1. I have Kaiser Permanente - an HMO - for medical insurance. Kaiser doesn't do business in Arizona, so I went nearly six months knowing that, except for urgent or emergency care, I'd have to cover medical expenses myself or fly home. Last year I was diagnosed with asthma, and I paid $950 for the diagnosis and treatment. If we decide to move to Arizona full time, I'll need to change my Medicare provider.
Anyway, I've been to Kaiser four times in the last two weeks to catch up with myself.
- To the optometrist for a vision check. I've had cataract surgery in both eyes, and sometimes a film develops on the lens afterwards. Last year an ophthalmologist removed the film in my right eye but said the left eye wasn't "ready" yet. This year, the optometrist said it is. So I was able to get a referral for the ophthalmologist.
- To the ophthalmologist for the five-minute procedure. Easy, and now the eyestrain that has bothered me for two months is gone.
- For a mammogram - results normal.
- To the audiologist for a hearing test. Apparently other people think I need hearing aids. The test results are almost the same as five years ago. No hearing aids needed yet. Apparently "other people" need to stop mumbling!
2. I got back into my summer mediation routine: mediated at small claims court in my county, did a role-play for the mock mediation for a mediator in training, and signed up to coach a mediator in training at a local high school. I've been certified as a mediator for over five years, and I still love it.
3. I am reminded of the meaning of a "family home". One of our eight kids has been renting a room for three years, while he went to nursing school. He is ready to move to his own place, but housing in the Seattle area is very expensive and competitive. A second of our kids lived here for a month or so before he moved out earlier this spring; I can tell he was here by the stuff left in his room and the less-than-spotless bathroom. The husband of our oldest daughter is staying with us while starting up his business and waiting to take possession of the house they bought; he's very easy to have around and works long hours. I suspect the husband of my niece will be with us for a few days, as they are moving from Tucson in June and he'll need to scout around for a place for them to live. I have invited a friend to stay here for a week in late June as she recovers from surgery.
These people are all welcome here. We have plenty of room. If we sell this house and move to Tucson full time, the story will change.
4. One of our cars spent the winter in the garage but needs servicing for a recall issue. The carpets need cleaning. And the windows. I did the maintenance on the raspberry bed, while one son and one neighbor have made the yard and garden presentable.
5. We have eaten in all but one of our favorite restaurants: Talay Thai for Thai; Tai Ho for Chinese; Las Espuelas for Mexican; Brier Family Restaurant for fish and chips; Voula's for breakfast. Next up is...wait for it...Taco del Mar for Baja bowls.
6. We have resumed ordering fresh fruits and vegetables from our CSA. A box of great food arrives on our front porch every Friday.
So we are home for the summer. But we are waiting.
There is something of a chance we'll be making one more trip to Greece. Maybe in July. But we won't know for a couple of weeks. To that end, we will be sending in our passport renewals tomorrow. Did you know we're no longer supposed to smile when our passport photos are taken?
There is something of a chance we will be getting our house ready to sell this summer. If that happens, we'll be doing very little else.
I am very aware that the days are longer here now than in Tucson; that we're in the most beautiful part of the year here; that there hasn't been as much rain as we expected since we got home. But the traffic is worse than it was this time last year. There is lots of apartment construction without a corresponding increase in road capacity. Property taxes have risen substantially.
Yep, we are waiting to see what we'll be doing this summer.
5 comments:
You live a very interesting, positive thinking life.
It sure must be nice to have family around ... ours is spread all up and down the East coast. I "hear" you about the hearing aids. I went to the ENT doctor last fall for a throat thing, and he insisted on testing my ears (for the first time since 5th grade!) After raising my hand for all the beeps and dings he finally came in and pronounced: "Your hearing is perfectly normal . . . for a man your age." And so I'm with you. People just need to stop mumbling!
Your house has really been busy. Maybe you could sell you home to your whole family to use as a group home. Kind of like a timeshare.
Busy schedule. It's hard to leave a life behind. Like the timeshare idea! A suggestion if eventually moving - do a little bit every day. Start now!
As always, you're very organized in your approach to change. I'll be interested to hear how it all turns out. My guess is that you'll be moving to Arizona full time. :-)
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