Three weeks ago I retired as active clergywoman in The United Methodist Church. Does that make me un-active clergy? I’ll say this, I am certainly active for being non-active.
Earlier today, I learned that I will take 4300 steps if I walk to a recycling center and then head in the opposite direction to a dollar-type store to pick up an incidental (today, a forgotten cleaning supply).
Part of my reason for wanting to move to the downtown Denton area was to see how much more walking and how much less driving I could do by frequenting as much as possible only the places I can reach on foot.
I am guessing, from the walks I have taken so far, that I could walk to a different restaurant, bar, cafe, coffee-shop, bistro, deli, etc every day for six weeks and not have to repeat once. Now, I would also be somewhat broke and probably waddling instead of walking after that much eating out, but it does make an interesting challenge to consider.
I can walk to the cleaners, to a natural foods store, to a print shop, to hair and nail salons, to the used bookstore, to a jewelers, antique shops, an appliance store, two theaters, my CPA’s office and my attorneys offices (I have worked with a plethora of attorneys in this last year). I can walk to the Post Office, to the Civic Center, to the Senior Center, and to the Public Library. If I want to push myself a bit, I can walk to the two major university campuses here.
Since I have three main goals for this year (regain robust physical health, catch up on family and establish myself as a writer), just living here gives me a head start on the first one. And did I mention the stairs? I rented a two story apartment. It is on the second and third floors of the apartment building–and there is no elevator. Thirty four stairs from the ground floor to my office. And a lot of stuff has to get to the office area.
As I told the apartment manager the other day, this place is either going to kill me or cure me. There are days when I know that I have walked up and down well over a thousand steps. And often walking those steps carrying fairly heavy things.
Yes, this is its own little fitness center.
It was a crazy decision for someone my age and I don’t regret it a bit.
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