Wow, the secret joy I have when others cancel plans we had and I am not the bad guy! My dread of doing things sometimes is more from experience - knowing what physically exhausts me and the price I’ll pay in recovering the next couple of days. I’ve come to really enjoy coffee, breakfast, and lunch dates, as I consider those easy and in timeframes my energy stores are greatest. But most of our friends work daily and expect later social activities. They enjoy cocktail events and I don’t drink. They enjoy dancing, shopping, & pickleball, while I can only sit. I love entertaining but the kitchen work & cleaning and politely pushing folks out the door at my bedtime can be exhausting. It’s quite a challenge to appear optimistic about things we know will physically set us back!

But my number one priority is my husband. I am blessed to still have him and he has made so many sacrifices and concessions since I became disabled with PN. He’s 18 years older and needs to live life actively in his golden years and remain social. I try to reserve energy for things he likes to do. Any travel, sports events, and social gatherings that he wants, I don’t want to be the reason we can’t enjoy them. He’s also my best friend as, like others here, a lot have passed or drifted away over time. I’m most happy when my husband wants to stay in and watch a ball game together on TV. But when Steve wants to go somewhere, entertain, or travel, I put on my happy face and give it all I’ve got because none of us are promised tomorrow.

Ray - I am my best sitting in a chair reading. You need to publish some of your journals!