June – Started construction on new pool to replace the original 1955 version. New bottom, new coping, removed diving board, added Baja-bench, added copper-piping water-supply. Outstanding result.
July – Hot water tank burst, flooded the house, ruined the original 1955 hardwood floor. Replaced with a tankless system. Spent the next 6 months getting the floor replaced. Had to deal with asbestos remediation. But, the insurance company treated me well, I was grateful.
August – Removed the aluminum patio cover. Put artificial grass throughout the backyard. Wonderful decision.
Accomplishments:
February 28, Tony and I rode our bikes around Yorba Regional Park.
July 18, Tony and I rode our bikes 26.6 miles round-trip along the Santa Ana River Trail (SART) from Yorba Regional Park all the way to SR 1/Pacific Coast Hwy (Huntington Beach).
November 27, for the very first time, I rode 50 miles in one day.
December 11, Tony and I rode through Carbon Canyon Regional Park where we saw Orange County’s only grove of redwoods; 3 acres of majestic Coastal Redwoods (Sequoia sempervirens).
I rode my bike 1104 miles this year.
Lessons Learned:
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Year-End Thoughts:
I have made several “course adjustments” in the last 12 months:
I am trying to shift away from viewing myself as a “human-doing” and instead acting more like a “human-being”.
I cut my “in-office” working hours at IVAR back to as little as 1-2 days/week. I’m hoping this works for them as well as me.
I am winding down my development activities for GEO. I haven’t quit the business, but it will have to succeed or fail, on it’s own. I have done my part. I am putting it into God’s hands to do with as He pleases.
I started riding my bike regularly. I’ve never ridden a bike before, so it’s a new experience, risk, challenge. I want this to be a “rest-of-my-life” activity.
I am telling people I’m semi-retired, so I can take advantage of the freedom, finances, and health that I have available to me during my 60’s. I probably won’t have any stronger combination of these 3 things in the remainder of my life.
I quit Water of Life Community Church after 20 years, and I joined First Presbyterian Church of Upland. This church has a slower pace, and less competitive spiritual atmosphere. There, it’s OK to just enjoy God. I don’t have to prove anything to anyone. They also practice a very different style of discipleship and teaching. They believe that it’s the Holy-Spirit’s job to teach, preach and apply Scripture to me on a regular and personal basis. The pastor is just a “facilitator ” in that process. Now it’s more important that I listen all the time to the Holy Spirit and process what He is saying to me.
