More Time II

5-18-2021 

 

This article will pick up where the original More Time left off.  I was writing about how Linda and I have chosen to use our “additional time”.          

We came up with another idea last year that I would like to share.  Since there is nothing we enjoy more than spending time with family, we decided to ask our boys if they and their families would be interested in a summer vacation with “just the 12 of us” at a place TBD.  They liked the idea, so we asked for suggestions on a location that everyone would enjoy.  One of the options that came up was the Jackson Hole (Wyoming ski resort) area.

We made a stop in Jackson (the town close by the resort) to investigate on the way up to Montana last September.  After checking out the town and resort areas, we decided to spend time in Idaho (an 18 mile drive over the pass from Jackson).  A company that rented a variety of log homes in that area showed us a number of places.  One in particular in a resort community appealed to us.  It was quite large (3 floors, 5 bedrooms, 6 bathrooms) located adjacent to the resort golf course in an area with lots of trees, fields, and ponds.  The bottom level had a bedroom with 6 bunk beds, a family room and hot tub (a place our six grandkids ages 10-14 could spend time together in their own “space”).  The adults all had king bedrooms with attached bathrooms.  On the main level was a large, fully equipped gourmet kitchen and rustic dining table perfect for our group.  The deck off this level overlooked a fairway of the golf course with ponds just beyond.

I am thrilled to be able to say that we all had a wonderful time.  We went white water rafting and hiking as a group and spent time in Grand Teton National Park and the Rockefeller Preserve, a “hidden gem” which is not familiar to many people.  We were all in awe of the many bald and golden eagles as well as osprey that were flying around our house and the ponds.  We spent time fishing with our grandchildren (something they haven’t done much if at all) in the ponds which were stocked with trout (catch and release, no fishing license required).  I was particularly happy that I did a pretty good job of keeping up (if a little slower than the rest) and was able to “stay in the moment” and enjoy my family more than I can say.

 

 

Is there something special you would like to do with your family?  Something that didn’t seem realistic or was “too expensive”?  Try asking yourself what you would do in an ideal world where there were no obstacles.  Maybe the obstacles can be overcome.  Keep in mind that PD is progressive and what may be doable today may not be doable in the future.  If there is something you would like to have happen, make a space for it!