In the time of retirement I feel good to enjoy a comforting life.  I just  thought about that at all and I constantly seek to improve my life with some work and interests. 
 
First,I have the gift for language.  My concern of life lies with my thought to boost my brain power. Valuing the language of a culture is the culture. I exemplify this in my focus on English now on. People are surprised at my English eccent and fluency.
 
When I was young I studied English that was on an ordinary level.   At the time after I was enrolled as a college student in China in 1950s, I studied Russian.  China changed over to English in schools in late 1960s.  Today, I have grasped the rudiments of English language as well as French and Russian to a limited degree.  I know that command of the English language is better than other languages.

Second, it is good to have the conditions for a senior involved in some sort of physical activity; I go bowling in a gymnasium nearby everyday.  It's important for me, a senior citizen, to remain active to help me stay in good health.  Most countries in the world are dealing with an aging population, and if these countries can promote exercising activities for their seniors, that's a good thing. 
 
Third, I am doing well and enjoying life. My reminiscences of my visits to foreign countries were so fascinating that I made friends. I have communicated with two America friends for years. We keep informed each other in good spirits. They visited Beijing once or more I hosted them before. I hope to see them again in the rest of my life. Our friendships multiply joys. 

Now on the Beijing city develops:  Traffics in Beijing are more convenient as the Subway Line 5 is just 100 meters close to my complex.  More restaurants nearby, big or small, have been set up and they offer delicious food at reasonable price.  Now I enjoy delicious lunch out every day. The other day I and my family enjoyed a good lunch in the neighboring restaurant spending just 75 yuan. (see the pictures of the dishes attached ). The price of the roast duck set including fine-cut cucumber bars and shallot bars, sheet cake (a thin pancake) a dish of paste-like soy of fermented wheat flour is 60 yuan in this Restaurant. The four dishes we ate there, Sichuan-styled shredded pork, black fungus, a dish of various kinds of mushrooms and steamed rice flour pork slices with white buns cost 75 yuan in all.  Today I ate a simple lunch of the noodles with soybean paste and a big Stewed Pork Ball in Brown Sauce that costs me just 11 yuan (The rate of RMB converted into U.S. dollar is  6.82 yuan - 1  U.S.dollar). Is that reasonable?

 Sichuan styled shredded pork

dish of various mushrooms

-----------------------------------------
Dear Yun Kun,
 
Thank you for the mention of your happy memories of our visit. I have the same for the days when you were here, and we had so many good times of eating, celebrating, visiting with interesting contacts of yours.

The food opportunities you describe tantalize me. I recently read a book called The Last Chinese Chef in which many elaborate dishes were described. The main character was competing for an honor with top chefs and there was much information about the philosophy and artistry of Chinese cuisine. It was believable to me because of my experiences there. Most tourists don't know anything about this, as they eat in the most mundane, government approved tourist restaurants. That is a shame, but I am so happy that our experience included the most fascinating, delicious food on earth!
 
Carol