August Happiness Challenge -- Day 13

My 2023 Happiness Icon

Today's Happiness: Within my budget.

The problem with saving for retirement is you have no idea how long retirement is going to last. I want to enjoy myself today, but not at the expense of comfort in my dotage.

So I am trying to economize, especially when I socialize. I give myself an allowance every week, and whatever I don't use I put in the big beer stein on my kitchen counter. Today I paid for the train, brunch and movie with cash from the stein.

I don't feel like I'm depriving myself. I feel like I'm taking care of myself. It makes me happy.

Five very good hours

I know I should go out more. I know I should interact with others regularly. Just because being alone is very comfortable for me doesn't mean it's healthy. I've discussed this with my shrink a million times since covid shutdown and our emergence.

So, when friends invite me out, I really try to get to yes. Lately the one who has been asking the most often is Elaine, from movie group. She is kind and generous and I am flattered that she thinks I'm neat. But she can annoy me. I know, it's me, not her. She just doesn't get me the way John and my oldest friend do (of course, they often annoy me, too; like I say, it's me, not her). 

Anyway, Sunday we spent a really nice day together. I rode the rails downtown again -- second Sunday in a row -- and had brunch. Then it was off to The Music Box Theater for Cat Video Fest 2023. It was fun and Elaine is an even more indulgent cat lady than I am, so she was the perfect companion for this. Plus it was a fundraiser for The Red Door Animal Shelter.

Then it was back on the train and I was back in my front door at 3:00. I was happy.

That's enough. I think 5 hours is my limit for socializing.