How I Live on the Stage of My Old Age

I am retired. I live alone. I live in a studio apartment in the middle of the historic district of a small Vermont town. I’ve made it artful and cozy. Many would find it too small but it’s just right for me. There is a waterfall in the middle of town. There are lots of lovely people here. There’s good coffee and food. A library, bookstore, and used bookstore. Several art galleries. Resale clothing stores. Plays and performances galore. The best food co-op I’ve ever lived near. I don’t have tons of money. I live mostly on Social Security. I do have extra money in the bank for spending on adventures large and small. Today temperatures were cool for spring and it rained. I could hear the rain falling outside my window as the falls roared in the distance. I did rainy day things. I made cards for friends. I did several loads of laundry. I baked. I watched movies. I realized that I’m the happiest I have ever been except for the two and a half years that my son and I lived out in the middle of nowhere on an island in the lake when he was quite young. On paper my life looks small. It’s not. It’s delightfully huge.

Cinse Bonino
2024