Do we live or do we play it safe? Is there a middle ground somewhere?

That’s the question I face alot

Today, as I write this, Saturday, there is a “Bands on the Bay” event happening in the turning basin in Petaluma

BYOFD, meaning: bring your own floatation device

Think paddle boards, kayaks, rubber canoes, probably some folks will be in tubes

This is the kind of thing that sparks my spirit, makes me wanna get up and go!

Its the kind of thing Matt and I would have done together, no question, in days past

He prefers a kayak as his floatation device, one he sits in

So as I think about this event, do we live or play it safe? Is there a way to enjoy this event while playing it a bit on the safer side?

My concerns if we float: what if he flips over the kayak and can’t get out?

What if other people nearby are not sensitive to the situation and do something, say something, that is hurtful or worse, endanger him?

What if he poops in his kayak, or has a light headed moment while floating?

You know there will be drinking involved and you know if it get crowded, someone will go off the rails

Do we play it safe? Meaning, not go. Or go, but not go onto the river? Is there a reasonable middle ground that is worth the 30 minutes each way? Will we be able to park close enough that it doesn’t risk Matt having a light headed moment in the forecasted heat?

We had a big night last night, so he’s slow to get up this morning, which is totally ok

If we go, we need an abort plan, a close bathroom for emergencies

Lois says she and Mark watched this from the dock of the Petaluma Yacht Club last year, that might be a decent middle ground, one that has quick access to a bathroom, coolness away from heat

They are PICYA members, so they may extend reciprocity to my yacht club membership, but if this is a popular event, if their club gets crowded, maybe this won’t be a reciprical day

It could be the perfect middle ground solution, if all the cards fall into place

But even then, I need a back up plan

So that brings me back to my fundamental question: play it safe or risk disaster and live a little? Or try this middle ground and risk failure…….

As I write this, I wondered if it might be time to ask for a handicap parking placard

Matt has begun to exhibit sensitivity to the heat, even when he is adequately hydrated, his legs have given out from under him at least once per week for the last few weeks

My observation is that the warming days are contributing to this as the last 2 weeks the episode has occurred mid day when he was outside, or just came into the house from being outside in the warm air

I always associated this with “old people”, however wrongly, are we now that? I need to wrap my head around that a bit

Of course, these placards aren’t just for old people, they are for people who actually have a reason for the community to grant them a bit of an easier path to the things that need to be done, like grocery shopping, navigating parking lots of anything

This may move the boundaries of “playing it safe” and “living” a bit wider for us, open up the playing field some, for a little longer……

This might help us avoid “that” fall that starts us down the slippery slope I worry about so much these days……

I am going to ask our neurologist asap…..

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