As the year winds down, inevitably I think of two things: how this year went and how I want next year to go. That will be Wednesday’s and Thursday’s posts but today I wanted to touch on a couple of little frustrations with 2025.
Bicycling is one of them. We began bicycling weekly not long after I moved up here. By 2014, we were able to spend Sunday bicycling a total 28 miles to the American Tobacco Trail’s end in Raleigh and back.
Then we got dogs. Obviously we couldn’t leave new pets ready to pee anywhere alone for that long. I always figured we’d get back to it but we never did — bike problems, scheduling, dog needs, all got in the way. Not just of the big, long rides but even short regular rides.
I love bicycling and want to get back to doing it regularly. Every year I manage to do so for a while, then it falls apart. This year I bicycled regularly at least once a week through the fall, then something always got in the way. Part of the problem is that it’s Saturday or Sunday or nothing — during the week I’m usually busy with the dogs, or with writing or something else and it doesn’t happen.
I really want to overcome that in 2026.
The other thing? Money. I always went to end up the year with more money than I had at the start. I never do. This year, my income between Local Reporter and Social Security was better than it’s been many years of my life (the Destin Log, for instance). However the cost of dog drugs (my share of the household expenses includes those) constantly ramps up as they need more treatment and it canceled most of that out. Traveling to cons always costs more than it brings in, even though it’s deductible. Not that I’m hemorrhaging money or anything, or that I don’t have reserves (and I am part of a two-income family, though I take satisfaction in paying my share of the bills), but I’d like to see them grow more.
The options are the standard ones, cut spending or bring in more money. There’s not much unnecessary spending to cut and obviously I’d love that second option. Doing it as an indie author is easier said than done.
I will be putting both these things into my 2026 goals, even if I’m not sure yet how to pull them off.
Spectre cover by Jerry Grandenetti, all rights to image remain with current holders.
