Sam did a check-in on her list and I realized I couldn’t even remember mine! So I dug it out and discovered it wasn’t so bad.

1.       Camp more at the cottage property ❌

I did get up a few times, but without my friend Mel, it just wasn’t the same. hopefully we can coordinate a longer visit next summer.

2.       Start work on getting a cottage built there. I need everything from a building permit to a well to electricity and a septic system, and I have never done any of those things before. ❎

I have a cottage! I still don’t have running water or electricity, insulation, a kitchen or bathroom, but those are all problems for next summer. for now, I have a place to sleep, with a screened porch.

3.       Get the canoe into the water and explore the lake ❌

Mel’s visit was too short to get the canoe out, and I really need to get some stairs built down to the water. Next year?

4.       Hike some of the trails around the cottage area ❌

I was too busy with the construction project to go exploring, though I did spend time looking at maps. That counts for something, right?

5.       Bike to Gatineau Park for a swim ❌

Hahaha no! I had grand ambitions to cycle 3,000 km this summer, but between retiring (no need to ride to work anymore) and constant knee/quad pain (more on that here). I’ll be lucky to hit 1750 by the end of the month. I don’t love riding to or from my part-time job in the dark or when I’m wet. Getting into that habit remains a work in progress. I did lots of cycling in Toronto though, and hope to repeat that adventure next summer, assuming there are still some safe bike lanes to use. I’m also seriously considering a few days in Montreal to explore all the bike paths and pedestrianized streets.

6.       Read one book a month 🤷‍♀️

I’m on book 11. I might make it, but it will take work.

7.       Read one magazine a week 🤷‍♀️

That’s 52 magazines: I’m on number 40. The stack of unread magazines is definitely smaller, but it’s not a complete success. I still have enough I could do another full year of this challenge, I think.

8.       Cook one new recipe a week ❎

At last count, I was at approximately 90. This one is relatively easy for me now. I have been doing it for at least 15 years, which is a testament to the importance of building habits.

9.       Weed and care for my gardens and hopefully harvest more food ❎

I let a lot of the grapes feed the birds this year, but managed enough vegetables to feed myself for several weeks this winter, as well as what I ate fresh.

10.   Swim outdoors more ❌

This may be my big disappointment on the list. I just couldn’t get myself motivated to go to the local swimming hole most mornings. I did swim with members of my club at the lake about once a week, and I volunteered as a swim angel at an open water event again this year, and that was lovely; I have already volunteered again for next summer.

The closest I came to winter swimming was helping a couple of people with their qualifying swims for the International Ice Swimming Association World Championships in Italy in January. My job was to help set the buoys – it was chilly work, and I’m impressed at the speeds my friends swam 50 and 100 m distances in butterfly or backstroke, plus a 200 IM. Aimee even did a 250 freestyle.

11.   Make some gifts I have offered but not started (and there is a February deadline) ❎

I had to look up what I had made – turns out it was a nested linen shopping bag. I also made a little sewing kit with some handmade bone needles, for a later deadline.

12.   Sew at least five outfits that have been lurking in my fabric stash and “to do” list for 4 years or more ❌

Huge fail here! The closest I came to sewing was acquiring more fabric.

13. Get back to crafting – I have too much stuff in my stash and don’t believe that the person with the most stuff when they die wins 🤷‍♀️

I’m almost done knitting a pair of socks, and I did a few other small things, but the craft stash is not noticeably diminished.

14.   Couch surfing vacation to southern Ontario as part of Stratford Theatre trip with friends 🤷‍♀️

The Stratford Theatre trip didn’t happen, but I did manage a lightning weekend to catch up with many friends for a at least one meal in 5 different towns. I want to do this again at least once next year, adding in more friends and relatives I don’t get to see very often.

15.   Volunteer more. I’m currently active with three groups but don’t spend as much time working with them as I would like ❎

I didn’t do much with the food rescue group, but cycling activism and social media dominated my year. I also took over doing social media for my Viking reenactment group and had a couple of lovely weekends brushing up on our presentation skills with them.

16.   Visit my son in Toronto ❎

One good visit this summer, and another planned just after Christmas. I plan to do more next year – look out son!

17.   Spend more time with my parents ❎

This became a pretty big one, but not for good reasons. Dad had some health challenges this year so I now spend a lot of time doing elder care.

18. Adventures on my new-to-me Brompton. More cycling generally, actually. 🤷‍♀️

The Brampton got a good workout this year, though I didn’t do any of the longer rides I had planned when I bought it. I don’t know that I did more cycling because I never recorded how much I did last year. However, I know I had done 1000 km by late May this year, so I definitely slowed down a lot, at a time when most people (including me) ride more.

19.   Qualify as a lifeguard and swim instructor and look for a part-time post-retirement job. ❎

I qualified in April and started work in October. I love it!

20.   Maintain some sort of yoga practice, still to be defined. Right now it’s a short video every night before bed. ❌

Who am I kidding? It’s all I can do to force myself to do my physio. I just don’t love yoga, even though I do fits and spurts of enjoying it for a week or two.

21.   Empty my closets. I don’t buy much, but neither am I very good at getting rid of things I never wear. ❌

I’m edging a bit closer to success here, but the big purge hasn’t happened.

22.   Be loud. This year I have discovered my activist voice and I like it. ❎

I did a lot of social media work for Bike Ottawa, wrote blog posts on various safety issues, presented to the Transportation Committee at City Hall, and helped with a presentation to the Committee studying Bill 212 (the one that will remove bike lanes in Ontario cities).

I even participated in a few safe streets protests (by bike, of course).

23.   Relax. Deliberately spend time staring at trees, or lounging in the sun, meditating, or whatever. 🤷‍♀️

I am slowly learning that if I don’t get everything done on my long “to do” list today, I can try again tomorrow. That doesn’t stop me from continually adding to that list. I do spend some days lounging in bed.

24. I have no idea! This is a placeholder for whatever adventures might come my way, or new things I want to explore. ❎❎

I retired from my job in the public service. I became a grandmother. Retirement had been a nebulous goal, but I finally made the break and have no regrets. My grandson hadn’t even been a dream I dared to express, but once the kids decided they were ready, they were very efficient and he arrived in early December. I can’t wait to meet him.