Me-Now-65... A Final Friday Feature, With A Side Of Nature

When I was growing up, the age of retirement from working life in the UK was 65. I realised this week that this marked year has always stuck with me as having some sort of significance - though why it should be any different from 60 (when many opt for early retirement) or 67 (the retirement age in OZ) is unclear. Physically, I have always been older than my marked years, anyway. Rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, and Chronic Fatigue have all taken their toll. Some octogenarians can put me to shame in the stamina stakes these days. Regular readers are by now familiar with my limited mobility. The addition of the Rolls-later has, despite actually expanding my activity, given a visual cachet of 'senior citizen'. (Though it astounds me how many folk ignore the walker and get right under its wheels then look at me as if I was attacking them! Wonder if they are the same people who walk off the pavement, assuming the traffic will stop...)

Yes, it's just a number, but there is no question that I feel depleted with each passing year. This is part of the incentive to downsize into The Grey. The freedom it affords that being cooped up in The Hutch does not cannot be valued. It is not just the physical. Many of you who have been around for a while also know that life's spiritual/philosophical aspect holds enormous importance to me.

In Sanatana Dharma, there are four stages of life, called ashramas: Brahmacharya (student), GRhastha (householder), Vanaprastha (forest walker/forest dweller), and Sannyasa (renunciate). The first is years 0 - 21, and the second is 21 - 60. The 60th birthday is often celebrated in a similar fashion to that of turning 21 traditionally in British culture, laterally, 18. During the early years, all the studies that one can cram in should be undertaken. Then, life must be dedicated to intellectual growth, economics, and raising a family - unless one continues as Brahmacharya and follows a dedicated spiritual path. Once those years are done, it is time to hand responsibilities to the next generation and withdraw... historically, that would have been to a hut in the forest lands or at least at the back of the garden. India invented the granny flat!

If one has remained Brahmacharya (another way of saying unmarried), this stage still applies. Equally, if one has specifically followed sadhana (spiritual practice), finding either a forest dwelling or a guha (cave) is appropriate. 

Both of these are either difficult to locate or very pricey, just about anywhere in the world now. Thus, The Grey serves a purpose greater than its four wheels and battery.

In taking up this type of residence, there will be much to cull from what is currently held. Thus, one is also moving into Sanyaas—letting go of the physical to exist only in the intellectual/spiritual. Practicalities will still be worked, at least until driving must be ceased. Sanyaas entails full meditative practice and solitude. Solitude I have managed to maintain for large chunks of the ten years I have been back in Scotland, but since the dark year 2020, meditative practice has been sorely lacking. I am seeking to restore that balance.

And see a few bonny places as I go. Another aspect of Vana Prastha and Sanyasa is tirthayaatraa - pilgrimage. In India, it would be around all the main places of significance both in nature and the spiritual; I am sure you will all have heard of Gangotri, at least, the source of the Ganges. That is but one of thousands of spots around the subcontinent. There is a bit of me that would love to go there and take that on - but the pragmatic me and the state of world affairs prevent such drastic moves. I have also toyed with the idea of getting The Grey over to OZ and repatriating - but those same two things hold back such a decision. The reality is that I must remain, for now, in the Bonny Land and, in acknowledging that, get on and make the most of it.

Did you know you can age shells
in a similar way to trees?
Read lots more about shells HERE!

I have been spending this week back at The Hutch after the Seconds Trip getting to grips with paperwork. The Grey was bought and paid for a year ago today, thus sharing his 'gotchya' day with my birthday. Although, I didn't actually get him until May 30th. Thus, insurance and van registration required attention. Mid-May will be service time.

I will be on the road again by this time next week. My dear friend Aitch (who is driving all the way across the country and border to spend today with me!) is spending a week in the border town of Moffat for a geocaching event, and I will be joining her. Watch out for reports on that. After that it will be Grey's garage visit, then onward to do more touring and visiting.

We are getting a spell of decent, proper spring weather, and I hope that by the time you are reading this, I will have managed some more upgrading of Grey's interior space. There is the cladding to do, the new shelving to set up and still a bit of insulation to complete. There will be more even after that, such as adding doors to the shelves - not all, but some, certainly. I would like to improve the ceiling arrangement if I can. Although it is working perfectly well, it isn't very pretty. Then there is the cab overhead area, which has valuable storage space that could be utilised. I am realistic about what I can achieve on any given day, so I am not at all expecting to get everything done in this short interlude. Cladding and shelving are the main things for now. Anything else will be a bonus.

That's it for this joint post with the LLB Gang's Nature Friday (click that badge on the sidebar—or here), a slightly different 'nature' post! Life and making plans for it are surely part of the greater natural world?! Thanks for letting me air my thoughts out loud.