A Conversation with Elizabeth
2017
Love of my Life

From:           Larry
To:             Elizabeth
Sent:           Saturday, May 20, 2017 6:20 PM
Subject:        RE: Just Curious What Your Thoughts Are
 
Elizabeth,
  Yes I would say were old friends.   I also have been evaluating my next phase of my life.  The decision to move back to Gainesville is deep rooted in me and I totally feel it is the right thing.  Beyond that I don’t really know.  I am graced with excellent health and longevity runs in the family so I look forward to many years of life to explore.  I have so many “hobbies” that I want to continue or pickup anew.
 
As far as “love of my life” I have yet to meet her.  Julie and her daughter came at a time in my life that they met something I needed, and I did love her at the time but would say she was not the love of my life.  I ask myself if I would even know if I met the love of my life?  According to myth and those that say they have, one knows so I would say I have not.  What a beautify thing it would be to do so when you are young and can spend your lives together.  To do so at our age, well it could be good but different.
 
Yes Gainesville has changed considerably over the years.  I have been back every year several times each year so I have seen the changes.  Last summer when I was there I was with my brother driving through town and I committed to him how could there be so many restaurants and places to eat? I could not imagine there would be enough people eating out to support them all but I guess the new generation always eats out.  On the other hand Gainesville is much the same.
 
“A single person becomes a slave to himself."  An interesting perspective, does it imply the opposite? “A married person is a slave to the spouse”.   I would like to think I am free to do as I will.  In the end freedom is all in the perspective of the beholder. One can be a true slave but be free in the mind.
 
Yes work does put constraints on my life which I will be glad to be free of.  My normal tendency is to sleep and wake as my body rhythms go.  Sometimes staying up late and sleeping late, something going to bed early and getting up early or waking up in the middle of the night and working on something for a few hours.  That does not fit well with the work cycle which I have to be there pretty much 8-5.  If I stay up late then I still have to get up a 7am.  If I wake up in the middle of the night for a few hours I still have to get up at 7am.  I so much look forward to be free from that.  Even when I “retire” I will probably work part time for a year or two.  Just this past week I was talking the VP and mentioned that I was retiring next year and she said “No you’re not, we talked about that”, meaning she wants me to continue to work part time on special projects.
 
I know what you mean about living with someone.  I’m not sure I could do so again.  On the other hand it is something that is likely to creep up on you.  You start seeing someone, then you start spending more time at each other’s places, then start spending nights, weekends together and the next thing you know you decided to move in together.  I do know that I would need a big enough place so the each could have their own space.  When my daughter married they bought a big house which they have a shared bedroom but they each have their own separate rooms and separate bathrooms.  Seems to work for them.
 
I also like someone to travel with.  What I have done for the past, like 15 years, is travel with yoga groups.  The people are generally open minded, flexible (not just physically ), interesting and fun.  I have been to Mexico, Peru, Bali, Nova Scotia, Utah, Montana, Turkey.  It gives me the “someone” to travel with, without the commitment of a relationship.
 
I have never made five year, ten year or long range plans of where I want to be with my life.  I have always gone “with the flow” and I go where it leads me.  Moving back to Gainesville is not really a “decision” as much a feeling of that is where life is leading me.  After I am there, who knows where it will lead me next.
 
Larry

Ah, but was Elizabeth the “Love of my Life”?  From the beginning and over all the years I don’t think I ever told her I loved her although I did in my journals.  It is one of those “Should’ve, could’ve, would’ve” times. Quoting Bob Dylan, if it wasn’t for “a simple twist of fate.”

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