Went all the rest of the way to Blantyre today. More nice cycling, and then a fun evening at my friend, Nimia's, house. A workmate friend of hers also came over.
I started daydreaming with her about retiring and moving to Malawi. Getting up and going to work every day, even when you don't feel like it, is really over-rated, anyway. I was asking her, "Do you think I could live fairly comfortably on about 70,000 kwacha a month?" That's about $500 a month, which is about what I could have to live on if I retired right now. Nimia said, "Oh, yes! You could live just fine on that in Malawi. Probably couldn't afford a car, but..." I said, "That's o.k.! Who needs a car? I could use my bike!" We went back and forth like that, thinking about what kind of house I could afford and what kind of lifestyle. O.k., it wouldn't exactly be kingly, but it would be just fine. But what about health insurance? She told me that her insurance is very good and she'd be medavaced to S. Africa if there was something that couldn't be done in Malawi, and it costs about 25,000 kwacha/month. Well, there is about $180, right there. But what about all the other responsibilities and people depending on my
financial help? And what about all my family and friends in the States whom I wouldn't be able to afford to go see anymore? Well, maybe it's time they started to come and see me - isn't it their turn? Oh, maybe not. And what about ... oh, never mind. O.k., o.k., o.k., just dreaming... Dreaming is allowed, isn't it?Nice night. Here is a picture of me and Nimia on her sofa.
-------------------- TODAY ----------------- TOTAL
Cycled ------------- 50 km (31 mi) ----------- 4,527 km (2,836 mi)
Lift ---------------- 110 km (69 mi) ---------- 2,590 km (1,725 mi)
Total -------------- 160 km (100 mi) --------- 7,117 km (4,561 mi)
In Saddle ---------- 4 hours 39 min ----------- 300 hours 55 min
Ascended ---------- 1,450 feet ---------------- 80,638 feet
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