I went in search of a year-round pool for swimming laps and ended up with a fitness center membership. In the defense industry, we might have called that “Mission Creep.”
Although I didn’t want to go down this path, the gym is close to my house and offers lots of amenities. The cost is $85 per month – I got a discount of $65 a month for six months. No contract, and I can cancel at any time.
I still adore our backyard pool, but it takes me six strokes to traverse. A 25-yard pool at the fitness center will be a luxury. The facility is beautiful with all the standard equipment, as well as yoga, cycling, sauna, steam and a variety of cardio classes.
“Gentle Yoga” sounded like something I might try. The last time I dabbled with yoga was more than 30 years ago, and I got a crick in my neck from looking up at the instructor trying to figure out what to do. I don’t see myself signing up for dancing classes, as I never seem to know which way to turn. Line dancing was a colossal failure for me, even with copious amounts of beer, but still, I might give Zumba a go.
Perhaps I’ll meet some local people at the gym … if I don’t scare them off. It seems I’ve lost the art of conversation. While I’ve always been kind of a loner and am quite content to be by myself or with Dale, I think it’s healthy to make new friends.
Thinking about friends always reminds me of Young Frankenstein, when Gene Hackman is the blind priest praying for a visitor, and he gets Frankenstein. So funny. I can probably recite the entire movie script from memory.
Speaking of Frankenstein, the gym should prove interesting when I change in the locker room. During my tour, everyone was nonchalant in various stages of undress, which is fine with me, as I have no issues with nudity. But I remember the first time I saw a picture of a woman with no breasts, and it’s kind of jolting. I’m so used to it now after my mastectomy four years ago. I forget I look different. I’m certainly not going to change in the stall, and maybe it will be educational for some!
Oh, and I got a hot new swimsuit that will transform me into the athlete I’m not! I have good endurance, but I’m a slow swimmer. At least I’ll look fast. As they used to say at work, fake it ’til you make it.
I do feel a little guilty, as I seem to spend money, while Dale doesn’t. But he said in the grand scheme of things, it’s not that much money. We saved and saved for so long, that we find ourselves in the unusual position of actually spending it. As homebodies, our travel budget is minimal, and we rarely dine in restaurants.
That said, we are doing an overnighter to the beach for oysters this weekend – and nothing there is cheap. Still, it’s not a trip to Italy.
While I understand travel can be intellectually stimulating, I am more likely to spend money on things that keep my body retirement strong and ready for action, as opposed to visiting monuments or buying lots of clothes. I guess it’s about individual priorities and whatever makes you happy.
Anything can happen to anyone, and I know exercising is no guarantee of a long and healthy life. But I’ve seen so many people decline physically because they wouldn’t or couldn’t get out there and move. I read an obituary of a 72-year-old who died of natural causes, and I am reminded of the 83-year-old in my golf group who walks 18 holes weekly. She’s my inspiration, and I’m just going to keep at it until I’m no longer able.
Staying fit and healthy is my retirement gig.
On the food front, I’ve rediscovered dates. How could anything be so delicious? Better than a candy bar! They’re high in sugar, so I only eat one or two, but they are also loaded with nutrients. When the dates are gone, I’m probably going to switch to prunes, as they are just as tasty and good for bone density, always an issue for the estrogen-free among us.
Prunes also improve some bodily functions. Is one enough, six too many? I’m sure you’ll get a few glances. My husband had a mastectomy and after radiation he was rather burnt on that side as well as having a scar. He took his shirt off in the men’s room and when he saw someone looking at him, he said, “My wife told me not to stand too close to the microwave.” I imagine, though, that in the women’s locker room mastectomy scars are a bit more prevalent. We do gentle yoga. You might try restorative yoga if it’s offered. It’s even easier than gentle yoga. So relaxing that several people fall asleep and start snoring.
I will definitely check to see if they have restorative yoga!
I love your husband’s comment. A good one-liner is quite handy. I remember going to a corporate offsite shortly after my chemo ended. I was totally bald and didn’t wear a wig. I walked in and everyone stopped to stare. I said, “Oh my God! They told me I had to shave my head.” Everyone froze and then laughed. The CEO told that story for years.
I think it’s great you joined. If we had any options except the rich club in Auburn, I would join in a flash. I love swimming. the back and forth, the rhythm. So good for you. Also, I thought we the only ones who knew all the lines from Young Frankenstein.(really!) there’s probably not a day that goes by that some quote is used somewhere…..” it goes without saying”…..
Always good to know another Young Frankenstein fan! There are so many great lines. We also quote a lot of Bob Dylan songs, as in, “You can do what you want Abe, but …”
I wish you had a pool option. I went today for the first time, and it was amazing. I swam for just over 30 minutes. I used to do a mile in 45, but I’m not sure anymore. I’ll probably count laps next time to see where I stand.
My husband had a Dylan show on KVMR Nevada city for over 20 years
So he knows every line
All the cool people can recite Young Frankenstein.
At the work gym there are only 3 locker alcoves with a short bench; not enough for the women working out. When I first started going I noticed I had one section all to myself with the others all jammed into the remaining 2 spaces. Apparently none of them could stand me boobless and scarred or just the big-fat-dyke in the room, but I had all the space I needed. Score!
Hi Carole — so happy to hear from you. Cheers to my favorite boobless, scarred, big-fat dyke.
Thanks for sharing your posts! I grew up in a family of many women, and most of them had breast cancer at some point. They were very outgoing, creative women, and I recall my Mom,Aunts, and Grandmom, sitting over coffee,lifting their shirts,comparing scars and surgery stories. While we kids played with our Barbies at their feet. My family was not shy about bodies, no matter what they looked like,so I grew up seeing 2 breasted, 1 breasted and no breasted women. Over coffee!! LOL!! My grandmom lived with us and also had a single mastectomy from the 50’s when scars were not so “contained..” She had a very radical situation, but lived a good long life!!!! She did not hide her body from me. And for this I am grateful. I have an incredible appreciation of womanhood, in all its forms…. I was so lucky to grow up with such cool women who showed me a body is a body is a body, love it, baby!! Love what you’ve got!! Love life!! That said, I love your focus on staying fit and healthy. Hell with anyone who may be shocked in the locker room. As I go further into retirement, my thoughts of travel are also reducing even further than before.. Mexico is so close to Az .and so cheap!! Who needs Europe? And then there is the back yard POOL!! I enjoy your retirement perspective! (Sorry for long post, probably fodder for a short story or autobiog!LOL!)
Hi there! What an interesting perspective you shared. I love it! I agree — you were very lucky to grow up with such positive role models. I love Mexico, and it’s about the only place I’m inclined to go anymore. We went to Hawaii once to visit friends a couple of years ago, and while it was nice, we like Mexico better.