New Routine

For people young and old, the beginning of September marks a major shift in routines. For the young among us, it means a return to school. For parents, it means shuttling kids to and fro and in some cases, enjoying some quiet in the house during the day. Heather and I are long past the parental years, but we're getting familiar with a new routine nonetheless. You see Heather has returned to a regular job for the first time in several decades. She is now travelling to Okotoks on a daily basis to work in the front office of a child psychology clinic. As we are a one car family, that leaves me behind at the studio in High River to manage things on the homefront.

Living in the downtown core was important to us when we relocated to this community. That decision proved to be prescient as I am able to pretty much walk to anything I need while Heather is in town working. We have a Sobeys grocery store four blocks to the north. The Co-op is six blocks to the south. I am set.

I am at the age where walking more is the best possible outcome of this lifestyle change. I walk for groceries. I walk to mail packages. I walk the dogs every day. 

I also enjoy all the household things I get to do, from cleaning to cooking. I need the variety in my activities more as I age. There was a time when I could painting uninterrupted for hours at a time. Now, the only time I paint for hours without stop is at live painting events.