Well, well, well.  Who do we have here?  The one and only, Mr. Free Spirit!  The thought-provoking, man who took us on relaxing and intriguing journeys vicariously through his world is back. Where have you been sir?  Rumors are rampant that you have been sailing around the world.  Are you on this boat?

Others say COVID had you on lock down.

Someone asked the publisher, what happened to Mr. Free Spirit?

Here I am alive and well. COVID put a real damper on the lifestyle of the retired. First, COVID-19 (Coronavirus) has affected day to day life and is slowing down the global economy. This pandemic has affected thousands of peoples, who are either sick or are being killed due to the spread of this disease. This being a new viral disease affecting humans for the first time. Thus, the emphasis is on taking extensive precautions such as extensive hygiene protocol (e.g., regularly washing of hands, avoidance of face-to-face interaction etc.), social distancing, and wearing of masks, and so on. This virus is spreading exponentially region wise. The Mr. Free Spirit lifestyle was really affected.

Our vacation to the British Virgin Islands (BVI) had both an emotional and financial impact, we had already paid for our yachts. The recovery of the money spent for the Yachts turned out to be a MAJOR task. The business world said, “don’t worry this won’t last long”. FALSE! Many lessons were learned, paying via credit card made the task of getting the money back was much easier. Our friend Dr. Fagen almost pulled the lawyer card, which made her money recovery easier, however the time expended with the back and forth was lengthy. Mr. Free Spirit received a full refund within 90 days.

Let’s talk about day-to-day retirement living during a Pandemic. The increased hours spent watching TV or on the computer really increased and so did the weight gain on the body. So, now extra effort to exercise to lose the gained weight. Mr. Free Spirit had a new house built and got creative adding a new outdoor kitchen with a vented ceiling. Additionally, he bought a new car with no where to go. The State of FL was wide open, however the funeral business increased expediently. So, staying at home was in vogue, outdoor restaurants had waiting list to get a reservation, so on rare occasions going out to eat was an alternative, but a fear factor was consent in your mind. Then relief come, but so did the DELTA strain. What were we told about the DELTA strain?

“We were told the DELTA Strain is like other viruses, a strain of the coronavirus has mutated into a few other variants that are rapidly spreading around the world. The most predominant strain in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is the Delta variant, since it is more contagious than previous strains and may cause more than twice as many infections. The CDC even goes on to say that the Delta variant is more transmissible than the common cold and flu, and that it is even as contagious as the chickenpox.

The CDC has also released data back in July that showed vaccinated people can also transmit the Delta variant, which is different from previous strands that have come into play, and it is also one of the reasons why mask mandates are coming back.

“All viruses evolve over time and undergo changes as they spread and replicate,” says a Yale Medicine pediatric infectious diseases specialist and vaccinologist, when discussing the Delta variant.

Yale Medicine breaks down the Delta variant into five  things to know:

The Delta variant is highly contagious: One of the most unique things about the Delta variant is how quickly it is spreading; Originally it was identified in December 2020 and was the most predominant strain of the virus, first in India and then in Great Britain. “By the end of July, Delta was the cause of more than 80% of new U.S. COVID-19 cases, according to CDC estimates.”

Now what is the effect on the lifestyle of the retirees? From the Mr. Free Spirit perspective, we have moved our BVI vacation to July of 2023, a cross country train trip which includes a sleeping room, planting a new flower bed at home with flowers that are bright and tend to mentally increase light. Revisit all financial plans so no more crazy new cars.

Retirement should be all pleasure without any moves to make your mental or physical yourself stays in tack. Please keep in mind if you are into or understand sports, this is the last quarter, so enjoy it in a fashion that is complementary with no adverse impacts.

Mr. Free Spirit Out!

Don’t be pushed around by the fears in your mind. Be led by the dreams in your heart.