Childhood, although happy in retrospect, I suffered from shyness, uncertainty and lacked confidence. These traits followed me into my teenage years, which could be quite painful. Motherhood suited me, but work and motherhood was hard labour. Now we’re retired we can enjoy the grandchildren when they visit. We are fortunate to be well, and both feel fulfilled with our chosen activities. This phase of our lives allows Chris to paint full time, and I write, garden, cook and have choices that I didn’t have previously. Life is what you make it and I’m grateful for this stage. Truly a Golden Age.

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A way of doing things better.

Gerard has included a video of this Utopian community. I hope you find time to visit. What a magnificent sustainable environment.

Oosterman Treats Blog

River flowing through Currumbin Eco-village

A break from blogging and delving into the past was welcomed with open arms.  So, if responses to some of you dear friends went missing, a mea culpa. We are now back again. We decided to drive to Queensland and escape the tail end of winter. Apparently, no sooner after we left the Highlands, the heavens opened up. Over 400 millimetres of rain fell within a couple of hours. There were trees blocking roads and weirs overflowed. Evacuations of people into church halls were organized. Volunteers made sandwiches and gave comforts to those whose houses became flooded. Cars were seen being washed down causeways, yet children were cheerfully defying the rain, splashing about, no care in the world. Why should they? Life is yet to arrive for them.

My sister and husband after many moves here and there, told us they had found their ideal nesting ground…

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Retirement and what it means: daily prompt

“We all have complicated histories. When was the last time your past experiences informed a major decision you’ve made?”Complicated is a simple word for it! I’ve been thinking about how people fill their retirement. One can become invisible after leaving the work force. Christopher and I content ourselves in painting, writing and gardening with occasional family gatherings. After busy lives, we’ve chosen to retire into our own peaceful environment. Others have been far more adventurous, travelling and discovering new things. I have been totally impressed by my friend Sandy, who has overcome an abusive relationship and now lives in a small coastal community and has brought about positive changes to others around her. Sandy joined the local choir, a journal-writing group, and then became a member of the Country Women’s Association. (CWA) Sandy became secretary of the CWA, and after several monthly meetings, where people sat listening, empty handed, Sandy suggested a knitting project. This then became a weekly gathering. Knitting squares developed into making blankets for the ‘wrapped in love’ project, which have been sent overseas, or fill more local needs. A physio attends the CWA, and through her work met an elderly obese woman, who was confined to her room in an old age home. Previously she’d sat eating and watching TV. The physio found out that she enjoyed knitting, and suggested joining in with the project of knitting squares. This she has done and became so involved with it she lost 15 Kg. This project has become a wonderful community project, and has filled a place in many, what could have been, lonely lives. I do admire what Sandy has achieved in a few years. I had hoped to insert a photo of the wraps, but it doesn’t want to do that, sorry!  One raised $150 for the local hospital last year. They are colourful squares with diagonal stripes on some making patterns. Inspiration and creativity can change other’s lives. I’m sure many of you are doing that through your writing. Good books, a short story, an article, a post on your blog, are all ways in which others might be inspired. I found Sandy’s story very inspirational. Do you have any stories that you can share? http://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_prompt/baggage-check/