Casa de Tortugas - Stories

What does a typical day look like?

Every day has its own rhythm, but there’s a comforting routine that often unfolds in a familiar way. We usually wake up with the sunrise, a habit partly carried over from old work schedules, and partly due to the chorus of birds greeting the dawn. Their chatter has become a natural alarm clock, though we’ve grown used to the sound. A cup of coffee is always the first order of business, sometimes with a light snack, sometimes just the coffee.

As the morning light strengthens, we decide whether to have a full breakfast or keep it simple with cheese and fruit. Then comes the big question: will today be a day of work, play, or maybe just a bit of laziness? Lazy days are rare, but they do happen. If fun is on the agenda, it often means a swim - either off the boat or right from the beach, depending on our mood. If work calls, we’ll dive into a project, whether it's building something or tackling some yard work. Most days, we blend the two, mixing work with play depending on our energy and the weather.

By midday, we pause for lunch. Sometimes we work before lunch and play after, while other days are more relaxed from start to finish - it’s a grab bag of possibilities. As the sun sinks lower, we enjoy a nice dinner and unwind with a little TV. Before the insects come out, we close up the house, turn on the string lights, and settle in for the evening. From there, it’s all about doing what feels good - listening to music, reading, tinkering on the computer, or watching a bit more TV.

Bedtime arrives when we’re ready, usually around 9 PM. The lights go out and the dim glow of a digital picture frame lights the house. The sounds of crickets and other night creatures fill the air and sing us to sleep. Some nights the rain storms roll in and we may find it hard to rest with the flashes of lightning and booms of thunder. But even that, we are getting use to, as long as it isn't too intense. 

Now that the major projects are behind us, we’re finding more time to savor this slower pace of life, embracing the freedom to truly relax and enjoy retirement.


We burn our yard debris.
  Yes, we have scorpions...

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