retirement

this is Jason's boat that we went out on...


I dream of retirement....I realize we have a few more years until we reach that age but this weekend we did a whole lot of dreaming about what that would look like.

We have some friends on Lake Michigan that have a small yacht (okay not good enough friends that we don't still have to pay them for our charter fishing trip - but friends just the same.) We met Captain Vern a few years ago when we went with Rich and Lisa on a charter fishing trip on the Lake. He is a great guy and wrote us each year asking us back. When we decided to go back this year he told us he had retired but he had someone that he highly recommended. But on one condition - he could come along.

We got to Port Washington on Saturday and they were having a festival (imagine that..) and there were tents all along the streets and music playing on the lake. Rob and I decided to walk through the produce which was Incredible and Rich and Lisa went into one building for a wine tasting from a local vineyard.. .Just a perfect day. We got checked into our hotel and headed over to find Jason and Captain Vern. We commented what a beautiful boat it was as we hopped inside. As we headed out we realized the waters were pretty rough. Jason said that when he took a group out that morning the waters were terrible but Captain Vern assured us they were suppose to "lay down" soon. The further out we got the worse I started to feel. As Jason and his ship mate began to put all 17 poles out in the water he noticed I didn't look so good. So he opened up the top of the boat so I could sit up there and get a good breeze. I have to say it was beautiful up there but the sickness really didn't subside. I stayed there for about an hour and a half and then headed down. I layed on the couch and Jason brought me a pillow and that is where I spent the remainder of my fishing excursion.



this is where I spent my day on the boat...

It was fun to watch them fish though. The first time we heard that reel whiz everyone's heart went crazy...Let the fun begin. Rob caught the first one and it was a nice Salmon. It was fun to watch him get so excited. He absolutely LOVES fishing. It doesn't' matter if it's in a big boat or sitting in the middle of nowhere in a canoe he just LOVES fishing. As the day went on Jason was telling us that he wanted to sell his boat. When he told us his price we were shocked $20,000. The four of us looked at each other with eyebrows raised. But we all new the reality - besides the fact that none of us had $20,000 just lying around we don't have the time. Summers are our busy season and we were thankful to get this one weekend together. What are the chances that we would be able to drive 3 hours enough times during the summer to make it worth the investment. And back to the money thing right now we have 1 child going into college and a teenage boy to feed...



Rob with his first salmon of the day....one happy guy...

Once we got back to shore and I got back on dry land and was able to stand upright we went with Captain Vern to a small restaurant on the Lake. We had such a nice visit listening to him tell stories about the things that he and his wife have done since he has retired. The next morning the four of us had breakfast at this adorable little deli that overlooked the marina when Captain Vern called up and wanted to stop by. He brought us some more fish that he had in his freezer that he uses for a fish boil that he does every summer. It was all cut up and deboned and ready to go. He and his wife were off for the day for a motorcycle ride....we all just sighed...



me and Lisa with Captain Vern....


On the way home we stopped for lunch at the Original Culvers in Sauk City and then we pulled into the Harley Davidson store. The guys drooled over all the bikes as Lisa and laughed while she tried on leather coats and doo rags. As we headed for home the guys were dreaming about the real possibilities of buying bikes and riding on the weekends. Although honestly that hasn't ever really interested me. I told them my dream is for Rob to fix up the 1968 convertible Firebird he bought when we were in the Air Force, now that would be fun. I would gladly take that across the country. It was fun to see everyone just getting excited about possibilities.

But then once again back to reality. All that would be nice but right now our priorities are working and our families. Rob puts in long days and so when he comes home there is not really time to go for a ride. We have a garden to hoe or bills to work on. "Free" time is spent going to events for the kids or an evening with friends or the various other responsibilities that we have.

I wouldn't trade my life for anything and I tell my kids that very often. This is the stage we are in right now and, like I have posted before, it goes much to fast. Too soon there will come a day when our home is empty and work has slowed down. We will both reminisce about these times in our lives. One of my big prayers is that we will be those grandparents that are on the go. That we will have the energy and ambition to take the grand kids on trips while their parents have to work...heehee...
I just reminding myself that everything has a season and we are to enjoy the season we are in and not be to quick to go on to the next....

My dream for you today is to live in your season...it is good to dream of the possibilities of the next but don't wish this one away to fast..

Have a wonderful day friends...