Powered by Blogger.

I'm Making a List and I'm Keeping it Right in Front of Me...

My goals for 2016
 
 
 
 
Over the weekend I sat down and put together my list of goals for this year. It's not a long list, but to make headway over the year will take a lot of focus and organization. The longer I am retired -- two and a half years -- the easier it is to focus on the things that are important to me. There are four items on my list and I will be doing four separate posts in the next two weeks.
 
In December I went to a lecture on travel photography by Andy Katz at the store in the photograph. His photographs were fabulous and I realized I missed using a camera. I've been relying on my phone, and while the pictures are good, I really like having a camera with a good zoom lens. I bought one before my trip to Japan last year, but it was heavy, big and clumsy. I used it on the trip and it's sat in my drawer since then. I'm travelling next month and I wanted to make sure I had a camera with me.
 
I was close to this store today, and in an effort to declutter, I sold the camera I had and bought the much smaller camera I wanted. I usually keep things thinking someday I will use them or give them away, but I'm no longer sure when that someday will be. I have another camera, also little used now, that the store didn't want. "No market," I was told. I am happy to mail it to anyone here who may want it. It's a relatively early digital camera, but not a collector's item. Please let me know if anyone would like to give it a home. If not I will donate it to one of the local thrift shops.  
 
Making space -- physically in my home and mentally in my life -- is my top goal for this year. It's time for both things and habits that are of the past to stay in the past. I'm enthusiastic about change, and bubbly Buttercup is making room. I'm not sure what I am making room for, but excited for all of the possibilities. 
 
And that trip I mentioned...Please stop by on Thursday. I'm going to do a post about the trip and my ideas on travel for 2016.
 
As always, thanks for visiting. Keep cozy and have a wonderful Wednesday!
 
   

24 comments

Jane Housewright said...

Oh Carol, you were so courageous to sell that camera!! I'm sure I would have hung on to it for whatever!!! What is the new one that you bought? I do know what you mean about it being easy to fall into the habit of using our phones. I didn't even take my better cameras to the lake last summer and sorely missed my zooms.
It will be interesting on Thursday to hear your big trip "reveal"!! I've begun to get the impression that you've already covered a lot of the globe! What next?! Machu Pichu?(sp?). South Africa? ��

Stephanie said...

Hello, lovely lady! And Happy New Year :) You have been in my thoughts, dear Carol so I thought I would drop in and say "Hi!" :)

May this year be full of joy and blessings. Love and hugs!

Denise said...

I was cleaning a closet and found my old Minolta and the lenses. Do they even sell film anymore? I still think the pictures were better on it than on my digital, but maybe it is just that my hands are not as steady as they were 30+ years ago. Then again, all my new photos are on my computer and not in an album.

I'm mostly known as 'MA' said...

They do say we should have only those things that are useful and beautiful in our homes. Getting rid of the extras has been an on going work in progress ever since I retired. 5 years ago and still not done. So many times the things I get rid of, I wished I kept so it makes if very difficult. Nice you have a trip to look forward to. Looking forward to hearing all about it.

Linda said...

As always, I enjoyed your post...I sure hope Pepe is behaving himself (wink). Many Happy Wednesday Blessings to you, friend.

Nadine_Feldman said...

We've done a lot of decluttering over the years. When I met my husband, he was living in a bigger home. It took some time (a few years, actually) to scale down. Our eyes were opened further after the death of his parents, when we were the ones who had to clean everything out...and his father saved EVERYTHING. We knew we were in trouble when we found the 1955 tax returns! It feels good to declutter!

Starting Over, Accepting Changes - Maybe said...

Ridding ourselves of clutter, both in our minds and in our lives, is so cathartic. Selling that camera that although new but didn't meet your needs, was a smart thing to do.

I am wondering where your next adventure will be.

Stacey said...

We have a couple of very nice older cameras in our cabinets. I wonder if I could sell those? You've made me think. :)

I went to a photography class back in November and it was so inspiring! Looking forward to learning more in 2016.

Olde Dame Penniwig said...

I'll never be able to retire. If I'm lucky, I'll just drop dead at work someday. But I'm enjoying getting to travel via my blog buddies, and can't wait to hear about the 2016 trips planned! Will Pepe be going, too?

Theresa said...

I am working on my list of things I want to accomplish too! It isn't a really long list but it is important to have one:) Have a blessed day dear friend, HUGS!

Nellie said...

Doing some clearing out here, too. Sometimes it's a bit difficult.:( Yay for your good progress!

Deanna Rabe - Creekside Cottage Blog said...

That's so great that you sold the too heavy camera and bought one that is more usable for you!

Can't wait to hear what kind of trip you are going on!

Deanna

BJ PUP said...

first - no capitals or upper case punctuation until my cast comes off.

I took photography class and did my own printing and and developing before the digital age. I still have a canon ftb all metal, all manual, and an ae1, semi-automatic. Those are soon becoming collectors items.

good luck with your decluttering.

Paula said...

I was so sad when it was time to get rid of Richard's old (bought in the year 2000) and very expensive cameras to find that they weren't hardly worth anything. He had purchased them just before we took a long trip to Australia and Thailand (among other stops). It was a film camera and no one wants to use film any longer. How sad!!

Cranberry Morning said...

Today I need to do just that - make my list of what I want to accomplish this year. One thing is to downsize, so that if we move in the next five years, after my husband retires, it won't be such a shock, having to do it all at once.

Good luck on your projects.

Kerin said...

Like your new list.
I love this time of year.. brand new, with new adventures and memories to be made.
Looking forward to seeing what travel plans you have.

So far, we've made plans for 2 trips this year. I am so looking forward to our adventures :)

Have a sweet day.
~K.

Melinda said...

Having goals are good!
We have several for the new year too.

Enjoy yiur new camera.

M : )

Ann said...

I like the idea of making space mentally--what good things can I put into practice. Hope you enjoy the new camera. Have a really good trip.
Ann

Anne Payne said...

Sounds like you have a plan,Carol, and I'm sure by your enthusiasm you will meet your goals for 2016! One of these days I'm going to buy a DSLR but I'm just not ready to do that yet. What kind of camera did you buy?

Happy New Year!

Bee Lady said...

Hi Carol Z,

Nice to meet you and thank you for visiting my blog. I'm doing resolutions and goals too. I just haven't posted them. But I will say I'm hoping to have one big honking sale this summer!
I have been using my phone for a camera too. Something I said I would never do. I miss my camera (it quit working) but I don't like lugging all of the stuff around. And, I found myself taking pictures with my phone and camera because I could share the pictures easier with my phone. Decisions...decisions..

Cindy Bee

Mrs. Laura Lane said...

My daughter wants to buy a big Nikon 5500. She's 14. I want her to buy something smaller and more portable to learn with. She's saved her money and has enough to buy what she wants but hasn't ordered yet.
Enjoy your weekend!
Laura of Harvest Lane Cottage

Laura said...

Happy New Year-
I think we are all in one way or another thinking about the thiings we need/want to do.
You are off to a great start.

Enjoyed visiting,
Laura
WSP

Jane Housewright said...

Did I guess it or did I guess it!!!?!!
Machu Pichu it is!!
My neurosurgeon donates a week in January every year to fly to Peru and perform surgery on needy people. Many have waited months for him😱. I keep asking if he has gone to Machu Pichu. One of these days he says.

Annesphamily said...

Always fun to visit you.Your blog makes me smile. Hugs, Anne