Inspired by the awesome contest of SteemItWorldMap and posting my entry to begin 2020, I have begun posting again. And I have decided to finish what I started last Spring / early Summer. What's that?

Write the final post of my reflections on my "Road to Recovery" trip of a lifetime.

^{Source: Creator Valiphotos on Pixabay}

Reflections refined driving 31 days and 4,984 miles across parts of 8 states - Colorado, Arizona, California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming almost a year ago.

In my first R2R Reflections post, I wrote about "pursuit of happiness" and what many consider an essential part of that - the accumulation of wealth ...

In my second R2R Reflections post, I wrote about what I probably thought about more than anything else - time. While many of my reflections were focused on my own personal history, I also thought a lot about the time in human history into which I was born.

In this final post, I will write down the highlights of what I thought about the "next chapter" of the lives of my beloved lifemate and I - our so-called "Golden Years." And the legacy we may leave behind ...

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• "R2R" Note: My "shorthand" way of referring to my trip of a lifetime, with the story beginning here and ending here. "Road to Recovery" <=> "R2R" ... 😉

"Footprints on the sands of time" ...

In my last post, I wrote this:

Our time is finite, i.e. we are mortal. Whatever our "number of days" may be, we are not going to be getting any more of them. Our time will come to an end.

If and when you come to the place in your life where you are starting to spend some time reflecting on the view "in the rearview mirror," what do you see there? What comes to your mind?

^{Source: Creator composita on Pixabay}

We can all take a fairly "structured" route to the end. Following society's social norms, expectations and, whatever you do, don't get out of line. Don't "jump the tracks" or "leave the reservation" ...

We dare not, fearing the reaction of those with whom we have chosen to surround ourselves. And upon whose approval we have allowed ourselves to become so very dependent ...

How many of us are on this course through our lives? How many of us even question what course we are on to begin with?

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Or ... We can take the "road less traveled" ... The path upon which I have always viewed myself following, although I still could not really tell you, dear reader, why I feel that way. It is just deep in my soul, perhaps a little too deep to reach ...

^{Source: Creator SplitShire on Pixabay}

So ... This has long been my way through life. It would be very surprising to me, if I don't "stay the course" until the end. Now in the "Autumn season" (early winter? 😉) of my life, I certainly don't have any inclination at the moment to change course ...

What then, will I do next? As I wrote in my last post:

The longer I live, the more important I believe are these two essential aspects of life:

1. The people in my life.

2. The time I spend with them.

With the responsibilities of providing for a large family behind me, I can focus on what has always caused me grief, to one degree or another. The lack of time spent with those with whom God has allowed me to cross paths:

Never knowing for certain, for what purpose I was in their life and they were in mine, but assured it was "for such a time as this!"

I am genuinely excited to experience this in ways I rarely if ever have before now. And my beloved and I have already taken concrete steps in this direction. I truly believe it will progressively become the highlight of our lives!

And when not working on doing a much better job of investing time into the lives of others? There will inevitably be the need to rest up, recuperate, and get recharged / refreshed for another day.

What will we do?

Spend a lot of time learning more about permaculture and living simply, close to the earth ...

^{Source 1: Creator WhisperingJane_ASMR on Pixabay
Source 2: Creator pasja1000 on Pixabay}

I am grateful to my Steemian friend, @rawutah, for introducing me to a "world" I never knew existed. We have already begun to experience a bit about this new life, having completed our first preparatory season. I have pictures and notes about all we have experienced and what it has represented to me.

At some point in the future, I hope to be writing more about this topic here on our Steem blockchain. The inspiration received from it have resulted in my beloved lifemate and I feeling literally years younger. 😊 And certainly healthier ... 😉

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As with us all, time will ultimately catch up, as our "number of days" draw ever nearer to their inevitable finale. In searching for "just the right one," I loved the image shown below, to illustrate my closing thoughts.

^{Source: Creator composita on Pixabay}

What "footprints on the sands of time" will we leave behind? I don't pretend to know. I can't even say for sure that it is wise to dwell on it much, as to what degree is that final judgment in our hands?

Of one thing, though, I am certain. As I enter the "Winter season" of my long life, I will always keep looking to the horizon.

Onward and Upward!

Closing

In writing this post, I wondered how other cultures around the world view this phase of our lives. The "final chapter" ... And I smiled, wondering whoever came up with the "golden years" reference to it, here in America. "Golden?" Yeah, right ... 😊

Have I inspired any thoughts about this phase of your life, dear reader? Do you have another perspective on it, from your heritage and cultural background in your part of the world?

I’d love to hear any feedback you may be inspired to provide.

Until "next time," all the best to you for a better tomorrow, as we all work together to build up our Steem Communities and increase the value of the Steem blockchain! 👍 😊

Respectfully,
Steemian @roleerob

Posted using SteemPeak and “immutably enshrined in the blockchain” on Monday, 20 January 2020!

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P.S. For those to whom this may not be clear: #hive-114105 <=> #powerhousecreatives <=> @steemitbloggers

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Interested to read more of my related posts?

Lead Image	Title, Link, & Summary
	Observations: Gratitude and the Simple Things Summary: Reflections on a quiet, peaceful morning about what is truly important and being grateful for what we so often take for granted.
	Reflections: My "Road to Recovery" Trip Summary: An old saying is, "Plan your work and work your plan." Here are the thoughts leading up to my R2R trip of a lifetime. Including an outline of where I intended to go and why.
	Reflections: Officially retired ... Or am I? Summary: "Officially" retired, I reflected on another old saying - "Today is the first day of the rest of your life!" As a began to think about what the "next chapter" of my life might be. Including whether I was truly through working ...
	R2R Reflections: Immense Wealth! Yet, still the "pursuit of more" Summary: While on my road trip, I had a lot of "windshield" time to reflect back on my life and "the pursuit of happiness" as an American. Including all that I had learned over a long career, on the controversial topic of wealth.
	R2R Reflections: For Such a Time as This ... Summary: While on my road trip, what I probably thought about more than anything else was our time. While these reflections were focused on my own personal history, I also thought a lot about the time in human history into which I was born.

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