How to fill time in retirement

Usually when I visit Vermont, I always like to try at least one new brewery. On my latest trip, I took a drive from Middlebury across the Appalachian Gap on route 17. Arriving in Waitsfield I decided I would stop in at the Taproom at Lawson's Finest Liquids. Driving 17 across the mountains is a wonderful drive, and anyone visiting Vermont, I recommend you try it. On the East side, you pass through the Mad River Glen Ski Area and down to Route 100, known as the tourist by-way for foliage (leaf-peeping) and skiing. Ski areas along Route 100 include Okemo Mountain Resort, Mount Snow, Killington, Sugarbush, Mad River Glen, Stowe Mountain Resort and Jay Peak. When I was in high school, we would cross this gap to eat at the China Barn. My brother John, then chef at the Dog Team, was close to the staff of this establishment in Waitsfield. I remember once with my parents we were treated to an 8 course Chinese meal. We also would play softball; Dog Team staff versus China Barn. Turning ...

I have completed six books on my list of books I should read. What is interesting is that some of my impressions of what the book is about is by watching a movie. I am learning, in six books or less, that the director's vision of the book is not always true to the story. Some movies follow the book, while others seem to change it into a hollywood fiasco. Granted, some of these movies are classics, but I wonder what the author would have said. Normally, I like to read the book before I see the movie and sometimes the movie is so different. Granted, sometimes they can be different but both are good. Four of the six books I have read so far came out in the 1800s and the other two came out in the 1950s. I guess that puts them at the classic level. I do read modern books too. Here are my impressions of the first six books... Moby Dick by Herman Melville This is the jacket on the version I read. Originally published in 1851, I knew the story but I had never read the book. Ishm...

Being retired for five years now, I have always had in my bucket list to read at least one book a month. Just twelve books per year. It should be no problem because I like to read. Back in 2014 when I retired, I read 16 books including five books of the Foundation Series by Isaac Asimov and three books of the Divergent Series by Veronica Roth . Good year, I was  ahead of my goal. But then the following years were: 2015 - 8 books 2016 - 8 books 2017 - 4 books 2018 - 5 books 2019 - 3 books (through the first seven months) I realized I was not keeping up with this simple bucket list item so I decided to make a change recently, on how I choose which books to read. I had previously obtained a list of 100 classic books that everybody should read. The source for the list has been forgotten, and I will share the first 20... Book Title Author Pride and Prejudice Jane Austen The Lord of the Rings JRR Tolkien Jane Eyre Charlotte Bro...