It's Not Goodbye

No one ever said life is easy, but I believe by giving yourself permission, you will find you have more control over your life than you realize. I'm Julie, I hope you will join me by taking responsibility for yourself, by only controlling the things you can and letting go of the things that you can't. By doing this, you will have discovered the secret to having happy, healthy and more fulfilling relationships. This is Nearest and Dearest Podcast. I'm Julie Rogers and you are listening to Season 2, Episode 16. It's Not Goodbye.

This time of year is bittersweet for me. Once the temperature and leaves start falling here, I know our time in New York is over. I'm not a fan of the cold, long winter months, so my mind is grateful that Woody and I have a winter home in Puerto Rico. It's just that my heart aches a little knowing we won't be seeing our family and friends for the next six months. Perhaps realizing that I don't take life for granted is the reason I'm feeling extra melancholy. Between losing loved ones and the horrible tragedies that are happening in the world right now, it is a reminder that I have no control over any of it. When my kids would ask me what I want for Christmas, I would say peace on earth. I still pray for that. Of course, my prayer for peace worldwide would never guarantee that that will ever happen, but by hoping for it it's better than saying it will never happen.

When I visit with my kids and my grandkids, it's always hard to say goodbye. I try to say see ya later or see ya soon. The same is true when I visit with other family members and friends. I remind myself that it's about quality time, not quantity. It's crazy how time seems to fly by faster and faster as I get older. That it rings true even more so every single year that passes by.

We just had our last guests here on the river. Our close friend Pat brought her friend Vicki to visit. They both live in Georgia. Even though the weather wasn't exactly perfect we had rain, wind and cold, with a few bursts of sunshine and warmth we made the best of it. Our friends understand how very special the river and the Thousand Islands are to view. Experiencing the mighty St Lawrence River with all her beauty that is part of our favorite forever home will be another see ya soon moment that I will have to endure soon.

Woody has winterized the boat, put the outdoor deck furniture in the basement, brought in our swing and hammock and let the air out of my inflatable paddle board. I was sad to see all of this. I never did make the time to take the paddle board out for myself this season, I'm guilty of saying I have more time to do this for myself. Well, guess what? I ran out of time. There's never enough hours in a day, week, month or season to fit in everything you want to do. Finding a balance to prioritize what is the most important to you is always your choice. Reminding yourself about this key to happiness should be a part of your emotional well-being. When you create small acts of self-care in your daily life, it can have a big impact. Our neighbors and friends, who are also seasonal residents here, are also getting ready to leave for their winter homes. One by one, their homes are closed up. We are fortunate that we have some friends and family who live here year-round and will keep an eye on our home. There is comfort knowing that if something was to happen, we would be notified.

We can still view the big ships that pass by Carleton Island. The shipping channel will stop soon enough, typically in late December when the river starts to freeze. There has been an occasional fishing boat that braves the colder temperatures buzzing by, but most boats are out and tucked away until next spring. Seagulls, canadian geese and other birds will start to migrate to warmer habitats. The river definitely becomes quieter this time of year. The tourists go back to their busy lives until next summer.

If you are a four-season kind of person, New York does not disappoint. Plenty of winter activities to do to keep you busy, from sledding, ice skating, skiing, ice fishing and snowmobiling. Woody and I are more the tropical temperature climate kind of people. We are always chasing the warmth from the sun and the views that include large bodies of water that flow with waves crashing onto the sandy beaches. We are looking forward to exploring more of Puerto Rico this winter. Now that our condo is settled, we can take time to search this beautiful island. We live on the East Coast and will make our way to the West. My nephew,J osh, lived on the West Coast before, so he will be sharing with us the secrets of the unique and tranquil places to explore. It is becoming our home away from home. We are excited to have family and friends come and see us this winter. So to our family, friends and our mighty St Lawrence River, It's not goodbye, it's see ya soon! I'll be taking a break starting in November, Woody and I will be traveling to visit family and friends in Georgia and Florida before settling back in Puerto Rico. I will also be doing more research about the history of Carleton Island, Past and Present, for my special series and coming up with more episodes for you.

This new season 3 will be about challenging myself more, getting out of my comfort zone and hoping to hear from you. Please reach out to me at julierogers@ nearestanddearestpodcast. com, and let me know your comments or share your own personal story. You can find a hyperlink below every episode at the bott om of my show notes. Be sure to follow my podcast to make sure you don't miss the start of season 3. I'll be back by the beginning of February. I'll also repost a few of my favorite episodes from season 2, starting in November, in case you missed one. If you have a favorite one that you think I should repost, send me an email, julierogers@ nearestanddearestpodcastcom.

I would love to hear from you. I'm ready to continue doing more interviews about the stories you care about. Maya Angelou once said quote 'there is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.'Unquote. Let me help share your own story. You are not alone. The views and opinions expressed by nearestanddearestpodcast are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of nearestanddearestpodcast. Any content provided by Julie Rogers or any other authors are of their opinion. They are not intended to malign any religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, individual or anyone or anything. Thank you.