No, definitely NOT retired

Although if questioned as to my plans for contracts, as in.....you just got back, when are you heading out again? I reassure people that I've worked 12 weeks in 2022 so am finished for this year but....am definitely NOT retired yet. It is a surprising statement from someone anticipating their 66th birthday this month but, I approach each rotation with the idea that 'this may be my last northern trip' and at some point, I ask the question of myself "am I ready to NEVER see another mother carrying her baby in an amauti, or not ever watch black haired, brown eyed giggling kids playing with a puppy, never sort out all the well child immunizations, surveillance, even STIs in a community and feel I've made a difference by having done the best job I can? Even the struggle to learn new names in each community, spelling and an attempt at pronunciation...Tatatuapik, Oyukuluk, Attagutsiak, Iqaqrialu, Akpaliapik, Kigutikakjuk, Akpaliapik...the answer at some point is....you'd miss this old nurse, don't give it up just yet. And I mean....taking a for real dogsled trip out on the ice for a fraction of the tourist cost? Priceless. 

A dogsled run ahhhh

I read an article about successful retirement and the gist was....you're not ready if you still receive a sense of purpose from your work. I've made the modification from community health nurse to public health (perhaps homecare...haven't ruled it out) which removes the on call, long nights waiting for the medevac team, need to keep current with SO many different focuses and...just generally more responsibility. When public health nursing in a pandemic sounds better than community health nurse....you know you're past it. So....I have given availability for November 1 to December 14 for a PHN contract in Baffin region and settled on Sanirajak (previously called Hall Beach). I have never been, but have only heard good things about it. And now I'm doing a bit of research I see that it's a wildlife viewing bonanza so getting excited. Today while grocery shopping in Yarmouth I encountered an RCMP wife/LPN who I worked with in Pond Inlet when they were posted there and I did Homecare a few springs ago. She is working casual in ER/Ambulatory Care in the hospital I trained in and we lamented the deterioration of the healthcare system and compared notes on northern nursing. It was a great catchup and as I said to her....I feel like I have to excuse my working still at my age and she said I'd much rather work with someone with decades of experience versus months. Made this old nurses' day. 

I was running my errands Friday morning as I picked up my glasses from the optician. Not much of a prescription change but....I lost my glasses somewhere here on the property and they have disappeared into a Bermuda Triangle apparently. My spare glasses were heavy, two prescriptions ago and lacked sunglasses to clip on as I had separate bifocal sunglasses (which I managed to lose the arm off in the arctic this spring) so I was  jamming a pair of sunglasses someone left in my house over the top like some kind of post eye surgery patient. I'm pleased with my lightweight progressive bifocal lenses and clip on shades. Took a bit of getting used to with the slight change in strength as I figured out just which way to tilt my head for clearest vision. I'd gotten the new prescription last fall but delayed filling it until sorting out the 'pre glaucoma' exams/treatment with the ophthalmologist. I've settled into the eye drops and one side effect is thicker longer eye lashes so no longer have to invest in mascara. Have been pleased the drops lowered my intraocular pressure and it's not much of a lifestyle change to put them in nightly....thankfully it was only the first few weeks in January they caused red irritated eyes and made me look like a stoner. 

I made a journey to the Hyundai car dealership where I've ordered my next vehicle....a 2023 Kona EV (electric vehicle). Originally it looked like an 18 month wait as there are supply chain issues worldwide but...when I visited end of June I was pleased to discover they would be receiving orders the end of July so quickly put a deposit and have been waiting since with various possible arrival dates given each time I've called. The car is coming from Korea via ship to Vancouver and across Canada to the compound in Saint John, NB. I am unclear of exactly where it is at present but it does have a VIN # so at least isn't still in Asia. Today I made an in person visit to the Sales Manager and stated I wouldn't be leaving until an approximate date could be given. The good news is the timing is now being measured in weeks vs months. There is no urgency as my present car (2013 Dodge Dart) is perfectly fine but I do need to plan with my busy social calendar. I have ordered a charging station for the house and so the brother-in-law electrician will need to install a 220 plug for it....the greatest challenge being arranging for the wire to exit our thick concrete walls so likely another overhead crawl in the attic for one of the son-in-laws to run the wire. The overnight charging is a nice feature for someone living 25+ minutes from a gas station and the charging can be set on a timer to the off peak rate time of day we are set up for. The range of the Kona is 400+ km per charge so manageable even with the emerging infrastructure in NS. The various programs for the car (including remote starter) are through a program in your smartphone. The salesman told me that as long as I had a wi-fi signal I could start the car from Nunavut if I wished. Not gonna happen I assured him. I will be on a steep learning curve for heated steering wheel etc. Looking forward to being more environmentally accountable. 

I managed to get some summer road trips in with the two oldest grandchildren as I'd promised the grandson a trip to Fortress Louisbourg to celebrate his graduation from elementary school...still can't believe that he's in Jr High. We also enjoyed the Glace Bay Miners Museum tour and Two Rivers Wildlife Park, two of my girlfriends squeezed in a visit with us, hotel swimming pool, junkfood and eating out were a real treat especially for the six year old granddaughter. We stopped at the Museum of Industry in Stellarton to break up the return home and it's a great spot for kids. They're both great little travellers and we had so much fun we planned an end of summer trip as well. We started out in Bridgewater/Lunenburg with an overnight stay for swimming/water slide and supper at Swiss Chalet then I headed out to my rheumatologist appointment in the a.m. and their grandfather took the kids to the Fisheries Museum. We switched booster seat, Grawmp exited home and we headed off to New Brunswick. Made it to Fredericton for a late supper, swim and in to bed. The next morning we headed out to Florenceville/Bristol, toured Potato World, had a great lunch then visited with friends. Back to the city in time to do a little shopping at Chapters (Pat le Chat for missy and a wrestling magazine for mister) and various best sellers for me...I mean when you can't decide, just buy both with your Plum rewards credit. Swimming again and a good sleep. The next day we were at Kings Landing when they opened the gates and they closed them behind us as we left. I had visited in 1985 but a lot of expansion has been done. It's a wonderfully interactive spot with great interpreters and the kids had a fantastic day. We finished up by meeting a girlfriend for supper at a local restaurant and a good catchup visit then back for a final swim. It was a long travel day home but we stopped for a picnic lunch and photo op at the 'big blueberry' in Oxford and then to drop the two junior travellers off. Big plans to take the train to Quebec City next summer.....we'll see. 

Summer visits to several friends in the valley, a local retired nurses luncheon and then my Class of 76 get together in Digby were all great chances to reconnect. I 'did lunch' with a friend at a new eatery in town called the Emerald Light which is a lovely spot. Lots of warm afternoons spent by the pool (or in it with the grandkids) as we've had a warm, dry summer. The shore captain completed a gazebo enclosure (using the windows he salvaged from a reno he assisted his sister with a few years back) around the hot tub I found when I returned home in June. It's lovely but the cool ocean breeze when you emerge from the 105f soak needed some buffering. I think we now have a three season room and I've put a padded lawn chair in the corner to make it a reading room with the chill being taken off by the automatic heater. Some 'summer list' items didn't get completed....I'd love to do a pasta making class in Granville Ferry, have some more friend visits to do and never made it to Tatamagouche for a get together with a northern friend home on a visit. I have been dealing with lots of produce from the gentleman farmer and have made pickled beets and beans, zucchini pickles, salsa and lots of fresh veggies for various recipes such as fresh tomato soup, pizza sauce, and lots and lots of tomato sandwiches - who knew that a grilled cheese sandwich with embedded tomato slice was so tasty?. Ahhh

The RN daughter has returned to her nursing job after an extended maternity leave and is working 50% (although any working mother can tell you that is the outside the house job only) meaning six shifts per month with the very busy 15 month old Violet managing well. She is a smiley, easy going, very independent toddler who loves to chase the cats, dance and eats constantly. Petite like her mother was (is) Violet spent the weekend here as the weather (of course) was originally good for halibut fishing (which her hubby is on a steep learning curve for) and hoped to make a test trip, but changed at the last minute. The usual nurse/fisherman challenges of weekend and night shift childcare have not eased in the decades since we navigated those challenges. In fact, likely worse as there do not appear to be as many teenagers babysitting nowadays. I'm getting my days in that I can now as my social/work schedule will not allow for much assistance this fall what with cruise this month, two weeks in England (London and southwest) for two weeks, exploring London with tea at the Ritz, west end theatre and plans to show my gf (who has never been across the pond) the best of London then hitting all the highlights from Stonehenge to Canterbury while we stay in Chichester. The only requirement to be my travel partner is the no checked bags rule which resulted in my gf making a pilgrimage to MEC for a backpack and LLBean for travel packing cubes....ahhh we got this. 

So as last minute prep for the first girls vacation is underway. We are Bermuda bound on the Norwegian Getaway out of New York City this week. What can I say? It was a sale to entice people to cruise again and....it worked. We got a minisuite with balcony for less than the cost of an inside cabin previously. We fly Wed, embark Thurs, sea day Fri (likely rough post Hurricane Fiona but neither of us are prone to sea sickness) and Bermuda Sat/Sun, sea day Mon and back to New York on Tues with supper booked at an Italian restaurant and tickets to Wicked on Broadway that night, fly home Wed. Have a long list of possibilities - neither of us having been to Bermuda - which we likely will only tick a few off the list. My travel partner has not been to New York so we have plans to explore there pre and post cruise and add to the experience. It's a first cruise for my gf as well so lots of fun to be had. We have to do covid tests to enter Bermuda so Tuesday we have booked a 4 p.m. appointment at the local drug store for the rapid test certified by the pharmacist which is within the 48 hrs of embarkation requirement. Found my passport, have all the insurance and cruise documents printed, the proof of vaccination ready to upload to the ArriveCan app and we're getting excited. When you're biggest issue is fitting in appointments for hair cut, spa day and covid test....it's all first world problems. Those 11 days at home before heading out on the next trip with another gf are going to be busy...stay tuned for the UK next. 

Retirement? Who Does That?

Well....not retired yet and....not going to be (at least until June) as I've booked in for a spring Public Health Nurse contract returning to Arctic Bay. I feel the need to see the community in the sunshine and April 27 to June 8th is a wonderful time to be in the high arctic. Several of the casuals from this winter will be returning as well. Everyone is in a good mood and prepping to get 'out on the land' camping and looking forward to the short northern summer, 24 hour daylight, there is still snow (no bugs, easy to get around, no dusty roads) but the temperatures are comfortable. And by the time I return home the cabana boy will have the pool operational. That will total 12 weeks of paid employment for 2022 and I'm good with that. Will I reregister for next year? Not sure yet. It's feeling like I'm getting closer to that retirement planning one day at a time title though. I thoroughly enjoyed my rotation this time (it was a much better experience than last winter) if I had chosen to go out as a final contract, it would have been great memories. Lovely community, good coworkers and even a fun northern social life (example naan pizza with sour cream, arctic char, red onion and mushrooms with cheese...yum). I was doing well child immunization to catch up the overdue little ones. As a point of reference...Nunavut has 20 immunizations from birth to age four and Nova Scotia has 14 for the same period, simply due to risk factors of lifestyles. There were over 100 overdue when I arrived and only 16 (really tough to get in) when I exited so....was pleased with that measurement. The nurse in charge is retiring this month and really wanted the list to be caught up. She was pleased and made angel food cake, strawberries and whipped topping for a treat on my last day with a lovely card. So nice to be appreciated. I also chased down a few STIs (will be worse when the mines open up again this spring with the dorms) and one latent TB on DOT (directly observed therapy) 3HP treatment which is a combo of TB drugs given weekly x 12 so that only three months of compliance is required vs the previous daily meds for nine months. My replacement was delayed in Pond Inlet for a couple of weeks so only a bit of a gap. She'll be there when I return. It will be nice to have a couple of days together for the handover. There was only a first case of covid in the community the last week I was there and at present still listing as only one active....hoping they can hold it down. 

Noon from my office window

Arctic Bay on my walk from work

View from hill top

Ahhh here comes the sun

Dog team on the sea ice

I have been working through a long list of library book holds which all seem to come due at the same time. Have enjoyed What Strange Paradise, Before I Let you Go, Reckless Girls, It Ends with Us, Verity, Rock Paper Scissors, The Strangers, The Things You Save in a Fire, The Winter Wives, The Secret of Snow, The Charm Bracelet, The Sanatorium, Sooley, Lethal, and also read "Indian" in the Cabinet which was okaaay but didn't meet my expectations.  Lots of time living the single life to read, listen to podcasts, crochet (did a lap throw for the LPN) catch up on the news (when I could bear to look at it) and watch a few movies I'd downloaded from Netflix.

Trying to get caught up on my TBR (to be read) list before I am hanging out with the youngest grandson for the next few weeks. His Dad leaves in the morning for a visit with his family in Cuba and it's too early (both post transplant and pandemic) for Juan to travel. I am heading to an appointment along the way and then in to the city for a couple of days, returning here after he has blood drawn on Thursday. His Mom will work during the week and join us on weekends. It'll be good to spend some time with him as he is changing quickly.  The youngest granddaughter at 8 mo is now sitting up, creeping, standing with help and eating everything! She is petite like her mother was (is) and very busy. 

Although I'd like to be packing for a trip nearer the equator, it's just too soon for me. A friend and I have discussed/planned/given up on a trip to Ireland several times per year, beginning in spring 2020. Maybe this fall we tell ourselves. And then.....that crazy Russian dictator decides to invade Ukraine. As a meme I saw said....I didn't think the world had to replay the entire 20th century in the past two years. Sigh. It will take a while to get used to some of the changes (masks, distancing, documentation, increased cost) that are likely going to stay with us for some time. The biggest issue is convincing myself that it is worth it to get out there again. It's really not much fun with the domestic travel required for commuting to work....masks, proof of vaccine documents, reduced services, limited flight schedules and sudden changes due to crew shortages....as well as the usual weather/mechanical related challenges. 

Domestic travel is still being planned though. We are traveling to Toronto the first week of April where we will enjoy the hockey tickets we won to see the Montreal Canadiens play the Toronto Maple Leafs. Airfare was included and so we just have to cover food and lodging. Booked in downtown and the travel partner sprang for tickets to see the Raptors play a couple of games. Coincidentally a young nurse who works in Arctic Bay will be out in Scarborough/York area visiting her family (dim sun chefs) while we're in the city and we've arranged to get together for the day. She's instructed us to bring a cooler to bring home some of the frozen dim sun they create for restaurants. Will be a nice diversion. As well, after mentioning a plan to travel to Prince Albert this fall to visit with a buddy for duck/goose hunting the shore captain was thrilled that the buddy had a line on a guided snow goose hunt end of October. They are both excited....more fun to have a friend to play with. Since I have a companion voucher expiring and some West Jet travel bank and $ from pandemic refunds there has been some discussion of how far the voucher will take us. As in one ticket paid and one just pays taxes and fees so....Whitehorse/Dawson City are on the table. Just checking to see if the tourism venues are still open mid September and take a closer look. Would be the final territory in Canada to tick Yukon off my list if so and might be more attainable than Europe at this rate. As my travel partner said....that Balkan cruise in to St Petersburg you had in mind might not be manageable in your travel lifetime now...sigh. 

Have been home for two weeks and enjoyed some visits, video chats and phone calls with friends and family. Got my bags unpacked - not difficult as I stored my northern and work gear with one of the indeterminate nurses so I didn't have to schlep it 3500 km each way. Had an afternoon visit with a former coworker (lab tech heading to Iqaluit as a casual) about outfitting for the arctic. Exciting when just starting out! Now I'm working on a crochet project to keep my hands busy, sewed some masks to send to Cuba, have been baking for the long term room mate and enjoying some nice meals which make me appreciative of the dishwasher. We even got out for lunch in town....it's what (almost) retired folks do. The milder temperatures here have led to some walks to the community mailbox and visits with neighbours. Hoping to take in the craft classes being offered this month by the recreation department - not sure his Grawmp is up to chasing an active toddler but we'll work something out. 

So.....expect the...I'm packing my food update in about six weeks as unretirement continues. Later. 

Hellooooo 2022

If I were counting....which Blogspot is apparently...this is post number 800! Imagine that. Who would've thought such a milestone would be reached, especially since I've been very sparse in my updates. Here we are welcoming in a new year, marking the second anniversary of a global pandemic and struggling with a major outbreak of the omicron variant of the coronavirus. 2021 was an intense year for our family with fantastic outcomes during challenging times so glad that's behind us. 

Considering the title of 'retirement planning' and that I am actually receiving and spending pensions as a senior....it would be reasonable to conclude that retirement is imminent. Is it? I have given myself a final contract to see if I am ready to wrap up a 45 year nursing career. And you know....just before the holidays when I signed my CSA (contract) to do six weeks of Public Health Nurse in Arctic Bay......I was as excited as ten years ago when I agreed to the first Nunavut gig. I've even caught myself musing that if all goes 

7 hrs flying time from NS

well, I might consider a spring contract to actually see the community in the daylight. I received a lovely email from the boss warmly welcoming me to the team and it supported all the positives I've heard regarding the longest serving nurse in charge with GN. It will be a busy time as there will be lots of vaccinations to do, there are almost 200 active cases of the virus in Nunavut (although as of today none in Arctic Bay), the communities are in lockdown with travel restrictions, no gathering and no school. I do not believe in regrets, only lessons and I suspect that there are some to be learned walking into this healthcare storm. Oh well, not ready to give it up just yet. And my goal this year is to finish on a high note after last winter's disappointing debacle with interpersonal/professional angst. That was not the way I want to end a 4.5 decade career. 

It will never be the work that causes me to do more than just plan to retire, but actually walk away....it will be the packing/travel. Especially in these times of cancelled flights and reduced schedules, difficulty sourcing food on the commute, N95 masks and risk of exposures along the way. I did my grocery shopping on Thursday and have over the past few days managed to organize my

$300 right here

knapsack and two rolling duffels full of cold weather gear, food and

Stuffed into LLBean bags

clothes. The shore captain stood on the scales with the bags and I still have 10 pounds remaining so lots of wiggle room. Over the years I have become more specific in what I schlep north....less clothes, specific foods, walking poles, kamiks, down filled throw, warm socks, ebooks on my phone, earbuds, my journal, UV light, a crochet project or two. My minimalist life for six weeks is remarkably freeing. Of course it is much more fun to pack the backpack for a couple of months in Cuba but....again this year, it is not to be. 

In the run up to planned absence, I fitted in appointments to physio/prolotherapy to sort out my back/shoulder ahhh, regular dental checkup (no I'll wait until next year to have those 'routine' expensive xrays) and a Dr appointment to meet our new family physician who I'd only had a phone appointment with. An over qualified GP, previously an orthopaedic surgeon/professor in Nigeria, he was thorough, personable and not likely to stay long term as he shared his wife is requalifying as a dentist and was a professor previously as well. So, although we need dentists in our area....professors are located in the city. We discussed my routine bloodwork and I was shocked to find my cholesterol/triglycerides were moderately elevated. We reviewed diet and I assured him that I have already made lots of health healthy choices over the years as in using olive oil, not much red meat, fry very little, lots of veggies, very little processed foods or snacks. I promised to shop more carefully for dairy and he said "I think you need an air fryer" :) I indignantly protested that my husband is someone who eats large bags of chips in his recliner and loves all kinds of junk food, loves bacon and eggs daily, must have gravy on everything, protests against low fat milk, and his bloodwork was ok? His physician confidentiality was good as he refused to discuss hubby's results but he could use an update on feminist language when he said "well you do the cooking" hmmm.  He of course had questioned me on family hx (yes strong cardiac history) reminded me of my hypertension and said "you can't walk away from your genes" so we agreed that I'd do the dietary changes and reassess in six months. Imparted more urgency to the northern grocery provisioning as low sodium, low cholesterol/saturated fat foods are not the north of 60 norm. Flaxseed meal, whey powder, low fat snacks (Swedish berries have 0 fat) and a slight tweaking of the grocery list with lots of label reading made the outfitting even more drawn out. It's just the initial changes that take some time, and of course factoring in that I will likely be restricted from shopping the first two weeks as there is a 14 days self isolation requirement for those without covid booster shots. I had my third dose of Pfizer on December 30th but it will only be eight days upon arrival in territory....we shall see. Worse things than not being able to go to the Northern Store. 

Although the increasing cases and thus restrictions in our province have limited some of our activities....we enjoyed the holidays. Last Christmas was a very uncertain time with a grandson on the liver transplant list and his auntie being assessed as a donor. This year brought a very well, active toddler who was excited to open gifts and into everything. The youngest granddaughter was impressed with the lights and activity and even investigated a few packages. What a difference a year makes. We enjoyed a quiet New Years Eve at home, fired up the sauna and then watched a Netflix movie (Escape from Pretoria) which was well done. Managed to hear some fireworks at midnight from the neighbouring community and drifted off to 2022...ahhh

Have been reading lots of great books....thanks in large part to the Friends & Fiction group with suggestions, author interviews etc. I'm reading Not a Happy Family at present....very good. For the debut author category of the F&F challenge I just finished The Kindest Lie which was a great read dealing with several tough subjects. The House on Vesper Sands (although highly recommended) was just ok in my opinion but it was sort of a fantasy and not really my genre. The Nanny was a great thriller and The Girl with the Louding Voice was a wonderful book set in Nigeria. I really enjoyed Call Your Daughter Home as it was a southern historical novel. So many great books all waiting to be read. Oh and if you're wondering about something to watch on Netflix....don't miss The Unforgivable....Sandra Bullock's best work. I took in Belfast at the theatre as well and it'll likely make its way to home screens soon - highly recommend it. 

I have been filling the fridge and freezer with food and it will be a while before the life partner has to cook for himself. Tomorrow I must un-Christmas the house. It is a bit earlier than I'd really like to but....if I don't want to see it in February it is time. Plan is for the youngest grandchild to visit.....Violet will change the most of the five of them before I see her again. Until February.....stay well