Spouse and I looked at senior condo for sale at Oppenheimer Place.  It's in like-new condition but spouse can only picture it as an investment property to rent until he deems us old enough to live in it.  He's delusional!  If we bought it, of course I'd want to move right in!  It's priced right to boot.  Think of it - no more watering the towering blue spruce, no more fear of getting hanta virus when I go into our shed aka the Mouse Motel 6, no more despairing over our gopher ridden back yard, no more worrying that the gas stove or furnace will explode - it's an all electric condo, no more freezing in the winter because a third of the house is unheated, no more breathing wood smoke because since there is no fireplace or wood-burning stove, no more fear about what-in-the-world the crawl space water pipe insulation is, no more dealing with the roof leak in the furnace room, no more living with filthy wall-to-wall carpet, no more living in a house that one realtor termed de-modeled.

Retirement Transition Seminar at LANL Today

I attended a retirement transition seminar with spouse at LANL today, even though he's still working part time.  Facilitators, a husband and wife team, said to call local YMCA and Los Alamos Fitness Centers to get free month membership for attending seminar.  I'll check into that.

Best line from seminar was when husband facilitator described his reaction on his first day of retirement in 2005 when wife facilitator, who hadn't yet retired, innocently asked "What are you going to do today?"  He blasted back "What are you - the cops?"  I'll be using that line on spouse and he's welcome to use it on me.  Now, wife facilitator, who since retired, merely says "Have a good day!" It's true - sometimes spouses get too much into each other's business.  If I lived alone or vice versa, we wouldn't be expected to answer to anyone for our day! 

Yesterday, I finished yet a third class at the YMCA - Zumba.  I had fun but am not particularly adept at it.  OK, it WAS my first time.  Room was crowded - woman to my right kept encroaching on my space which ensured that I'd quick-footedly move out of her way.  Some women wore belly dancer belts with coins to jingle jangle when they shook their bootys, even though the music was too loud anyway to hear their shekels shake! Toward the end, it's an hour long class, I was fading after taking 3 fitness classes yesterday so I virtually  stopped trying to do all the arm action - I was lucky to still be able to move my feet!    There were some really good Zumber-ers in the class! Zumba is also offered on Tuesday and Thursday mornings in the larger gymnasium so I'll try that some time.

Our health insurance may offer us a reduced price membership at the YMCA.  Have to check into that also.  The YMCA fitness resources may help me keep me  strong and fit in my old age!

Trying Out Fitness Classes at YMCA

I, in my wisdom, purchased a $60 pass to 8 YMCA fitness classes.  I did Power Up earlier this afternoon and will soon do Gentle Yoga and Zumba.  I want to see if there are any classes I can't live without. 

Power Up was a good workout.  My tricky knees don't allow me to do squats and lunges and there were some so I improvised.  I discovered my triceps and core are weak. Next time I need to allow more time to set up my mat, step, barbell and dumbbells - whew!

A Y membership would be nice but than I'd have to use it to make it worthwhile and I'm not sure I want to shell out buckaroos every month. 

I read a comment on the Y's bulletin board where someone took the Los Alamos Y to task for being more expensive and not having as much equipment as the Genoveva Chavez Community Center in Santa Fe.  The Y's answer was that the the recreation center there is subsidized by the county.  I remember a while back that the Los Alamos County's Walkup Pool wanted to offer fitness classes or some sort but the Y board protested it as unfair competition from the county.  The local businesses assume they have a lock for life on the market here and fight against any competition.

Quick Jaunt from North Mesa to Los Alamos Mesa

I walked back home from the Los Alamos golf course after grandson's 10th birthday party.  I was really surprised how short the walk is - only around 3 miles.  I took the trail through Walnut Canyon to avoid dealing with errant golf balls.  The steps into Walnut Canyon are steep!  The canyon itself is an amazingly awesome urban gem.  The ponderosas (and maybe I saw some Douglas firs) seem sky-scraper tall.  The tuff cliffs are equally soaring. 

There were two places where I could have gotten out of the canyon but instead I stubbornly followed it down the dry stream bed even after I lost the trail (if there even is one at that point).  It did eventually, after negotiating some boulders and dead logs, meet the East Fork Trail.  I followed that to the bottom of Pueblo Canyon, crossed the canyon and went up the Ranch School Trail.  Valerian is blooming!  I took the Pueblo Canyon Rim Trail back to Graduation Canyon and up to the asphalted Mesa Trail and home.  Saw a biker and two joggers.  Only the part of the Pueblo Canyon Rim Trail nearest to Graduation Canyon is scary now with a few spots where the trail is eroding away.  The rest is comfortingly wide.  I wonder where the trail builder's next project will be?

Hiking Hellion

Been a hiking hellion this week - Monday, county open space to scout a hike, with a friend, for the WI group, Tuesday, Burnt Mesa for a ranger led hike, in honor of National Parks Week, to various Indian ruins, Wednesday, friend and I led the WI hike and had a great time - saw clematis and valerian blooming.  Tomorrow, there's another ranger led National Parks Week hike, this time at Tsankawi.  I have a podiatrist appointment in the afternoon but the hike starts early enough that I'll be able to go on it.

Hanger is really expensive.  It's unbelievable what this Richie-type brace costs my insurance.  It needs a slight adjustment which means a long drive to downtown Albuquerque.  The brace seems to be helping my foot somewhat - there is no longer a sore spot above and behind my ankle.  There is still some ankle pain and swelling but less.

Now, the dilemma is where to get new orthotics.  Physical therapist in Albuquerque finally answered my emails and could make 4 pairs for $120.  Would require a trip to Albuquerque.  I'm going to ask the podiatrist tomorrow if I  should get the same 3/4 length UCBL orthotics again or do I need forefoot correction which would require a full length orthotic.  My forefoot problem (pain and swelling between 2nd and 3rd metatarsal - alleviated by podiatrist padding insole bottom) could be caused by the orthotics being stretched out.  Walking and hiking are best for my bones so I need to keep my feet in working order.

Enjoyable Saturday

Went to Co-op grand opening.  I bought some dried apricots (the dark, natural ones with no sulfur dioxide) and an Endangered Species espresso chocolate bar to share with spouse, although I could easily eat a whole one myself.  Walked there on Canyon Rim Trail.  Got a ride home with spouse.  Then, in honor of National Parks Week, we attended a short nature walk hike on the Alamo Boundary Trail, led by Sally King.  To get there, we had to drive on washboard-y Dome Road. Spouse was sure that our sedan car would self-destruct.  Nature walk was a delight - a chance to slow down and really see the outdoors.  Sally said that all the snow is already gone on Cerro Grande.  It's shaping up to be a dry spring.

Pursuit of Pasque Flowers

Gonzales Road is definitely a pasque flower hot spot to check out next spring.  I walked there yesterday, via the Bayo Canyon Bench Trail, and found the pasque flowers my friend told me about.  She said she had counted 40 blooms at one visit.  I didn't attempt to count them and it is late in the season but the locale does show promise.  The usual place the WI goes for their annual pasque flower hike, Guaje Mountain, is very dry this year although they did found some of the pretty, lavender blooms.  Maybe next year they would like to check out Gonzales Road - I surely will.

On my way to Gonzales Road, I marveled at how picturesque the Bayo Canyon Bench Trail is.  To me, it's as beautiful as any formal garden.  I love the way some of the ponderosa trunks are bent and misshapen.  They are even more beautiful than the straight ones.  I always enjoy observing how Bayo Canyon starts out shallow near the trail's beginning and then is at the bottom of
sheer cliffs further out.

I was surprised to see that the mountains had been refreshed with a dusting of snow overnight; blustery winds blew occasional sprinkles at me but not enough for me to need my umbrella.  I took my camera but didn't take any photos.  It was late afternoon and I hadn't eaten lunch so wanted to get back home.

LL Hike from North Mesa Picnic Grounds

It's always fun seeing my fellow hikers after not seeing them all winter.  There were 19 of us at the start. They walked all winter, choosing each Wednesday where to go, but I wait to walk with them until the spring-autumn hike schedule comes out.

To begin, we walked downhill from the North Mesa picnic grounds to the Roundabout where we picked up the Bayo Canyon Trail.  Someone saw pasque flowers along the trail but I didn't find this out until later.  Pasque flowers are scarce this year due to the dry La Niña winter.  I'm told there are a lot on the Gonzales Road - must check that out. 

We took the connector trail up to the stables where we said goodbye to 7 of the hikers while the rest of us continued out to the end of Kwage Mesa where we had lunch with a tremendous view of Big and Little Otowi Ruins as well as all the way to the Sangre de Cristo mountains.  I wasn't yet hungry so I drank in the view and later ate my lunch at the hike's end whilst they all gathered around the cooler to enjoy sodas and juices.

How lucky I am to be able to go on these hikes and how grateful I am for our hiking leaders and my fellow hikers!  Another beautiful day in northern New Mexico - why would you want to be anywhere else!

 

Guaje Mountain and Points East

WI group will hike up Guaje Mountain tomorrow.  I'm going with LL group instead but wanted to do the hike so I did it by myself. 

Who would have known that the trail up Guaje Mountain continues eastward down the back of the mountain?  It appears that motor bikes use it but it was fine for hiking.  There was only one, very short downhill that made me wish I had hiking poles. 

I HAD to find out where the trail went so I kept following its winding route.  It eventually became a dirt road which led me to what's called the Poor Man's Shooting Range, off Rendija Canyon Road.  Not wanting to walk Rendija Canyon Road back to the Pajarito Trail trailhead, I continued following the dirt road, now the Rendija Trail, as it meandered westward among the tall ponderosa pines, frequently crossing the dry bed of Rendija Creek.  Most of my hike had hitherto passed through areas severely burned by the Cerro Grande fire and an area of piñon-juniper so I really appreciated the shade of the ponderosas. The area was very dry and I spotted no pasque flowers but did see deer bounding away several times.  All in all, a very satisfying hike.  A beautiful day!