I buy lunch meat in the Glad reusable containers, the store brand where I shop comes in them. I love to pack my kids' sandwiches in them for school, the sandwich and a hand full of crackers fit. The sandwich stays like I just made it, doesn't get smashed. If I happen to buy fresh deli lunch meat, when I get home I reuse one of those containers to store it. We have also used them to keep just a small amount of leftover paint for touchups. Storing nails, nuts and bolts. Just the right size to share some homemade cookies or candy. When I cook a meal for a friend (in time of a new baby or a family emergency) I always re-use a container from something else, that way they don't have to worry about getting it back to me. But once in a while I realize I've got 30 of them in my cabinet. Luckily, we have curbside recycling so I just toss them in the bin.

Thank you all so much for great ideas and comments. Herbflavor thanks, again...you've been so helpful every time I post! I will definitly think about widening the "u". Eliminating the 4th seat would be a big compromise bc I have 3 kids and my dh works late a lot so I picture us eating there together a lot. But I usually eat standing up anyway so...?! That half of the door is fixed anyway so I think I could maybe still keep a seat there. I was concerned about widening the U too much though because I want to keep a comfortable path to the sliders between seats at peninsula and seats at dining table. But you think I do have enough room to go close to end of sliders? Question...Do I really need the Ref panels? They add 3". I have a wall on one side and a full height turned cabinet on other side. Could I just have the cabinets above the Ref attached to the wall on one side and the pantry cabinet on other side? I'd gain 3" of clearance around the island pinchpoint, worth it? No one has mentioned my cooktop shouldn't be within 4.5" of corner, so I'm thinking it's ok? Sena thanks, I do think I'm going to need to put something in my island. Anyone think I could just have 1 row of deep drawers along bottom of island, then finished open shelf above them, so the island/work table is like half "open"?

Its 1 :25 am and I'm with the night owls. I was laid off at 66 and was dispirited. Looked for jobs, not much luck. So I accepted that unemployment was actually early retirement. Less than a year later a friend called about an opening in her agency in my field. It is a great fit: about 10-15 hours a week. I only go into the office (which is 20 minutes away) 1 x 2weeks, nearly everything can be communicated and documented by secure email and text. I miss the chatting life of more collegial time in an office, but I treasure setting my own schedule. As long as my patients get seen on time and my documentation and time sheets are on time no one 'bothers' me. I'm still contributing to society and (modestly) to family income. I have lots of time and flexibility for those ever increasing doctors' and physical therapy appointments. Gotta keep the mojo working if I want to work. My house is still a mess because neither dh nor I are neatniks and actually don't care a lot about "everything in its place". I mean, it would be nice, but it takes so much valuable time! Rouge, your days and nights will take on a shape of their own. You can nudge things however you want. Eventually a routine might emerge. My thoughts are: make new friends, keep up with old ones and participate in some sort of group activity: exercise class, bridge, book group, civic organizations. For me, they are a welcome change from being at home. I came across the seeds you sent months ago. Still in their little envelope, waiting for spring, like me.Marie

Thank you all.. you are all too sweet. My whole plan changed when I stopped in a fav boutique on Friday.. I thought maybe I'd get a bag but had no intention of looking at jewelry. I had soooo much fun with the owner that I had to just go for the splurge. The accessories cost more than 8x the dress but I will wear them all again and again. I have so many underwire popping stories it's ridic. I have grown to abhor underwires .. and yet, I still wear them! My worst story was a button fiasco. I went to an interview in a beautiful mocha silk button-down shirt.. but had no idea that the two buttons had worked themselves out of the silky button holes. They were the top two buttons so I am assuming that between the suit jacket and carrying my briefcase, the material had been strained across my shoulders and pulled it open. The first button would have been ok-- a little daring for the office but ok. The second totally crossed the line! I went the whole way through the interview with my bra and cleavage showing!! (Yes, I got the job.. no, I never mentioned it to my boss.) Yeah, I've pretty much always been a hot mess lol.