Living Shirtless

Nothing brings me more joy than a week at the beach where my shirt is optional.  It may gross my kids out, fellow beach goers might do a double take when this old guy with skinny frame and random gray hairs poking out of his bird chest jogs down the sand, but frankly I don’t care.  A shirt is just so confining. 

It’s one of the reasons I want to retire.  If I could go to work in just baggy gym shorts and flip flops, I might work until I’m 70.  But as it is, the buttons are getting me down.

I wonder how the YMCA’s Board of Directors would respond if I greeted them at a meeting sans top. 

I have the announcements today.  Membership numbers are increasing, we had a great fundraising drive and new personnel policy is loosening the dress standards a bit. 

That would make today’s casual Friday look tame.

I made a list of things I want to do more of – and in my older age, I’m finding time to get them done (or as the case may be, not done):

*Wear shirts less often

*Drink more red wine

*Eat more chocolate

*Ride bikes outside

*Call mom and dad and see them as much as I can

*Build stronger bonds with siblings – in most cases they will actually know us longer than any other person on this earth

*Make my own salsa, none of that store bought stuff

*Stretch

*More outdoor fires (like in a fireplace, not arson)

*Engage more with those who serve us well (the mailman, those working at the grocery store, the checkout person at the pharmacy…the list goes on and on)

I’ve found that life is short.  There has to be a way to bring inklings of vacation into everyday life.