#FollowTheSun Update: Waking Up Later
Liz and I both agreed that we needed to get up a bit later starting last week because we both got hit with the same cold at the same time and the sun is rising after 0630 these days. It's still quite dark during morning twilight.
For now, wake up time is at 0630, but we still do lights out at 2045 which means we have to use lamps after sunset until lights out. Given that I often get home from work at 1900 or after, we need that time to get dinner together and eat it.
We switched the lamp next to Liz's side of the bed with something that produces softer light. 60-watt incandescents feel much too bright around lights-out time. We keep the lamps on long enough to light some candles and for Liz to take care of her contact lenses.
I've had a night or two where I am getting up in the middle of the night because we are sleeping with the windows open as much as we can and the allergens are coming to get me. So I get up and blow my nose and sometimes I get to thinking about things and that keeps me up. If I am desperate I cheat with the screens long enough to put on some audio that will help me to think less. An audiobook or youtube does the trick.
Hunting around for things in the dark is a real challenge. My memory for where things are is quite good. I'll even remember the position of a glass of water on the dinner table if I sit down in the pitch black. I surprise myself sometimes.
That being said, there are times I simply haven't noted the location of something and I have to grope for it. Like that one time I was groping on the drying mat next to the sink. I groped and felt the rough shape of my chef's knife. I moved it into the knife block and decided I better not grope around that drying mat anymore. I can't even remember what I was after.
Another thing I have observed: Just forget about trying to figure out what color anything is until sunrise. It's not happening unless you take it outside during the late part of morning twilight.
I have learned to keep my pajamas by the bedside. It's still quite warm at lights-out and doesn't get cool until the middle of the night and I deal with this by shedding and adding layers.
Layering: It's good for hiking and good for sleeping.