Many of my New-Old-Ager friends are heading toward one of those milestone birthdays – the one that pushes you ‘over the hill’ or even down the other side.
I find that things on this side are changing for me – small things really – but I have the time to take notice of small things these days.
So, here you have it – my list of small things that have changed as I mosey down the other side of the hill in our beautiful Okanagan Valley:
1. Your friends will start keeping their shoes on when they visit you at home. In Canada, we take our shoes off when we go inside our houses. That is probably because in many provinces they are caked with snow or mud most of the time.
Now, that is not a plus or minus but I did discover when visiting my daughter living in Oregon that Americans consider it odd. Well, times have changed – at least in the 50+ developments in Osoyoos and around the country. Most of my peers now keep their shoes on – I usually insist on it. Just too much huffing and puffing to re-tie them after a visit. Besides, they aren’t trudging through snow drifts or skipping through mud puddles anymore!
2. You never know what day it is. I might realize if it is a weekend or not based on how many tourists are wandering our streets in Osoyoos, but, really, unless I have an appointment or meeting that week, I am clueless.
3. You pack more underwear than trendy cute tops or multiple pairs of shoes. It seems the body has made some of its own adjustments and I am just not up to trying to force it to impress. A comfortable pair of walking shoes with some sandals to dress up or down and I am good to go in any country in the world!
4. You choose slow over fast most of the time – slower routes to avoid speeding traffic; slower travel tours to get more rest; and, for some of us, slow cookers so we aren’t worn out by dinner time. Even a slow boat to China sounds preferable to an 18-hour flight in economy.
5. You talk about your body functions like you used to talk about the cute boy in your chemistry class. Now did you see that one coming twenty years ago? Me either.
Yes, the list could go on and on but life happens in the little things – at least mine does.
The big events are too exhausting.
EILEEN HOPKINS
Special to the Times
