Counting down

We are counting down the days until retirement . . . and feeling all sorts of emotions  ranging from excitement to anxiety.  It's a very big transition and our goal is to share our experiences through this blog and hopefully offer some insight to retirement as well as have some fun along the way. 

Along the Columbia River

By way of introduction, we are Bob and Le Anna Watkins and currently live in Richland, WA.  Richland lies along the Columbia River in southeastern WA.  Our blog profile pegs us being in Port Townsend, WA . . . that's the dream!  We own property there, lived there 1999-2005, and hope to return to the community.  However, life takes lots of different twists and turns and the dream remains that for now. 

View of Port Townsend from Kala Point

Bob and I married in 1981; each of us having been married previously.  I have two children from my earlier marriage so Bob got a package deal.  The "kids" are grown now and are very encouraging about us going out on our own!  We met in Colorado and moved to WA in 1985.  That move was the first of many . . . several states, four (actually five for Bob) foreign countries, and lots of temporary  assignments where Bob spent time working remotely and I couldn't join him for one reason or another.  You'd think that all this traveling and moving for work related purposes would make us want to stay home.  However, we have developed a strong wanderlust . . . there's a big world out there and we want to see the sights and immerse ourselves in the cultural experiences.   

In the meantime we are planning, organizing, debating, compromising, and mostly hoping.  Hoping that the money holds out, hoping our health remains good, hoping that our family and friends will welcome us into their homes for a couple nights visit, and hoping we enjoy one another at the end of each day after spending all day together, every day.

Yes, retirement is in sight.