Why I Like Retirement

Here are some reasons why retirement after being a schoolteacher for 27 years is so fabulous:

1.  I can go grocery shopping on any school morning.

2.  I can go to the restroom any time I want; no more waiting for the bell to ring or lunch to start.

3.  I can sleep in; no alarm clock needed anymore.

4.  I can go on a long vacation any time; no more waiting for those summer months to roll around.

5.  I can do the wash whenever I feel like it; no more planning ahead for clean clothes on Monday morning.

6.  I can go out to lunch with a friend or grandchild (good suggestion, Kyra) any day and any time of the week.

7.  I can use my eyes to read a good book or watch a favorite TV show; no more straining my eyes to grade papers.

8.  I can go to the doctor or dentist on any school morning; no more waiting for afternoon appointments.

9.  I can get a cold glass of water any time; no more drinking room temperature water from a bottle off my desk.

10. I can stay in my pajamas all day if I am working on a project at home.

I HAVE CERTAINLY DISCOVERED THAT RETIREMENT HAS ITS BENEFITS!  

Our Week in San Antonio

When we left Corpus Christi, we headed to San Antonio where we met Melanie and Ryan.  They drove down from Ardmore, Oklahoma.  We shared a very nice condo located ten or so miles from the center of the city.  We did quite a bit of sightseeing which included visiting The Alamo, the San Antonio River Walk, a cave tour, and animal safari.  We went to a German town called New Braunfels and there discovered nearby the Guadalupe River and Canyon Lake Dam.  We had numerous fun days of exploration.  

On one occasion we drove into Austin which is the state capitol.  We toured the LBJ Presidential Library and the capitol building.  On our last day we went to Sea World.  We had read online before leaving Las Vegas that while in Texas we should enjoy some BBQ and Mexican food.  That's exactly what we did on numerous occasions.  We enjoyed eating out at several smokehouses as well as eating a traditional Mexican meal on the river walk.  We also fixed quite a few meals at the condo.  It was so nice to be in Texas enjoying a great vacation with Melanie and Ryan.  Of course, a trip would never be complete without shopping which was extra fun since Melanie needed to buy maternity clothes!

Melanie and Steve
The Alamo

Steve and Melanie,
The Alamo

Ryan
San Antonio Riverwalk

Steve and Melanie
San Antonio Riverwalk

Steve, Ryan, and Melanie
San Antonio Riverwalk

Ryan and Melanie
Natural Bridge Caverns

Melanie and Ryan
Panning for Gold

Ryan
Animal Safari

Steve and Melanie
Guadalupe River, Texas

Canyon Gate Lake
Near Guadalupe River, Texas

Ryan and Melanie
Austin, Texas

Melanie and Steve
Austin, Texas

Ryan and Melanie
Texas Capitol
Austin, Texas

Steve and Melanie
Capitol Grounds
Austin, Texas

Gayle and Steve
San Antonio, Texas
Seaworld

Melanie and Ryan
San Antonio, Texas
Seaworld

Melanie and Ryan
Condo Rental in San Antonio

Ryan and Melanie
The Alamo in San Antonio

Ryan and Melanie
San Antonio

Four Days by the Gulf

Steve and I flew to San Antonio, Texas and then drove a rental car to Corpus Christi for a four-day vacation before meeting Melanie and Ryan back where we started in San Antonio.  It was hot and humid even though our vacation was at the end of September.  Although we had some hot temperatures, we also enjoyed rain and wind as we went sightseeing on the Gulf of Mexico.  The ocean water was 80 degrees.  It felt very warm even though the sky was often gray and cloudy.  It's nothing like the Pacific Ocean off the California coast. 

We rented a condo on Padre Island that had a nice clubhouse and pool.   To get back to the main part of the city, we had to cross over several bridges.  It seemed to me that Corpus Christi was surrounded by water no matter where you drove.  I was interested to see quite a few people that had stopped to fish by exiting off the main road and parking on dry spots surrounded by shallow pools of ocean water. Steve and I both noticed how many people drove big trucks in San Antonio and Corpus Christi.  I think Texans, or at least what we saw on this trip, are very interested in fishing, water sports, camping, etc.  I guess a family would need a large truck to fit in with the Texan outdoor life style.

We toured the USS Lexington which was an aircraft carrier used in many military actions in days gone by.  We drove out to the National Seashore on Padre Island which was fun.  Since it was a school day no one was there.  It was fun watching the birds and the waves.  One day near our condo we spent the afternoon driving on the beach and then walking out on the paved jetty.  It was very windy that day, so it was fun when the waves sprayed the pavement where we walked. Later we drove on the beach for several miles from the jetty to a pier where we stopped, walked, and enjoyed lunch.

Harbor Bridge
Corpus Christi, Texas

Our condo on Padre Island

Steve at USS Lexington
Corpus Christi

Steve at Padre Island

Gayle at the southern most end of Padre Island

Jetty near our condo on Padre Island

Pier near our condo on Padre Island

Gayle, aboard the USS Lexington

Gayle, swimming at our condo on Padre Island