Good morning, friends! The crisp fall air and golden aspens are reminding us how lucky we are to soak up this retired life. Here’s a glimpse into our latest adventures, from detoxing in the sauna to dreaming of Japan. Grab your coffee, and let’s catch up.
Tuesday: Detox, Deck, and Deliciousness
We kicked off Tuesday bright and early—well, early for retirees, anyway. Cousin’s sticking around for another week, so the three of us sipped our morning coffee, reminiscing about the grandkid chaos that left our house buzzing (and us happily exhausted). To reset, I cranked the sauna to a toasty 170°F, and we spent 20 minutes sweating out the weekend’s cookie crumbs and kiddo energy.
The Colorado weather gods smiled on us, so we plopped onto the deck for an hour of pure vitamin D bliss. After running a few errands, we indulged in a glorious afternoon nap—because, let’s be honest, naps are the unsung heroes of retirement. My wife whipped up a Mediterranean chicken bowl for dinner that was nothing short of a flavor explosion. We capped the night with a movie, tucked in early, and called it a perfect, low-key day.
Wednesday: Aspens, Devotionals, and Furniture Hunts
Wednesday dawned just as gorgeous, with sunlight filtering through the aspens. A contractor friend swung by to check on a few house projects, then we took our favorite neighborhood walk, weaving through those shimmering golden trees. I snapped some photos and played around with a new video editing tool to craft a short film showcasing our slice of paradise. It’s a work in progress, so go easy on the critiques—I’m learning!
Over coffee last week, I had a heartwarming moment with my son-in-law, Nick, a pro baseball player who’s as grounded as they come. Drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays out of high school, he spent five years with them before joining the Washington Nationals. Nick’s a faith-driven guy, starting each day with his Bible and a devotional. He was reading Tim Tebow’s daily devotional, and when I asked if it was any good, he lit up: “It’s great.” Next thing I know, he’s ordered me a copy, which I snagged yesterday. Inspired by Nick, I’m adding morning devotions to my routine, hoping to grow into a better human, one page at a time. (Side note: our three kids and their spouses are absolute gems, and I’ll spotlight them now and then—consider this Nick’s moment!)
Later, we hit the furniture stores with Cousin, who’s on the hunt for a chair for his Michigan place. He’s obsessed with the local craftsman we buy from, and who can blame him? Our Tesla chauffeured us (yep, we’re those people now), and over lunch, I asked Grok for a pork stir-fry recipe. Nae-Nae and I reviewed the ingredients, made a quick grocery run, and by evening, I was sizzling away in the kitchen. My wife and I trade cooking nights—she’s the gourmet chef, I’m the Instant Pot enthusiast. Last night’s stir-fry was a win, paired with Cousin’s expertly mixed drinks. Post-dinner, we settled in for Chad Powers, a quirky Hulu series about a college quarterback’s comeback, produced by Eli Manning. It’s a hoot—check it out. And, as always, we ended with a dose of Letterkenny’s boyish humor, which never fails to send us to bed chuckling.
Today and Beyond: Trash Day and Men’s Retreat
It’s Thursday, which means Trash Day in our neck of the woods—our weekly cardio of hauling bins to the curb. We’re treating ourselves to brunch at the Conifer Café, then my buddy Michael and I are letting the Tesla whisk us to Winter Park for our annual men’s retreat. My men’s group—13 guys and one incredible female facilitator—meets monthly to dig deep and become better versions of ourselves. After nine years, I’m still learning from these wise souls, picking up nuggets to live more authentically. We all need that occasional mirror to check ourselves, don’t we?
Looking Ahead: Belize, Japan, and Living the Dream
Fall in Colorado is pure magic, and retirement gives us the freedom to savor it. Cousin heads back to Michigan next week, and then we’re counting down to an 11-day Belize getaway with friends. Come April, we’re off to Japan for our first-ever visit—a 12-day adventure planned with help from my friend Jason and Grok’s itinerary magic. We’re hiring a pro to book it, but if you’ve got Japan tips, send them my way!
That’s the latest from our corner of the world. Retirement’s teaching us to slow down, laugh often, and cherish the little moments—like a good stir-fry or a sunny deck day. I hope this brings a smile to your inbox. Until next time, keep shining, and I’ll catch you in a few days!
Cheers,
Granson and Nae-Nae