For whatever reason, my computer is behaving a lot better. I have been able to mix research and writing without wait times of more than five minutes as I switch from web searches to Word. Often over the past week, I’ve had to shut down a number of times just to get Word to work. Working with images was a nightmare. Needless to say, I’m taking advantage of just an ordinarily slow computer until it becomes non-responsive again.
I’ve been doing a fair amount of thinking during this forced retreat from productive writing using my laptop. I have been involved with my youngest grandchildren more than usual due to family circumstances that have created a need for such. It has meant time away from my wife and home. There are more such time-away-from-home activities that had been planned such as a week at a naturist club, a twelve day absence for book sales in Calgary, Red Deer and Edmonton, and an end of August grandson-sitting in North Dakota. Neither my wife nor I do well when we are apart – she is scheduled to work during these times. I have even taken my thinking into my meditation.
So, there is a new plan, at least in my mind. I cut out the Calgary book events [four days of sales] which means being at home a week earlier – I wouldn’t make the drive back home in between Calgary and Edmonton as it would be an extra 1000+ kilometres of driving. Seven nights together rather than apart are gained. Then, I decided to give up the naturist club outing with the plan that I frequent the prairie hills more to get my quota of naturist time. The only irrecoverable loss is the social naturism aspect. That said, another seven nights at home with my wife. The other separations can’t be helped. Life happens and commitments are made, and in our home, family comes first. Of course, that doesn’t mean that I won’t get my nude time. So, more is gained than lost.