Royal Caribbean Cruisers -- How Are Things Where You Are? (was "Routine" ​ 😁 ​day in lockdown... how was yours?)

[Ozark_Kid]

2 hours ago, island lady said:

the flight back home to Florida tomorrow morning

Enjoyed you sharing your trip with us.  This is a tough time to find a house to buy with prices exploding.  Hope you have a safe trip home.

[bobmacliberty]

1 hour ago, Sea Dog said:

I'm lucky in that I am also a musician who will have more time to devote to it. The other thing I want to do is get healthier. I've lost 25 pounds and it feels great. Being retired will give me more time to walk and swim.

 

You've checked the other box that retirement planners talk about...having something to retire TO (your music).  People who's life is centered around their work often don't do well in retirement.  I've lost 10 pounds so far and would like to see another 20 disappear.  Maybe I can then get rid of the blood pressure meds.  Slow and steady wins the race.

 

1 hour ago, jagsfan said:

Having time to explore new activities is glorious. 
We were able to take four week road trips, and saw all of the states and seven provinces at our leisure. 
Enjoy yourself doing what you’ve always wanted to do, and things you never even thought of doing. 

 

I'm just starting the "new activities" idea in retirement.  Trying things I would not have otherwise tried.  And more so, spending a day going somewhere that I would not have previously "wasted" one of my precious days off.

 

1 hour ago, davekathy said:

Same here. It's seemed weird at first but I quickly got use to my new way of life.  I retired June of 2014 and I don't regret it one bit. I'm always busy doing something to occupy my time. Just a lot different pace now. Easy to loose track of the days of the week. If that really matters anymore. Enjoy. 🍻

 

I have a digital clock that tells the time in small numbers and the day of the week in big letters.  The only reason that the day of the week is important is to know when to take out the garbage.  😁  That and knowing to avoid potentially crowded areas on the weekend.  Go during the week instead.

 

47 minutes ago, island lady said:

 

We hit the ground running when I retired 14 years ago, and have not stopped yet.  Loving the travel!  🙂 The time really does fly by now.  So happy Bucky "twisted my arm" to join him in retirement early.  🤗

 

 

 

Travel was a big part of our retirement plans.  Unfortunately for us (and may other people here), that part of retirement has been delayed.  Having our 3 week Italy dream trip cancelled last fall really hurt. There's always next year.

 

[bobmacliberty]

5 minutes ago, singinalot said:

thank you!!! ☺️ ill have to check out Sailing Doodles.

 

Bobby (Sailing Doodles) has managed to figure out YouTube.  His magic formula is beautiful destinations, cute dogs, and women in bikinis.  Surprise, surprise.

[Sea Dog]

20 minutes ago, Ozark_Kid said:

Kenzie was born at 10:04 AM a year ago today.

Happy Birthday I can see why you like to spoil her. She's adorable.

[Sea Dog]

8 minutes ago, bobmacliberty said:

  Maybe I can then get rid of the blood pressure meds.  Slow and steady wins the race

 

That's exactly what I want to do. I'm tired of taking a bunch of pills everyday. 

 

 

6 minutes ago, bobmacliberty said:

 

Bobby (Sailing Doodles) has managed to figure out YouTube.  His magic formula is beautiful destinations, cute dogs, and women in bikinis.  Surprise, surprise.

You got that right. He's been doing it for a while and he seems much older than the girls on the boat. I've often wondered what's the relationship with these girls, strictly plutonic? Does he not hook up with any of them? You have to wonder. It seems that he pays for most of their expenses and that's why they come aboard. Good gig, I'll give him credit.

[Sunshine3601]

32 minutes ago, Ozark_Kid said:

 
Kenzie was born at 10:04 AM a year ago today. We were just sent her one year old birthday pictures.  Hope you don’t mind so many pics but it’s hard to pick just one. They plan to come visit us at noon.

 

 

 

 

Ahhh!    Happy Birthday to Kenzie🥰     Please don't apologize for these adorable photos - keep them coming!!   

[bobmacliberty]

4 minutes ago, Sea Dog said:

That's exactly what I want to do. I'm tired of taking a bunch of pills everyday. 

 

 

You got that right. He's been doing it for a while and he seems much older than the girls on the boat. I've often wondered what's the relationship with these girls, strictly plutonic? Does he not hook up with any of them? You have to wonder. It seems that he pays for most of their expenses and that's why they come aboard. Good gig, I'll give him credit.

 

I'm only through season 2 of Sailing Doodles but I think Megan from season 1 is a friend (maybe with benefits??) and Laura is/was a girlfriend for a couple of years.  Not sure about the rest.  He's in his 40s (I think) and the women all seem to be in their 20s.  It's interesting to see the early days when he had no money at all and would anchor rather than use a mooring ball to save a few bucks.  Not so much now that he has YouTube money.

[Ozark_Kid]

1 hour ago, bobmacliberty said:

 

Best advice that I received was to do nothing for some period of time.  How long varies from person to person.  Allow yourself to de-stress.  If you're like me, you'll be amazed at how much less stress you will feel.  I was running with a very high "base" stress level while working...even when I was supposedly relaxing at home (which didn't really happen with smart phones allowing you to be constantly connected).  It takes a while to feel OK about not doing anything, or to not be in a hurry all of the time.

@Sea Dog what @bobmacliberty is great advice.  You don’t realize how much stress your job brings until you stop. After retiring I would still start tensing up on Sunday evenings.  My wife would notice and say,  Hey John, you know what you are doing tomorrow? …. Nothing.  I would feel my shoulder muscles relax.  
 

Some would ask how retirement was going expecting a negative response. I would put on a somewhat sad face and say in a kind of sad voice…… Well you know, …. People build up retirement to be such a great thing…. Well,  IT’S SOOOO MUCH BETTER!!!

[Ozark_Kid]

2 hours ago, Sea Dog said:

I have a feeling we will end up in Hawaii before Alaska. I guess we could do solo cruises, I could go to Alaska and her Panama Canal. Just think of the points?

Maybe you should join us at the end of April on Ovation.  Cruising from Hawaii to Vancouver.  Do a B2B and knock Hawaii and Alaska off the bucket list.  We have not booked Alaska yet.  We are waiting to see if our daughter would join us.

[dani negreanu]

42 minutes ago, h20skibum said:

@Ozark_Kidcute pictures. Happy 1st birthday to her. 

 

34 minutes ago, singinalot said:

@Ozark_Kid she’s too cute!!!

 

23 minutes ago, Sea Dog said:

Happy Birthday I can see why you like to spoil her. She's adorable.

 

11 minutes ago, Sunshine3601 said:

Ahhh!    Happy Birthday to Kenzie🥰     Please don't apologize for these adorable photos - keep them coming!!   

 

+1 🌷

[Ozark_Kid]

1 hour ago, jagsfan said:

Shopping when everyone else is working feels a little strange at first.

While working I would occasionally fish on the weekends.  Now I avoid fishing on the weekends.

[Ozark_Kid]

1 hour ago, singinalot said:

I have prettier photos but of course they are loading upside down…

I have had problems with upside down pics and discovered a trick to fix it. Try cropping a small bit off the pic.  Not sure why it works but discovered it accidentally.

[dani negreanu]

44 minutes ago, singinalot said:

thank you!!! ☺️ 

 

Those "rocks" were so spectacular and so diversified. I'm going back and forth, and enjoying each one of them.

 

A big THANK YOU for taking us along [with your mom] 🥰

 

 

[Sea Dog]

Yes I agree. I think he and Laura were a couple. He explained the breakup in a podcast episode but did not go into in depth details. The last couple of episodes before she deaparted she was given him a lot of grief and you could see the displeasure in his face. I love Meagan she is really cool. I can see where they would be just friends. I wondered the same thing about Taylor who has her own sailing channel now.

[A&L_Ont]

56 minutes ago, singinalot said:

thank you!!! ☺️ ill have to check out Sailing Doodles.

It is a great channel.

[Ozark_Kid]

49 minutes ago, bobmacliberty said:

I have a digital clock that tells the time in small numbers and the day of the week in big letters.  The only reason that the day of the week is important is to know when to take out the garbage.

I keep up with the time and date while posting here!  It’s on the iPad.  I have set a weekly alarm on the phone for taking out the garbage.  Sometimes I get distracted after the alarm and still forget to put it out.  I am sure no one here loses tracks or forgets what they are doing…. Which reminds me, I forgot to take my meds this morning!

[Sunshine3601]

3 hours ago, island lady said:

Solid rain all day yesterday up here as we wrap up our 2021 Maine summer season.  And rained all night, and is STILL raining!!  😮 

 

Three days ago I packaged up the Anniversary wind chimes my sister gave me, and in another box, I stuffed full of things I can't get in Florida that are Maine staples.  Rays mustard from Eastport Maine, and dry Marfax and Yelloweye pea beans (both Maine grown favorites), then mailed them to myself.  Cost more to mail than what I paid for them.  😉 

 

Yesterday, drove in the rain for 1.5 hour trip back to one of our first cottage rentals.  Super nice owner of the cottage had offered to store our stuff we want to use next year (mostly bird feeders 😉of course) plus crockpot, a favorite fry pan, coffee grinder, favorite utensils...etc.  (which had been delivered from Amazon at first house we stayed at in May).  Her sweet ocean front cottage is the first one we will stay at again next year.  

 

Now that we are that much lighter, getting laundry done today to start packing our suitcases for the flight back home to Florida tomorrow morning.  Good thing to do on a rainy day, but sad to think we are now leaving my "other home state".   No luck on buying a 2nd home up here, but will try again next year.  

That is very nice the owner is letting you store some items at her house during the winter.     Does she rent the home out for winter months?

[bobmacliberty]

BTW @Sea Dog (and other Bourbon drinkers out there)...Old Forester 1910 👍👍👍

[FromSea2ShiningSea]

Let’s go out the back exit of the market and see we find.  There is a secret garden with planter boxes of vegetables and herbs that’s run by volunteers and benefits the community. 

 

Here’s our friendly pig.

 

Look out further you will see Seattle Great Wheel, the  tall giant Ferris wheel at Pier 57.

 

And there’s the cruise ship that we saw earlier from the plane, remember?

 

Let’s start heading back towards the Space Needle.  Yes, we are going to walk.  Take your time. Only one mile.

 

We made it.  We’ll walk around the grounds and enjoy all is there and the gorgeous weather.

 

 

 

 

Are you getting tired from all the walking?  Let’s take a little break and get something cold to drink.  We'll stop n the Seattle Center Armory.  It is a huge space inside where it’s nice and cool.  Very empty inside though.  There’s a Starbucks , MODS Pizza along with other eateries but most of them are closed.

 

 

Time to visit the Needle.  First, we must purchase tickets to get in.  Masks must be worn at all times.  We walk through a self explanatory history of the Space Needle before we reach a photographer for a complimentary photo.  We’ll then get in line for the elevator to take us up to the observation deck.  Rule is there is no talking in the elevator.

 

What a spectacular view.

 

Anyone scared of heights?  I am.

 

But the view is unbeatable.

 

 

Sun is setting soon.  People are gathering around waiting for that Kodak moment.

 

The area to the right is the marina and I believe Pier 91 where we will be boarding Ovation.

 

 

All the city lights. 

 

 

 

 

Say goodnight, Moon.

 

I am sorry but it is getting late so no dinner tonight (No dinner for you!  Haha, who said that or something like that?).  It’s okay since we ate such a big lunch.  Are you still full from that?  Or did you walk it all off?

 

We’ll meet for breakfast tomorrow morning 6:45AM.  See you then.

[Sunshine3601]

3 hours ago, island lady said:

 

It's funny, we are so used to doing B2Bs now, that if we do a single week cruise...it's like "What you mean I have to get off the ship already!!" 😮😉 ).   

 

Agree...turnaround day is always fun.  Great time to wonder around to enjoy the empty ship.  

I know I cannot imagine doing these 3 or 4 night cruises on Freedom.   It is tough enough for me to get off the ship after a 7 night sailing.   We, too prefer to b2b's and b2b2b's if price is right.    Works for us since we can work anywhere as long as we have wifi.     

[Sea Dog]

2 minutes ago, bobmacliberty said:

BTW @Sea Dog (and other Bourbon drinkers out there)...Old Forester 1910 👍👍👍

I’m a fan. Very tasty. Also if you got Costco near you. Their Kirkland Bottled in Bond by Barton Distillery is awesome and it’s cheap.

[Sunshine3601]

2 hours ago, bobmacliberty said:

 

Best advice that I received was to do nothing for some period of time.  How long varies from person to person.  Allow yourself to de-stress.  If you're like me, you'll be amazed at how much less stress you will feel.  I was running with a very high "base" stress level while working...even when I was supposedly relaxing at home (which didn't really happen with smart phones allowing you to be constantly connected).  It takes a while to feel OK about not doing anything, or to not be in a hurry all of the time.

That's great advice!

[lenquixote66]

9 hours ago, dani negreanu said:

 

Sorry, no.

 

The 1970's were very hard years for me -- new immigrant, struggling to learn a different language from what I've known before, finishing HS with enough grades to be accepted at the University, while doing my army service, war of attrition, Yom Kippur war -- in sum, no much time left to listen to music...

 

 

Different times, so, yes, she was amazing. Pity she died so young from AIDS.

 

I believe that his family came to Israel from Romania .

[Sunshine3601]

18 minutes ago, FromSea2ShiningSea said:

Let’s go out the back exit of the market and see we find.  There is a secret garden with planter boxes of vegetables and herbs that’s run by volunteers and benefits the community. 

 

Here’s our friendly pig.

 

Look out further you will see Seattle Great Wheel, the  tall giant Ferris wheel at Pier 57.

 

And there’s the cruise ship that we saw earlier from the plane, remember?

 

Let’s start heading back towards the Space Needle.  Yes, we are going to walk.  Take your time. Only one mile.

 

We made it.  We’ll walk around the grounds and enjoy all is there and the gorgeous weather.

 

 

 

 

Are you getting tired from all the walking?  Let’s take a little break and get something cold to drink.  We'll stop n the Seattle Center Armory.  It is a huge space inside where it’s nice and cool.  Very empty inside though.  There’s a Starbucks , MODS Pizza along with other eateries but most of them are closed.

 

 

Time to visit the Needle.  First, we must purchase tickets to get in.  Masks must be worn at all times.  We walk through a self explanatory history of the Space Needle before we reach a photographer for a complimentary photo.  We’ll then get in line for the elevator to take us up to the observation deck.  Rule is there is no talking in the elevator.

 

What a spectacular view.

 

Anyone scared of heights?  I am.

 

But the view is unbeatable.

 

 

Sun is setting soon.  People are gathering around waiting for that Kodak moment.

 

The area to the right is the marina and I believe Pier 91 where we will be boarding Ovation.

 

 

All the city lights. 

 

 

 

 

Say goodnight, Moon.

 

I am sorry but it is getting late so no dinner tonight (No dinner for you!  Haha, who said that or something like that?).  It’s okay since we ate such a big lunch.  Are you still full from that?  Or did you walk it all off?

 

We’ll meet for breakfast tomorrow morning 6:45AM.  See you then.

Beautiful photos 🤩

[lenquixote66]

TSOTD is the Bert Wills Band.I saw them in Texas in 2006.Bert Wills has been singing professionally for about 60 years.He was originally singing with Elvis Presley.He has released about 15 albums/CD’s,many of which I own.I have yet to meet anyone on the east coast who has heard of him.

His signature recording is Pavonne Sunset.