What will you do, now that your daughter has moved out?

Nick and I were super engaged in our daughter's activities, etc...  So, we were kind of "always there"  at the school, etc... Maybe the parent of a lot of seniors get the question, but we got it a lot:  "What will you do now that your daughter has graduated and isn't:  playing volleyball, on the dance team, running track, part of the theater group?"  Well, maybe we will go to some volleyball games.  We enjoy watching the team play.  Same for basketball (the dance team performed often at basketball games, so we went to a lot of those).  Word of advice; if your school offers a family pass, buy it.  We paid for ours within a going to a few volleyball games, dance team performances at football games. By the time basketball came around, we had probably realized our investment several times over.  

We'll go to track meets. We are definitely going to some dance competitions.  Because we love it. But, we'll also be taking some trips.  One night camping trips.  Trips to go skiing, maybe just for the day. Provided the weather cooperates. Eventually, we'd love to make some bigger trips, to see friends who don't live nearby.  High on my list of people to go see is my waterfall-jumping friend .  And some friends who don't live very far away, but it has seemed like there hasn't been time to get together.  Yes, we'll have time to do that.  We, amazingly, do have interests.  We  aren't worried about how to fill our time.   And there will be the culling, the downsizing, the prepping for the next stage, the next Move.   That will be residence 23 for me.  Twenty three is a lucky number.

And of course, she'll be coming home occasionally. Not that we imagine she'll just be hanging out with us;  she does have friends.  But, at least she'll be here. And we'll be able to visit her occasionally at college (not gonna lie, looking forward to that already).  We have joked with her that we'll just end up following her where ever she goes.  She seems a bit chagrined at that prospect.  I can't imagine why...

Nick and I are still excited about "our plan" and when we retire all the things we'll do.  We just have to keep ourselves healthy.  Mentally and physically.  We also don't plan to work until we die.  We've had some real eye-openers in that regard, and we want to have those years to really enjoy ourselves.  Not that we don't now.  We are busy people.  We love our adventures. We love to visit family.  We love little get-aways together.   We won't be retiring soon, but the light is at the end of the tunnel, for sure.  The future's so bright, I gotta wear shades.