Happy Birthday, Rob! I've spent birthdays like that, too, both mine and my mom's. I'm grateful for Medicare...it has made looking after my parents' care and finances so much easier. I'm also grateful for means. Medicare is great, but my parents can also pay for the other "parts" as well as their long-term care that isn't covered. I'm also grateful that my dad has always kept meticulous records and maintained relationships with service people. This may sound awful, but I'm grateful that my mother had the flu just over a year ago. She ended up in the hospital with pneumonia as well. The doctor recommended rehab and recuperation before she went home with her caregiver. She went to the same rehab where my dad was already, and after a couple of months she recovered but moved directly to the memory care in the same building. It's been great for her, and for the rest of the family. It made the transitions much, much easier, especially on my mom.

We have those "master meters" that cover a whole block (or so - I haven't used one yet). Thankful that I have both the health and the energy to be able to park, free, blocks away from several of my destinations. Which includes the main city library, where I can get my parking chit cleared for two hours free, but I like to save them that expense, so they can put my contributed dollars to more important use. I'm thankful, too, that my cash gift to that library was credited before the end of the year, so helpful to reduce the income tax, and some mailed ones weren't postmarked till Jan. 2, so not useful for 2018, and I need them, as I had some unexpected income last year and need every credit I can dig up. Should have taken some charitable letters into the post office on Dec. 31 to get 'em stamped! (Or, just possibly, written cheques and mailed 'em earlier, e.g. before Christmas?) Or, even better, made the gifts long enough before Christmas that the agencies could have helped needy families around Christmas? The winter is an especially difficult time for the homeless ones in this cold area. ole joyful

1) Grateful for my family. Married to a wonderful DH for 28 years. After a difficult marriage to the exact opposite type of person, I'm grateful for our loving relationship with zero drama. Grateful that both my children (one from each marriage) are happy well functioning adults. Grateful that DD from 1st marriage is nothing like her dad and married someone like her step-dad. And the biggest lights in my life are my two adorable grandchildren (DD's children). 2) Grateful DH and I are finally getting to travel after years of some financial constraints. Makes me even more grateful for #1 as our children can more than support themselves (not all our friends have the same luxury). 3) Grateful that retirement is on the horizon. Maybe 1, probably 2, more years but I can see the finish line. And back to #2, grateful we will be able to travel during retirement. But also grateful to have a home I love and love being in and puttering in and can't wait to do that 24/7 in retirement (when not traveling). And I know you said 3, but I have to add - 4) with everything going on in the world, more than ever I'm grateful to live in a place where we don't fear for our lives every moment.

I am grateful for my home and neighbors. I'm fortunate to live in a little city that is within a big city. I have lived in big cities all my life. I love how people have learned to adapt and make comfortable their homes and lives. The longest I have ever gone without electricity was for a week when we had a "dry" hurricane. We didn't get any rain but got winds so fierce they took out many trees and with it the electricity. It was interesting to live that way for a week. We had water so plumbing and drinking was not an issue. It was easily possible to drive to an area not affected to get food. It certainly was quiet. I was already retired so I didn't have to go to work. I think for me, water is the most important. I could get bottled water but our tap water is good and it's all city water and sewage. I would be lost if I moved to the "country". I wouldn't know the first thing about existing in a world of wells and septic tanks. Any time I ever was looking for a house, it had to have city water and plumbing or I wouldn't consider it. It's what I'm used to and what I can afford. I'm not sure most people just "choose" to live wherever they want. I would say most people cannot afford that luxury. I only know a few who that would apply to. I am grateful that this is a big country and there is something for everyone for the most part. Sometimes it is difficult to see from any other perspective than our own.