September 30, 2008. Chevy Chase, Md. Home Again.

Do not stay for a hurricane. The winds are strong and the rain is hard and the electricity quits working. So you go from the 21st Century to the 19Th Century in one giant step. The waves were high and frothy and beautiful. The biggest impression on me from the hurricane was the wind. The noise was so strong and noisy that it gets spooky. The only thing to do to get rid of the sound was to go to sleep, which we did. We left home very early for our flight in Halifax, but of course the flight was cancelled so we were required to come home via Ottawa and then on to Dulles airport. It was a long day but a nice day, spent with Ken. We walked and read and ate, then repeated the process in both airports. Both airports are quite pleasant and modern, with good restaurants and comfortable chairs. Finally, in bed by just after ten o'clock, and very happy to be there too. We left a bit of a mess for Jackie, as I could not wash the dishes from our party Sunday evening, and with no washing machine I left the beds to launder. Mary reports that the electricity came back on today, so the freezer food should be fine. These hurricanes are not good.

One of the topics of conversation that Ken and I discussed during the day yesterday was about our future, or more accuraately, our 70s. In our 60s we spent a lot of time and energy and money purchasing, building and renovating our homes in Nova Scotia and Texas and at the farm. Now the question we are asking is "what are we going to do now?" We discussed every possible options, discussing the pros and cons of every course of action. Remember we were together all day with nothing to do. Nothing was decided yesterday, but tonight after a good glass of port and a fine dinner of vegetables we both agreed on our course of action for the next nine years, and here is the answer. I will work until I am 80, and we will wander from place to place. Ken agrees to walk with me five days of the week, and continue to cook. We will travel to one new place every year. And that is the plan for us while we are in our 70s. It seems like a good plan to me.