Well, Bob, as a captive of 'The People's Republic of Kalifornica (sic)', all I can do is be DEEPLY envious of your Cape lifestyle and cited plans to ('de-complicate' and) enjoy life (if all turns out to be as rosy as you hope it does). No arguments that that neck of land is one of the most quaintly evocative, enjoyable and spectacularly scenic stretches to be found anywhere on the East Coast. I myself have always wanted to enjoy a New England style clambake in those environs, but have never had an excuse to uproot and visit for a prolonged period.
Your anticipated agenda truly sounds idyllic and I am in full concurrence with your delight in being surrounded by all those lovely books (the fountain of all knowledge, after all!). You are fortunate also in having offspring who will hopefully view your earthly accumulation of written/printed knowledge as that key to better understand who exactly their Da was. We, in contrast, have no children, having decided earlier in our lives that the world already has enough of our destructive species to obliterate it sufficiently w/o our help (LoL)...a view we share with Thos. Malthus and others of his ilk.
When my own father passed away prematurely (I was age 4), I had the benefit of his own erudite collection of intellectual resources(books, articles about him and priceless photos of his fascinating, versatile life) and they were a Godsend in helping me better understand what a great man and enlightened individual he was! Since at that tender age one is left with little actual 'memory' of one's departed parent, these items were among my most prized and valued 'Rosetta Stones' in regard to understanding him and his personal history.
The Chinese regard family (and children) and the highest of valued priorities in life and I would strongly agree in hindsight, lamenting (ironically) that we have no one to 'pass the torch on to' ourselves. [I have little doubt we would, however, been excellent and highly involved parents.]
Just one bit of advice from a medical person, as you contemplate that earthly Valhalla you describe: Go easy on the ETOH, my friend! I have always greatly enjoyed good wines (despite my Austro-Germanic roots) but I find that once one has entered the 7th decade of life, the body isn't as kindly disposed to metabolising C2H6O (Ethanol) as it was in the Spring of youthfulness. Recent studies have also tossed the popular belief that a moderate amount of alcohol has beneficial cardiovascular effects on its head and in fact even a small amount of ETOH is now deemed 'not good'. [Just keep taking your Resveratrol and CQ10 supplements religiously and using grape-seed 'vegenaise' instead of mayo!]
That said, I miss my fine European (and Californian) wines perhaps more than any other thing I formerly enjoyed in life, but physiological science is generally a harsh and demanding mistress, after all! And as H. Ryder Haggard so aptly put it, 'SHE who must be obeyed' must be listened to... ;)))
Even if those of us out here in your reading audience may not be able to enjoy such an earthly paradise as you so felicitously describe, we can at least share your anticipation vicariously and say, as the Aussies do: "Good on ya, mate!"
