Celebrations

I knew I wanted to celebrate my new milestone, but I couldn't figure out a way to throw a big party right now in a way that felt safe. So I had a couple of smaller celebrations with the friends that helped get me to retirement.

C and L are my FIRE friends- we met a few years ago in a financial independence book club and just hit it off. We have traded financial advice, reviewed each other's investment philosophies, and eaten a lot of ALDI (along with Lidl, the budget grocery store of choice) food together. C is already retired, and L is working as fast as she can to join us. 

We had tea at the Willard, a historic hotel near the White House. The food was tasty, but a part of me knew I could have made better. However, the real treat was dressing up and looking vintage glam while a harpist played and people brought us scones and sparkling wine. 

Familys T and M helped with a second celebration. The kids had macaroni and cheese and all-they-could-eat ice cream sundaes, and were grateful that they didn't have to eat the grown-up food, which included weird ingredients like roasted eggplant and truffled cheese. My friends E and K offered their house, which was ideal - their family did all the cleaning, and I did all the cooking. 

I used all the fancy food people have gifted me: imported pasta flour from my uncle and aunt, Belgian cooking chocolate my nephew gave me, and artisinal olive oil from my boss and her wife. For once, I was pleased with each and every dish I made. I discovered eggplant caponata, a Sicilian dish that is a excellent use for my many bags of frozen garden eggplant and improved my butternut squash soup recipe (secret ingredients: green apples, and garnishes of roasted pumpkin seeds and crème fraiche).

Now I wish I could retire a second time, just so I have all the parties again.