@ihatediabetes WOW, that's great. Congratulations on doing so much and on so many steps. Six miles is impressive, you must have really good shoes too. My Misfit translates other activities into steps so my water exercises get translated. I always strive for 10,000 but do not often make it quite that far.
I like your tip about ivory soap too. I would think that could be useful at times. We get wasps in our attic some summers. Of course we can't possibly rub the whole area with soap though.
JK

@hopeful33250 It's not so much of a support group, as it is an enjoyable outlet with a really nice group of people -- mostly women, but occasionally a man, usually a husband. The ages go from the 40s into the 70s so it's a pretty diverse group. I really feel so fortunate to have such a nice facility so close by (15 - 20 minutes away). Everyone there is friendly and helpful. When I do my water walking by myself there is often a gentleman about my age in the next lane. We move at different speeds but it's sort of funny because as we pass we often say a few words each time.
JK

@ihatediabetes I'm sure the bluebirds would say "thank you" if they could. None of us are particularly fond of wasps! Teresa

I did notice some old nests and I pulled them off. They also gave us can of Raid and spatula. The spatula is to fling wasp nests off. I asked naturalist how to fling off wasp nests without getting stung. She said you got to do it really fast and best to do in morning when they're sleepy. Yikes. So I decided to use the ivory soap because I did not want to use a spatula to fling the wasp nests out. That just didn't seem safe. People that work in parks have a different mindset then people who live in town.

I have Merrell hiking boots and Keen hiking boots. I also have summner ventilators but I don't know who makes those. Great in hot weather but not water proof. I think my ankles and legs are getting strong. I think walking on uneven ground builds muscle. I started jogging slowly uphill to get heartrate up. I hit 155 yesterday. That makes an interval which the doctors say is important for health. So I try to get a few intervals in while hiking my bluebird route with my light backpack and hiking pole. There's so much you can do for fitness and mental health while hiking. I think it's great exercise. It. Also costs almost nothing. Just boots and parking pass.

@ihatediabetes We have a rustic place in the woods, on a lake that we use in the summer. There is a long path to get into it and one summer there was a HUGE wasp nest right next to the path. We knew the best time to get them was either very early or at dusk so my husband brought up long pants, a ski mask and was totally covered from head to toe. He sprayed the wasp killer right into the nest and not a single wasp flew out. Phew, that was the end of the wasp problem.
JK

Going against a big wasp nest is for professionals I think. We bluebird monitors are just volunteers. I'm still working for master naturalist certification but I will probably get that by fall. I still have to take 40 hour class. I signed up at University of Minnesota St. Paul campus. I really want to see the plant laboratories. Btw my husband thinks that I got a lot of energy from my 6 mile hike. I put two bags of weed killer down with broadcast spreader. Then I started cleaning garage. I was hammering on shelves to take them apart and throw away. They've been there for years. So he said it seems like I have more energy now. Maybe if I keep exercising I will be able to deal with clutter and everyday life. I am also thinking that eventually I should go back to work. I'm on my second year of being empty nester. Maybe this is new to time of life for me. I haven't had a regular paid job for 10 years. Maybe it's time to go back. I'm thinking about it. I am thankful it's a choice. I can find something I want to do, not just work for money. Eventually I will probably talk to wellness coach about it and create new experiments like making a resume. That's why I like healthy living program. You can talk about stuff like that. It's not just a diet plan. Everybody has way more going on than just their diet.

@ihatediabetes I find when I go to my club and exercise I have more energy. On the days I don't go, like today (snowing out) I feel like a slug.
When my daughter started college I went back to work -- I had been home for 20 years, since my son was born. I was in IT before my "retirement". Returning to that field after so many years away would have required me to take courses. Not only did I not want to do that, but the whole IT thing felt like history to me so I ended up with lesser jobs. I really enjoyed being back. I stopped working about a year before I started getting symptomatic from the cirrhosis so it was just as well. If I could find something a couple of days a week I would return I think, but no one wants an old lady except maybe places like McDonalds. I would not want a job that required a lot of standing. I did do volunteer work for awhile but that required standing for about three hours.
JK

@ihatediabetes That sounds like a wise decision to me! Teresa

@ihatediabetes Fantastic! Teresa