All Set Up

Some single elders go nowhere, do nothing. I am that sort and love it. When I do go out, it's a big treat that most others who are out and about every day, miss. I notice new buildings and gardens, store fronts and fresh paint. If it's a long ride through varying stretches, it is especially wonderful. This is something that commuters or mall mavens don't have. Most of my days at home are never boring because I love alone-time where I can read without uninterruption or game as long as I please without someone breathing down my neck. In fact those who rant on about seniors having to "use it or lose it" aren't allowed in my hearing range. I move around, bend, stretch and do my own cooking, house chores and daily tasks to find that's quite enough exercise. I also have a secret. I am going to reveal the place I am most happy. I have a sun deck that looks out on nothing special, but it's large and wide. This is my garden. None of the greenery in my copse grows and it doesn't need watering or weeding. And while it looks and feels just as real as real, it isn't. Leaning behind metalbenches that run along the glass front and side of the deck, my black metal trellises bear green ivy that offers shade and an atmosphere of dappled sunlight. On each or the three corners of my pleasant covered deck are six or seven foot fake ficus trees that defy their copied identities. I use also sea grasses also imitations that are tall and clumps tuck in here and there as though I am at the beach. And they stay out there all winter and survive. My furniture is second hand black painted metal and its cousins, more black metal tables, are for real plants and the barbecue and airfryer that I love for outdoor cooking. On the deck floor is cooling grass, a green sod football  carpet that is perforated to accommodate air and rain water. A big rattan wingback chair and a basket swing that is covered with ivy woven in and out of its meshes adds to the ocean-like get-away on my deck. In the middle of it all is the old circle black  metal table with it's incense burner safe inside a glass tube with a Laughing Buddah hoho and holding his generous front.  Sitting out there on my fantasy set, I  read for hours, keeping out of the direct sun thanks to big red, the  umbrella that dominates it all in a loving glow. Who needs far away places; it's all here in my own paradise. Do you have one?