Have you been to Kansas? The nice people there say 'have a good day', and they look genuinely into your soul and really want you to have a good day. I extended a trip to visit family in Kansas City, and had a chance to 'play' retirement with my uncle, where I realized two very important things: 1) I am ready for retirement, and 2) I really like Kansas.
We woke early each morning to enjoy a structured schedule of enjoying life. Beginning with the crossword puzzle, we met friends for chatter and more coffee at eight, then returned home to take the dogs for an hour long stroll. On these walks through pleasant neighborhoods where everyone smiles I was astonished at how beautiful and well-maintained the lawns were. I look back to my photos as a meditation on what retirement, though brief, felt like. It was freakin' awesome.
