I am not sure when it started, but my verve and zest have left…
When Lucy and I moved here to Fort Myers, in 1999, we were always happiest when we were doing something. Staying home was boring…
We sold our farm, bought our fifty-seven foot Chris Craft “Constellation” and moved aboard. From our home port in the Fort Myers Yacht Basin we enjoyed traveling to many new locations and participated in lots of great adventures…. That’s Lucy on the “Tide-Ride” boarding ladder. She had just returned from her gig as a guide at the Edison Ford Estate. Lucy really enjoyed that job and the visitors loved her. She even got to dress up in period costume as “Mrs. Clara Ford”. The marina was close enough to the attraction that she was able to commute by bicycle…
A couple of years living aboard was enough. We sold “Southern Cross” and drove to Fort Valley, Georgia to buy our next unconventional home – a Bluebird “Wanderlodge”. This big, luxurious Motorcoach served as a wonderful rolling home to Lucy and I and our youngest daughter Aimee. We called it home for three years and enjoyed every minute. We had our 1972 vintage Airstream “Overland” stored nearby. We towed the Airstream to many, many campgrounds around the sate of Florida and had a ball…
Our current pool home here on Fort Myers Beach is where I started to “Lose it”. I haven’t been on my bicycles – mountain or road in two years…
Bicycles (and people) start to decay if they aren’t used. For some reason I just can’t get my energy up to swing my leg over the saddle and hit the rail. I don’t know why…
Lucy and I have been avid kayakers since 1976. We have paddled thousands of miles in our pointy boats, but in the last two years they have only been in the water one time…
Yes, this is my last “Lost MoJo expedition”. I just wanted to see if I could still sit in it without capsizing. we can launch right here from our dock, drive two miles to Lover’s Key to launch or trailer to any number of streams, creeks or rivers – but we haven’t. Why why why?
The view from our beach house is incredibly beautiful. The big house is nicely furnished, air-conditioned and has a big two car “Workshop” for all my pending projects… I just never feel like leaving…
Lucy – my much younger spouse – still rides her bike quite frequently and always asks me to accompany her. I don’t. Why? No MOJO. It’s ridiculous….
Lately, I have become expert at: Napping, Cooking, Baking, Floating in our pool, Watching hours of Netflix, amazon and YouTube on our big flat screen TV. I am getting NO EXERCISE, NO ADVENTURE and NO MOJO…
I have stage four CKD and two symptoms are “Muscle Wasting” and “Fatigue”. I am seventy years old and I have lived a very busy life – until now. Lucy loves me – June first was our forty-eighth anniversary – and she wants me to “Live long and prosper”.
If you have any suggestions to help me rekindle or reignite my MOJO, please post up. If you are feeling the same as I am, please share. If you think I am a big, whiney baby, who just needs to suck it up and get a life – tell me that too… Well I have to sign off. It’s time for my nap and I have to go in the kitchen and check my soup…
Five Spoke Wheel 
Jun 05, 2016 @ 12:59:45
I don’t have any suggestions for rekindling your mojo but I can tell you an answer I found for me. After working at pretty demanding jobs for forty years and enjoying traveling in my 2 or 3 weeks of vacation I was thrilled to retire 5 years ago. I put lots of miles on the used Roadtrek I’d purchased. After many miles and adventures and meeting new friends I have lost my mojo too. Instead of mourning that loss I’ve decided that I just have a “NEW Mojo” for now which is enjoying sewing and sewing classes. I also now allow myself to watch all the television I want and read all the books I’ve accumulated on my Kindle. That’s my mojo for now an I’m embracing it. Best of luck to you!!
Jun 05, 2016 @ 13:10:22
Linda thank you for the excellent comment. I like your style. Great way for me to enjoy living in the moment. I think from now on I will say I am living in my “SLO MO”…
Jun 05, 2016 @ 13:29:40
Through age, sickness, or both, our physical abilities change, but our memory of what we’ve always been able to do doesn’t accept that easily and we chaff and beat ourselves up. I don’t know the answer to your dilemma but can tell you that accepting reality is probably going to make you happier. If you look back objectively, you’ve had a hell of an interesting life so far.
Best of luck, my friend!
Jun 05, 2016 @ 14:41:10
Thank you for the comment… It’s true. I have had a very “Interesting life so far”. Since I wrote this I have become aware of two things.
First: I believe my angst is due in part to a feeling of “guilt”. I was raised by a father who preached “Work hard and you will do well.” We were never allowed to enjoy much leisure if there was any “Work to be done.”
Second: Lack of relevance. In the past, everything I did directly affected my spouse and four daughters. They came to me for advice and teaching. Sought comfort in my arms and in my smile. Received discipline, when needed, in a kind, loving way.
Now – my thoughts, actions and deeds happen in relative isolation. Very seldom does anyone seek my knowledge, or ask me for physical help. I have a great deal of knowledge stored away, much of which has been made irrelevant, due to advances in technology.
Jun 05, 2016 @ 17:41:56
Oh David, have you noticed that each decade you reached you slow down some. As you said you have done so much and now maybe it is time to take a little break so you can recoup. After you read, blog, and relax some you will get tired of that and reengerize. You do need some excerize though so take that slow bike ride with your spouse. Feel good that you are not asked for that much advice you did well. Also watch your diet, don’t let that kidney get the best of you. Love you