I have been putting together a proposal for a 2-hour tour of one of the world’s coolest neighborhoods.  At least that’s how Time Out describes the neighborhood where I live. To me, it is simply the place where I have chosen to spend most of my adult life.

Describing it as one of the world’s coolest may or may not be factually accurate, but it provides a hook I’ll use to drum up interest among Hi USA’s clientele. This not-for-profit organization has invited me to be one of its local tour guides. Hi USA’s stated mission is “fostering a deeper understanding of people, places, and cultures.”  It operates hostels throughout the United States, and though not explicitly limited, appeals mainly to young adult travelers.

I recently stumbled across it by chance, while exploring various volunteer opportunities to fill my flexible schedule.  Among other things, what interested me was the prospect of designing my own tour. I interviewed online and subsequently extended an invitation to participate, pending a background check, which I found reassuring.

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As I begin this new assignment, I have started to accept the reality that I will not likely be engaging in future gainful employment. Of course, it’s not as if I have been hunting for such work.  Yet, ironically, just this past week, I received two unsolicited job applications, only to quickly discover that I am already aged out.

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So, I am left to my own devices to find, even invent, meaningful opportunities for myself. This is my reality.  I constantly consider undertaking new projects.  The short of it is: Thinking about such things is one matter; doing is a different matter.

For this reason, I can’t seriously discuss any of them here.  It would be pointless.

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However, I feed on my restlessness. It helps keep me alert and hungry, not a given when you’re in your mid-seventies and have no hard day-to-day responsibilities regarding work or family. (Also, it might not be too great a stretch to suggest that I am prone to occasional bouts of lassitude!)

At the very least, planning for a 2-hour tour ought to keep me occupied in the near term.  I have already discovered numerous new facts about my neighborhood. More generally, I’ve unearthed several good sources of specific and reliable information, and, depending on how deep the dive, I can access old photographs, maps, and the histories of points of interest.  This preliminary research is likely to take me several days or more to complete. Fortunately, I have time.

Finally, although Hi USA has strict anti-fraternization rules for volunteers, the prospect of meeting and interacting with groups of young travelers is a major draw for me, much like the youthful vibe of my neighborhood makes this an enjoyable and interesting place to live.

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There are times when my shifting whims feel like tall grasses swaying in a strong breeze. Regardless, I suppose I will pursue new endeavors as long as I am physically and mentally able.  After all, everybody who reads these posts already knows firsthand and better than most that when your time is up, it’s up.