River: That Was the Year That Was

[mdlbear]

... or something like that. 2017 was very much a mixed bag. Let's go back to last New Year's Day, and a post titled "This had better work...". I think, for the most part, it did. That didn't keep it from being horrible.

So here were my goals for this year:

1. Downsize. Get rid of as much stuff as we feasibly can, so that we can...
   Yeah; we still kept too much stuff, but we did a pretty good job and got rid of somewhere around 2/3 of it. In the end, it all packed down into three 8x8x16 containers. 100%
2. Sell the house. Preferably in such a way that we can move out somewhere around the middle of June.
   About $100K less than we really planned on getting for it, but we did it. Between that and the necessary repairs, we ended up with a lot less money than we needed. 90%
3. Retire. If possible, after the house is sold. If at all possible, after my stock vests in mid-June, because we're going to need it.
   Did that, at the end of April. 100%
4. Move. No idea where; we've had enough monkey wrenches lobbed into our plans that I could start a hardware store.
   ... and here we are on Whidbey Island. 100%
5. Settle in. We will have emergency exit plans, but hopefully won't have to use them.
   I wouldn't say we're completely settled, but the place feels like home now. 90% (unless you count unpacking all the boxes, in which case more like 75%)
6. Take care of myself. Self-care is one of my weak points. Diet, exercise, ... damned if I know -- I hate exercise.
   I have not been taking very good care of myself. Still no walking to speak of, though I appear to have lost between 2 and 4 pounds since last January in spite of that. Psychologically, I don't feel as though I've made much progress either, but hopefully I'm learning to be a little easier on myself. 20%?

I wrote, "Is that too much to aim for? I hope not." I don't think it was too ambitions. I also wrote: "There are a few things I'd like to do, if I can:" -- That was a lot less successful. No surprise.

• Get back into recording.
  nope. 10%, because N and I did start singing lessons.
• Do a lot more writing. I wrote a book once; it's not impossible for me to do it again.
  
0%
• Do a little woodworking.
  10%, but only if you count putting up shelves in the new house.
• Do something that will bring in a little money. I'm not sure I'm up for contracting again, but writing could do it. So could an album or two. And maybe I could start a patreon.
  Nope. 0% Didn't do any volunteering, either.

In spite of 2017 being really sucky in a lot of ways, our household (now called The Rainbow Caravan) seems to have gotten out of it more-or-less okay. We have a nice house, plans to make it better, and two new kittens. That has to count for something, right?

Comments

[madfilkentist]

That's still pretty good, and with moving out of the way, other things may fall into place next year.

[jcfiala]

You got a *lot* done this year. Don't feel bad about not doing everything.

Next year you shouldn't be moving the household all over again, so hopefully your other goals will be achievable.

[jesse_the_k]

Chiming in that achieving 100% on many goals is impressive! Especially Major Life Event goals like retiring and moving house.

You did write a post each week! That counts for something.

[mdlbear]

Good point on the writing. Maybe 10% then, but really it's not an increase over 2016, so one can't count it as "a lot more".

[technoshaman]

Frankly, surviving the dumpster fire that was 2017 was an achievement for everyone. And something else all us Caravanners can say: We are stronger as a family than we were, by a lot. *All* of us contributed to that. No plan survives contact with the enemy, and Entropy is a stone b---- of an adversary... you did good, Mr. Bear, and you did well.

[mdlbear]

Thank you, Brother Bear.