Levels in FreeCell???

Tough times indeed. (Chuckle).  I retired in December 2015 and spend much time lately commenting on articles on the internet.  So I've only exchanged one time waster for another, though I derive great satisfaction in communicating with others and verbal jousting.

We had intended our retirement to be spent in travel.   We made three overseas trips between 2016 and 2018. As a matter of fact we had a 15 day vacation for driving around Germany, Austria, and the Czech Republic in April, 2020.  Of course Covid shot that down.  This fall we planned a week getaway driving through the Ozarks to watch the colors change but after three days of rain we returned home--a bit wetter and colder. 

Best of luck to you as we move down the Corona Virus highway.  My state has done the very minimum of lockdowns and other than wearing a mask in public, not much has changed in that regard in the smaller, less populated counties.  Restaurants are pretty much open in the middle sized cities, but haven't forayed into the larger cities to see the situations there. 

Everett

I have just returned to Moscow after 3 weeks in the Maldives and hopefully will be starting a new career in the Florida Keys shortly. Been in Russia for almost 30 years and chomping at the bit to get back to the states.

Thanks for the reply;

I am look forward plan to  retiring in 32 years when I reach 100.   

I enjoin work too much to let it go.  I have the best team working with me in 40 years.  I enjoin being at work (currently semi remotely). 

I was in Cozumel when the US  locked down its boarders.  I had to forfeit two weeks pay and undergo a 14 day home quarantine for being out of the country during the early stages of the pandemic. 

Later  my company asked the ancient ones (65+), me to stay away from the plant with full pay and benefits.

I am looking forward 2025 and doing a winter Iceland tour to see the northern lights.  

I currently work for a meat processing plant and we have gone "over the top" with control, with limited success. 

Our plant and  people have worked all but 8 Saturdays in the last 12 months and  many many Sundays.  Everyone over 60 has been given full pay to stay at home but many come in to help keep the supply going.  We have Covid monitors sanitating everyone' s hands every 30 minutes, everyone wears facemasks and full face shields once they get through security.  We have 1 nurse for every 200 employees taking temperatures and enforcing Covid rules.  Everyone including visitors and delivery personnel must fill out a health survey and have their temperature taken before they can get past security. Anyone with a temperature or showing any symptoms gets a quick test by a licensed nurse.  If they are positive they are sent home with full pay for 10 -14 days.  Anyone who has had  exposure as defined by CDC is also sent home with full pay for the 10 days.  Anyone with documented exposure outside of the plant is given fully pay to stay home.  We installed covered outdoor seating for everyone at the plant to be at breaks at the same time. We provided free boxed catered lunches for all employees.  Everyone has a Plexiglas  barrier between them and their co-workers.  We have installed ionization systems in our HVAC systems to kill all viruses.  We shut down between shifts and sanitize the entire plant and limit exposure between shifts.  We have hand sanitizing bottles every 15 feet in side the security gate.  We enforce social distancing requirements during breaks and outside spaces, yet 50% of my team  has gotten Covid.  No long term health issues or deaths' at our plant TG.

A personal brag, during my career at food plants, while I was Plant Engineer we  produced enough food to feed everyone in the world for 30 days.

Talk about a huge change in scenery!  I've only been to Key West once.  It was a cruise ship stop.  Reminded me of Galveston--both in scenery and the folks that live there.  Thinking more about it, even the tourists are similar.  

I've been to St. Petersburg and a day trip to Narva, but not to Moscow.  Very friendly people.  They do love the sun, flowers, and beautifully dressed women.  I saw a guy in a speedo standing on the rocks below the wall at the Peter and Paul Fortress standing and facing the sun.  About every 15 minutes he would turn his body about 90 degrees so the sun would reach every square inch of his body.

Wonderful museums.  And, of course, the palaces.  One amazing thing that REALLY struck me---the Soviets totally rebuilding the Hermatige and even to the re-creation of the Amber Room in Catherine's Palace demonstrated such national pride.   They rebuilt the Hermatige (and most of St. Petersburg) in the early fifties--I'm betting you already know that.  The point being, money was tight, yet they felt it a priority.  

Best of luck if you do get to the Keys,

Everett