“What is a week-end?” This question, that the Dowager Countess of Grantham asked in the tv series Downton Abbey, stayed with us since we first heard it. When you’re working, and Dilbert cartoons make sense to you, hearing someone ask that question holds a magical allure. How can you get to a position when you can ask that question yourself? And so our goal became to start on an endless weekend, which we are now proudly embarking on.
This is the journal of our Endless Weekend. We’re starting it balancing delight and concern… Combined we’ve worked in the high tech industry for more than 42 years, and it’s pretty much the first time since we were teenagers that we don’t have a regular paycheck coming in. Serenity now, let the Endless Weekend begin!
Interesting bit of related trivia: what country enjoys the most public holidays per year? (Hint: it’s not what you expect). Answer in our next post.
The Endless Weekend 
I love this, and followed your blog…kudos to you both for embracing life!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, much appreciated!
We’re getting used to the fact that today is… Someday 🙂 Our blog is about sharing our journey.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s a great bit of “wanderlust”…I get to travel to cool places for work – always have – so I try to embrace all the cool things I can while there!
LikeLiked by 1 person
That sounds wonderful! Cool places such as…? Does that mean you’ll beat us to Highclere Castle? 🙂
LikeLike
I hope to be joining you in retirement in about 4 years!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Apologies for the delayed response, it is NOT a reflection on how wonderful retirement is (it’s magnificent, we’re loving it! :)). We just found your comments stashed away in the Akismet spam folder, hopefully we fixed it. Expect a few responses all at once. We love the conversation, thank you for stopping by!
LikeLike
I had to come by and see who left such a nice comment. I’ll be back soon and read more. I’m trying to find the next one after this post. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
That is such a heartwarming thing to hear, thank you, and I believe that means that the honor of the great comment goes to yours 🙂 Next post is The Glorious and the Less Glorious, followed by The Sweeter Side of the Less Glorious and Outshining the Sweeter side!
LikeLiked by 1 person
France is probably in the top five of holidays…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Indeed, it’s high up there:
https://www.statista.com/chart/15005/statutory-minimum-paid-leave-and-public-holidays/
A few years back I read that in France there are legal protections against work email after hours! And I recently read that the Netherlands has the shortest workweek at 29 hours. Doesn’t make either country less productive: makes one wonder, no?
LikeLiked by 1 person
I don’t know a bout the Dutch. I know that Martine Aubry’s Law on the 35hours week paid 40 has destroyed French industry and competitivity…
And yes, there are legal protections against email after hours. I’ve been wasting the best part of a month now to move some of my investments in France from one account to the other just because my Bank adviser has been changed and the new one takes up to three days to answer a mail. Grrrr. Off to see your link. Au revoir.
LikeLiked by 1 person
So the Martine Aubry Law limits the number of working hours in France to 35 per week without impacting the pay? I’ve not heard of that before!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It was ridiculous and obviously impacted the costs and profits (or lack of) of all French business.
LikeLike
PS. Aubry’s stupid idea was that employment was a finite “pie”, so making people work less would reduce unemployment… Tssss.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This reminds me of Einstein’s wise words: “We cannot solve our problems with the same level of thinking that created them.”
LikeLiked by 1 person
It takes ten times as much thinking?
LikeLike
36 days in France? Not surprised. Add to that the fact that France still works 40 hours weeks, 5 hours more than the legal limit of 35. Those hours are accounted for as holiday time. To be taken generally before May-June. Overall, my friends and relations in France have close to 8 weeks vacations a year…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow! It sort of reminds me of a meme I once saw where the first half showed a European Out Of Office email message that said something like “I’m away camping for the summer, please email back in September.”
The second half had an American Out of Office message that said something like “I’m out of the office for 2 hours to undergo surgery, but you can reach me on my cell phone any time.” …
LikeLiked by 1 person
A very good summary. Thank you. I made a note of it. 😉 (Will give you full credit of course)
LikeLiked by 1 person
It was funny (and a little too close to the truth…) enough to make it memorable! I wish I kept a link to it…
LikeLiked by 1 person
True story: I have an urgent banking operation to do in France. My adviser was away all week. (Now I know) Did not answer her mail or the bank’s message system. And she did not have an out of office message on her mail.
(Maybe I should move my account to Belgium? 🤔 )
LikeLiked by 1 person
You know what I think Freud would have said about your adviser? Sometimes laziness is just laziness 🚬 😁
LikeLiked by 1 person
Exactly. My point entirely. But I’m losing my patience…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sounds like for a good reason 🙂 What are your travel plans for the summer?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Europe. Paris and London. Brussels is still open. You?
LikeLiked by 1 person
It sounds like you qualify for a “citizen of the world” title. Have you been to all 7 continents? What’s the story behind your worldly childhood?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Asia, Africa, the Americas, Europe. I am missing Down under so far.
The story? My father was an Air France man. I was born abroad. If you like I can send you that link. (I don’t publish my links on other blogs unless invited…) 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Please do! I’m curious!
LikeLiked by 1 person