What skills or lessons have you learned recently?
Jet Pack Prompt 12/16/25


“Transitions in life can offer opportunities for discovery.” (Robbie Shelly)

I’d like to combine the words skills and lessons as one unified entity in this blog. Let’s consider then that I’ve chosen some previously learned skills that I’ve decided to seek improvement on recently while lessons follow-up as personal conclusions I’ve determined about the success of such transitional efforts. Know as well that these desired changes during this busy holiday season have been strictly targeted toward enhancing my quality of life at home while I’ve uncharacteristically chosen to not be traveling. So here we go below with three examples.

SKILL #1 – SECOND LANGUAGE ACQUISITION

I’ve taken a greater interest in the challenging pursuit of my Duolingo Spanish lessons in a more two way conversational way with friends and strangers. That means paying more attention to key words I know best that I hear and feel confident enough to respond with an appropriate phrase of my own.

LESSON #1 – I will do anything I can to slow the conversation down to give me more time to process the listening information . Say it to me 3-4 times if needed.

SKILL #2 – BIKE ROUTE ADAPTATIONS

At our new condo community, there’s heavy restrictions as to where I can actually ride my bike. That means repeating a set route each day for exercise rather than riding around freely for the joy of sightseeing adventure. As such, measurement of time spent pedaling and distance traveled from home capture my attention more for such strictly workout purposes

LESSON #2 – There’s little sense in just pedaling non stop to work up a sweat. Thus I need to take more time to just sit on a park bench or picnic table to rest quietly during this routine to gain more enjoyment of this hobby.

SKILL #3 – JET PACK BLOGGING

I notice a shift in the subjects of my blog beyond just travel. So I’m using Jet Pack topic prompts daily more to generate 1st person self reflections.

LESSON #3 – I observe my blog readership has expanded this past month in response to my more diverse selection of topics other than travel. My blogs also take less time to write with less emphasis on copy/paste thoughts from my notes app along with fewer photographic enhancements.

What are your favorite physical activities or exercises?
Jet Pack Prompt 12/11/25


“The bicycle is a curious vehicle. Its passenger is its engine.” (John Howard)

When COVID first intensified in 2020, I decided to buy an inexpensive Huffy Bike at Walmart to get outside more without exposing myself to the virus transmission in crowded environments. I might say then that it’s been my favorite physical activity since that time. For when I put on my safety helmet to ride around our suburban neighborhood, I feel more invigorated like I’m a much younger person than I really am.

Bicycle maintenance of course takes some degree of responsibility but that’s much easier than doing the same with my contraption filled car. For all I really have to manage every few months or so is keeping the tires correctly inflated and applying a silicone spray to keep the chains and other rotating elements lubricated as needed. It’s easy to store as well in our condo utility room for nightly safekeeping.

Sometimes on my route, I watch speed bicycle riders in their state of the art bikes intently heading long distance somewhere in competitive fashion. But I want no part of such action for all I want out on my easy rides of less than two hours would be to discover interesting settings to look at along the way. Notably that means stopping to feed the ducks or squirrels, watching iguanas slithering on the grass to find warmth or rescuing slow turtles crossing the road.

With more time to spend leisurely as a retiree at home these days, I probably need to think of more creative uses of my bike. I could use a biking partner to make this activity more likely for me to make new friends. There are also plenty of bike racks around nearby stores and cafes where I could lock my bike. Getting more daring, I might even try to bike out west a few miles to the Florida Everglades to practice my yoga or meditate in total silence.

What is something others do that sparks your admiration?

Jet Pack Entry 12/10/25

“Do not count the days; Make the days count.”
(Muhammad Ali)

I never really understood what Hospice meant until one of my elderly family members I will just call Julie received a terminal diagnosis and thus qualified to enter the program. At the time, I thought of her just lying idly in a crowded institution waiting to die. But I then took some time visiting her at her senior facility living space and observed how an extraordinarily successful team of dedicated professionals served Julie’s comfort care needs for free on a daily basis. Thus I express high admiration to those four individuals described below who’ve for over two years now worked efficiently together to extend the life of that much loved individual of my family for over two years now.

So first I must thank those assigned registered nurses who’ve so wisely handled the medical needs of Julie in her relaxed home setting. In particular, they’ve taken readings of her vital signs upon request, made sure that medications and equipment are supplied in a timely fashion, and taken emergency action when needed.

Next, I give my highest regard to the team social worker who functions best as a problem solving communicator. In doing so, she’s been well prepared serve both Julie and her family by answering questions about scheduling in-house doctor visit scheduling, providing family grief counseling and expediting required paperwork completing.

Moreover,I give kudos to the the team chaplain who’s most sensitively confided in Julie to honor her own spiritual beliefs without showing any bias of Christian, Jewish, or any other organized religious dogma. Complementing her “low key” communicative approach, those sustained periods of silence she allots to Julie seem well received as as a time of self induced, meditative reflection.

Finally, I am honored to recognize her Hospice student volunteer who vigorously attempts to keep Julie interested in pursuing hobbies and playing games that both of them share. Thus her quality of life seems improved in the present as they join together to compete in scrabble, watch an animal video, or discuss a favorite book or news item together.

What could you do less of?


“Distraction is the main problem for us all – what the Buddha called the monkey mind. We need to tame this monkey mind.”
(Tenzin Palmo)

Jet Pack Prompt 12/8/25

In my yin yoga class today, our instructor tried something different to conduct class. Instead of playing the usual background music and periodic chanting/drumming during class, we were told that for the entire hour, “dead silence” would take place. With the room for our practice being soundproofed from outside noise as well, only the “inner voice” in my mind remained to disturb such extreme quiet conditions.

As expected then, I immediately began to dwell on thoughts of restless unease of the future, in doing each pose, 3-5 minutes at a time. But eventually such mental chatter seemed to calm down in this period of sustained quiet. In turn, I began to just focus more on the physical movement of the poses themselves along with my breathing then for the remainder of the class.

So based on this example,it appears I’ve begun to answer my inner critic as to the need to do less monkey mind” thinking that so often fixates my attention on the “what if” future. For it seems hypocritical of me to refer to myself in this blog as one who embraces the present moment in travel and yet frets about what might happen later on in my hometown surroundings to go wrong.

Do you have a favorite place you have visited? Where is it?
Jet Pack Prompt 12/6/25

“A walk about Paris will provide lessons in history, beauty, and in the point of life,” (Thomas Jefferson)

In making my choice of Paris, France as my favorite place to visit, I think of those momentary shifts in my mindset from spending time immersed in the present moment on those short term stopovers spent there. Most often these personal transformations have taken place along self guided walking experiences to and from planned tourist site visits. Feeling more energized then, my attention shifts in surprisingly new directions.. Three examples described below stand out vividly to my mind.

With my first illustration, I reflect back to those leisurely times when I’ve strolled along the picturesque Seine River during day or night. In those moments, I often envisioned myself as an inspiring landscape artist who so keenly captured detailed impressions of extraordinary details in my painting efforts then.

Consider as well the strong emotion I felt absorbing the natural beauty on spectacular display at Luxembourg Gardens in spring or fall. For these relaxing respites from the more hectic surroundings of the park’s urban surroundings often opened my mind to an ecologist frame of mind committed to preserving the landscape of public open space for all to enjoy.

Presenting my last example, I turn to those dark days of rampant Jewish anti- Semitism that existed during Nazi occupation of Paris during World War II. For on past walks along the Marais district in Paris, I’d deeply empathized with the Jewish people as their visionary advocate who’d overcome such historic pain to restore their cultural and religious identity in this region.

Thus I’ve set a personal goal for Ruth and me to again visit Paris in 2026 on an extended stay. For make no mistake about it. I’m seriously overdue!

Are you more of a night or morning person?
Jet Pack prompt 12/2/25

“The woods are lovely, dark, and deep. But I have promises to keep and miles to go before I sleep.” (Robert Frost)

By force of habit, being a night person for me is out of the question at this point of my life. You see I’m a high energy person who likes to get things done as early as possible in a timely fashion. So if my mind’s cluttered up by unresolved tasks happening during the day, I tend to lose quality time and precious sleep at night overthinking about such lingering issues hanging over my life.

In this regard, I think back to my time spent as an Adjunct Professor, when night classes were all that universities could normally offer me at the time. This nocturnal teaching routine did not seem normal for me then as I endured so much uncertain idleness in the day waiting for the evening classes to begin. To compensate for such lack of daytime activity, I often isolated myself from others as my mind seemed blindly focused more on what I’d be doing in the classroom each night. In turn, when I returned home in those late hours around midnight, the excitement “buzz” of each class cluttered my mind thereupon interfering with sound sleep.

So as a satisfied retiree nowadays, I take better control of my life knowing more about what will happen in the daytime. Such time stability has also heightened my interest in casual meetups with friends and family at breakfast or lunch. Now feeling more contented with this schedule, I can thereupon relax more for myself at night and just enjoy extended time watching sports, reading a book, playing music and allotting ample sleep time. One area I need to work on with regard to my day and night routines involves being more selective in time spent using my iPhone and iPad.

What are your feelings about eating meat?
Jetpack Prompt 12/1/25


“Where kindness is concerned, make no distinction between humans and other living beings.”
(Timber Hawkeye)

I suppose it’s easy for me to overlook being a meat eater without considering where the source of the meat originated from. I mean do I really want to think about those overcrowded cattle pens where cows become fattened up to eventually end up as corpses in the slaughter house? But there have been occasions where I’ve begun to question why I’m so heedless about living animals being eliminated just so myself and millions of others can just enjoy their meat.

I think this matter boils down to do we eat meat to live or live to eat meat. With this dilemma, I am perfectly fine rationalizing positively the first option. For a good steak or hamburger for instance does provide a good source of protein to make me a healthier person. But according to the second conclusion, there’s nothing particularly appealing about glorifying meat eating culture.

A true test of my resolve to put my meat eating decisions placed in a moral perspective would be whether I could convince myself living as a hermit in the woods to go out and kill an innocent animal like a deer, rabbit, or duck and then consume it for much needed food. So I would more likely go out and gather plants in the surrounding environs under such isolated conditions to enable myself to survive.

Perhaps I’ve also learned from past visits to vegetarian based India why cows are considered sacred part of the family unit, not a an object to destroy for their meat. So in spite of living much differently amid the ubiquitous culture of fast food hot dogs, hamburgers…. that glorifies enjoyment of meat, for such worldly – wise reasons I could definitely go meatless if I really tried.

“The battlefield is a scene of constant chaos. The winner will be the one who controls that chaos, both his own and the enemies.” (Napoleon Bonaparte).

My mornings begin lately reading or hearing about the latest shock filled headlines related to the actions of our new President and his appointed administration. But I must report then to be in great need of a much needed break from such emotional toll rendered by five reported, nightmarish scenarios as  briefly described below. For why should I have to begin my day with daily thoughts of such dread for our country’s democracy or my peaceful existence every day? I’m supposed to be contentedly retired!

1. Elon Musk given official authority in an unapproved Congressional capacity to infiltrate our Treasury Department database as he desires. Will my Social Security and Medicare payments be secure?
2. President Trump blames recent jetliner crash on diversity hiring to divert attention from his current aviation agency cuts. Does that make me feel safer to fly?
3. The Kennedy Center Board of Trustees will be fired with the intention of making Mr. Trump its sole chairperson.  He plans to revamp event offerings to insure they are in accordance with his planned “Golden Age of Arts and Culture.” What gives him the right to tell me what kind of music I should listen to?  Making my OWN musical choice anywhere I travel is a current freedom that I consider absolutely vital. That doesn’t make me “Un- American”!
4. Current immigration raids target schools, churches, and hospital settings. How do these arrests interfere with the normal functioning of these institutions that provide services to ALL who attend, including me?
5. President Trump poses with a contingent of Florida Panther Russian players holding the Stanley Cup trophy. Does this make me feel safer from a Communist threat in this country?

 

 

 

Was today typical? 
(Blog Prompt 4/29/24)

 

“At the end of the day, you can’t control the results; you can only control your effort level and your focus.” (Ben Zobrist)         

The day before a road trip can never be described as typical for me. For extraordinary excitement arises for me then in anticipation of being free and easy to go where and when I want. Yet there’s usually a flurry of last minute tasks that must take place before we’re ready to escape. Living in South Florida, contingency measures, for example, must be made to secure hurricane awnings, solidify our emergence contacts, and check for spots where water leaks from floods may occur.

Of course there’s also the need to load the car up in an organized fashion. It’s vitally important in that regard to test storage placement arrangements such that boxes and bags do not shift erratically as we drive. Last minute checks to the vehicle itself must also be undertaken with regard to adequate tire pressure, cord needs for trip navigation, and any fluid fill up needs.

Perhaps the most difficult item that  must typically be accomplished before a road trip can best be described as “parting is such sweet sorrow” as the Shakespeare saying goes. For it seems we must provide some reassurance to our family and friends that we will return safely and healthily after twenty five days on the road. That’s not an automatic given!

So the excitement builds throughout this last day as if a new life will be beginning tomorrow. If only I could duplicate that euphoric feeling on a more regular basis. See you down the road. USFMAN

 

“True happiness is really only to be found in sympathetic sharing.” (Johann Wolfgang Goethe)       

What places outside of home and work most give you the feeling of belonging now?

I’ve been looking for some thematic inspiration to write about for our upcoming road trip this August. So in timely fashion, I happened to stumble upon a new book titled “Finding Your Third Place” by Rick Kyte.  His premise states that there’s an “epidemic of loneliness” going in our country right now for a variety of reasons. He particularly observes that modern conveniences like social media, zooming, texting and other forms of tech – related communication have made it increasingly difficult for people to reach out to others in “face to face” communicative ways. He also notes that fears of human interaction as a result of COVID and the loss of public gathering places from unchecked, urban sprawl construction further exacerbates this social isolation problem. 

Know that Mr. Kyte’s proposed solution to this aloneness predicament focuses on the socializing potential of “Third Place localities. For they comprise those informal gathering spots that we can choose from beyond home and work. He furthermore contends that when  people “hang out” and feel receptive to acting socially with others in such “Third Place” locales, they tend to build mutual trust and a sense of common interest for all as well. Click on the following website for a more detailed description of ways that the “Third Place” can be a helpful tool in one’s life.

https://learn.rumie.org/jR/bytes/how-do-i-find-my-third-place/

Looking at the how “Third Place” pertains to me in more practical ways, how might this concept enhance the experience of my upcoming road trip travel? Very simply, I recognize a vital need to prioritize the best use of my leisure now. So I must take more time to relax in such informal gathering places to potentially find a greater sense of belonging. But on that note, what good would it do for me to enter a hometown cafe or vintage bookstore, for instance, forgetting the need to just stay awhile and chat? Under such rushed and self centered conditions, I would most likely ignore those around me and just  spend my time habitually engrossed in my personal electronic devices.                                   

Indeed, such strategies to partake in “Third Place” encounters would include more active listening, sharing empathetic sharing, “letting go” to laugh at lighthearted humor, or even telling a  memorable story. So take a look below of my plan to utilize this Third Place” vision in the following locations scheduled on our road trip. I’ll let you know in future blogs how well this social intended theme goes.  

St.Petersburg, Florida –  Old Tampa Bay at Vinoy Park

Atlanta, Georgia – Piedmont Park 

Cleveland, Ohio – Progressive Field Ballpark

Bethel, New York  – Bethel Woods Concert Center 

Northern Vermont – Sunset Gatherings In Green Mts.

Quebec, Canada – “Old Montreal” Along – Rue St. Paul 

North Conway, New Hampshire – Mt. Washington Cog Railway

Scranton, Pennsylvania – RailRiders PNC Field