ADL’s – Activities of Daily Living.  A term used in health care for a number of activities older people can accomplish each day in their extended care facilities.  We first learned of the concept while cruising, in that we’d try to get in a certain number of ADL’s each day on the boat. It was always the nagging question folks asked about life as a cruising live-aboard sailor, ” What do you do all day?”  For anyone who’s already retired it’s an easy answer:  ADL’s.  I guess for those still working or confused, it’s what people do before and after work: read the paper, check Facebook, watch the news and then they cram in all the chores on the weekends; wash clothes, mow the lawn and clean house.  In the Health Care realm I’m sure they include things like social activities: exercise class, crafts and games.  I know that 5 ADL’s is a good standard and 7 about max.

In Thailand we include eating in the ADL count, because it always includes getting to the dining hall which is exercise, communicating what we want to eat which is social and educational, so that’s three ADL’s all by it’s self.  Since we do hand washing of our clothes each day (cuz we’ve a limited number in our self-imposed bike travel allowance) that’s another.

Some days there are added unexpected experiences such as figuring out how and where to get the flat tire on your scooter repaired. ($4 for the higher in-town price – includes the new tube). Fortunately we have a friend to visit where we get great stories about Thai social and cultural traditions and history.  He’s also great on practical things like explaining how to put minutes on your cell phone or where to replace the wind-shield visor on the scooter helmet ($1.75).

And of course there are the other mandatory ADL’s like blogging, studying Thai, texting back home (iMessage on the iOS system – free, fast and fun) and the occasional FaceTime (Apple’s Skype).  The guesthouse router is right above our porch table and has 6MB ups and down if you want to try it.