Turning 65, another marker in life

I’m turning 65 this week, another marker in life, on comes Medicare and the possibility of retirement, older but not old.

Other markers in life included getting a drivers license at 16.  Last week I had to renew my Arizona drivers license.  When it was issued 14 years ago I used to kid about it expiring in 2019, when turning 65, and hoped I would remember.  Ha, ha.  Like I’d be so old as to have lost my memory.  Thank goodness, not yet.

Graduating from High School at age 18 was another marker in life.  I was a ‘B’ student yet I’m sure my parents had doubts whether I’d actually graduate.  I wanted to attend the Chicago Art Institute but was told “artists starve, you better get a job.”  I waited tables for a while and began to travel.

A huge marker in life was getting married at 26 and becoming an instant Mom to two step-children aged five and ten.

Turning 30 means 30 isn’t old any more.  I returned to school, became a Ranger and graduated with a BS in Environmental Studies and Mass Communication.

After two attempted reconciliations my husband and I traveled in a truck-camper to Mexico with plans to keep on truckin’ south.  Turned 40 in Tulum, so depressed I considered suicide and instead decided on divorce.

Celebrating half a century surrounded by friends in Oregon was sensational.  I knew life was good and would continue to get better.  I’d found a balance working as a Park Ranger half the year and playing/traveling the other half.

A dream come true turning 60 in South Africa, my third visit to this amazing country.  A place I could easily retire to.  Yet I’m not quite ready to retire.

My birthday, is my special holiday and I’ve made it a policy not to work on my day.  In my 20s I actually quit a job when refused my day off even asking two weeks in advance.

So much more to see and do, one life time will never be enough.  I long thought I’d easily live to 100, my maternal grandparents made it to the mid 90s.  Not long ago becoming a centurion was a big deal, definitely news worthy.  Although still reported, people are living beyond 100 years with more frequency.

This year, I’m headed out with the truckcamper and caravanning with a friend in her motorhome up Castle Hot Springs Road north of Lake Pleasant and find a spot to boondock on BLM and hopefully find some pretty spring flowers, or whatever else comes our way.