Sabbatical

 I approach the end of a six-week paid sabbatical from work. It is mandatory for partners every so often. As I only joined the firm a few years ago when our old firm merged in, it has been my first sabbatical. As I am aging out of eligibility, it will also be my last.

It has been a great experience. I haven't had this much time off work since that unfortunate experience in 1985 in St. Louis. While Covid has curbed our ambitions, we have had two road trips. We spent Christmas on the Minnesota North Shore, which required a drive (well, Rob drove) through a brutal Minnesota blizzard.

We spent part of this week in Southwest Wisconsin, which only required driving the day after a blizzard.

Every day has been full, even when I haven't left the house. Vickie and I have achieved prodigious household chore accomplishments. I have watched actual TV on weeknights for the first time since college (Queen's Gambit is tremendous). I have been able to spend quality time with my mandolin, to the extent any time I spend attempting music can be called "quality.". I have been able to get out my old cross-country skis for every snowstorm - I've done more of it this season than the last four or five put together. 

Vickie and I have gone for long walks with the dog every day -- OK, not during blizzards. 

I've monitored the backyard bird situation closely. 

I won't be working that many more years, but I feel much more confident that I will be able to deal with retirement life. I have never come close to running out of things I want to do by the end of the day. 

Next week, it's back to work. I think I am ready for it it, but I am also ready for what comes next.