More Masalamas and B Day.

Masalamas (goodbye parties) are getting to be a regular event here, as more and more expat friends are deciding to exit the Magic Kingdom.
Their reasons for leaving are varied (it is "time"), something we will be doing ourselves later this year. We believe it is the end of a long era, already slowing when we arrived in 2010, when western expats were previously a large part of the workforce here, when the "community" was large with an adventurous spirit, but no more. The geographic region around us is in turmoil (although stable here), the native populations are being placed in many previous expat positions, and of course the difficulties for adjustment for many in a strict society that is changing at a glacial pace. It's been a great experience for us, particularly having experienced the 90's here (in Riyadh) as well as a decade later during this tour of duty (in Jeddah), but again it is now "time".

As a result we have experienced four masalama events over the past month, a sad but expected part of the expat experience.

Aside from masalama (goodbye) to friends & colleagues, there is also the same to be said regarding our chronologic years as they go by, and the new challenges we face with the advancing years. The years gone by have been good, being fortunate to have experienced many valuable family times, good friends, and the numerous adventure opportunities along the way, and with the good health to enjoy those years. Things have not been perfect, but what is, but its been a great run despite the "bumps" in the road of life.
June 6th was my 66th birthday, a time when our previous generation had put people "out to pasture". Sitting in the here and now one ponders the wisdom of that philosophy, as the skipper believes he has still much to offer, as many others must have felt before me. Although it will be our masalama from the Magic Kingdom later this year, we believe it will open the next chapter of the life adventure as we are feeling far from being "put out to pasture".

Being a weekend here on the B-day it was "fitting" for the old guy to savor some downtime. Although we did the ten minute walk to our local Starbucks this morning we stayed in the rest of the day being officially 48 deg C outside(unofficially over 50 deg C)! A several day heat wave, which occurs sporadically. Usual summer temperatures here are high 30's to low 40's deg C, with "some" humidity being a coastal city.
But we did go to the gym in our building, with the clear understanding that with age comes the need to keep myself moving. Some of this activity is clearly "home physio" for my knees, agreeing to do much myself instead of as many official appointments. The resolution now is to try to keep this pace up several days a week .... we will see.

And yes it is around 50 deg C, and humid, outside the window of our gym.
We have our own sauna ........ when walking outside on these days.

A Post regarding some aspects of indoor life when not out and about.
Masalama for now.

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