1. Short trips to Solvang: staying at a self run hotel and ziplining, cruise to Catalina/Ensenada: prime rib elegant dinner, adventure course on the cruise, and ziplining again, Denver: Red Rocks Amphitheater hike and free upgraded IHG rooms all booked with points
2. Became members of CCCTO and serve on worship team (some things never change). Anson goes to their leadership class once a month, and put his software skills to use by building a slide builder tool for worship leaders and is in the process of helping to revamp the website.
3. One of Priscilla’s favorite activities is supporting the local economy/performing arts: blueberry and strawberry picking at Underwood, watching live productions of Anastasia and Murder on the Orient Express at Conejo Players Theatre, Candlelight Concert, Imaginarium, Charlie Hall at Camarillo Community Church, buying sunflowers and rode a tractor at Conejo Family Farms
4. Anson keeping busy with various house projects: aligning kitchen cabinets, installing hooks for Christmas lights, fixing the seal and repairing the dishwasher racks, minor car repairs, resealing countertops, cleared out garage in order to park both cars in it, running drainage pipe so that downspout empties out to the street, painting hallway/bedroom, buying/assembling furniture to finally move in to our master, elevating the citrus trees so they (hopefully) survive us, maintaining the hot tub for wifey to use!
5. Putting their lifetime gym memberships to good use: Anson working out every other Friday with Gary, taking a yoga/pilates class together, and Priscilla enjoying Zumba. She hopes to get better in the Thursday line dancing class…if only she didn’t have 2 left feet.
6. Thankful for the many friends from the Bay Area and SoCal making the effort to see us: Steve/Shirley, Jo-Ann, Raymond, Emily, Jeff/Eleanor, James/Char, Mark/Jenn, Cindy. Also thankful for technology to have virtual meals w/ Randy/Eva and Albert/Ruth.
7. Monthly visits to see parents. Thankful that we are now physically closer (with still some separation) and can help parents in various tasks like dog sitting, hospital appointments, celebrate holidays/birthdays with one another.
8. Opening up our home and hosting small group, potlucks, and cooking for various friends/our church family.
9. Though inflation has made it harder and not really doing couponing anymore, still saving money on streaming via Google Opinion Rewards, free trials, and AMEX offers: free months of Amazon Prime, Peacock, Disney+/Hulu, Apple TV+, Paramount+, Discovery+ MGM, and YouTube Premium Lite.
10. Still in the credit card game and opened a couple hotel credit cards this year and have stayed multiple nights for free in SGV, Solvang, Culver City, and Denver, with just our regular spending habits. Hoping the new Hyatt card will give us some new adventures in the new year!