These are the saddest words in the English language — I spent time with a friend recently who is 84. She is vibrant, brilliant, active, and wickedly funny. She has traveled all over the world. She is a renowned ceramics artist, a professor, and an activist. She lives in a gorgeous Craftsman-style home, still drives her own car, has a…

We humans are a little weird — When I was coming of age in the early 80s, beginning my life of homeownership and parenthood, the goal was always to trade up for bigger and better. Everyone we knew was on the same path; buy a house, keep it for a while, sell it, buy a bigger one…

It can be hard to let go of all the stuff, but it gets easier the older I get — Nostalgia is defined as “a sentimental longing or wistful affection for the past.” This can manifest itself in many ways, but one of the ways my husband and I are experiencing it is in sorting a lifetime — actually several lifetimes — of stuff. My husband’s mother died last month…

I should have suggested he retire a long time ago — I have written before about how terrifying my husband’s driving is. I get a lot of comments on that one which tells me I am not alone. A lot of women have to deal with sitting in the passenger seat and either bloodying their tongue to keep from starting an…

Finding reasons to keep on living — The most valuable possession you can own is an open heart. The most powerful weapon you can be is an instrument of peace. — Carlos Santana The past weeks have been difficult for all of us. I don’t need to recap all the awful things that are happening every day…

I use this time to reorient myself to what’s important — When we board the ferry we feel our shoulders relax. We are making a crossing that is familiar but never ceases to work its magic on us. As we cross the inlet to an uninhabited island that will be our home for the next 5 days, we breathe easier. …

There are no Mondays anymore! — I know my husband is grateful beyond words that he doesn’t have to face Monday morning traffic anymore. He always hated Mondays, and now, every day is Saturday, so there are no more Mondays to dread. But what I am finding is that retirement also brings a feeling like the…

Learning as we go how to do this retirement thing. — My husband retired a couple of weeks ago and we are on a steep learning curve. The advantage we have is that we have a strong marriage and are in alignment on the most important things in life. …

It’s hard for a hugger to understand — I am a hugger. I know just reading that will make non-huggers cringe. Somehow, I seem to have accumulated a lot of friends who are hug-averse and after spending the weekend with some of them, I have had to work through my feelings about being unable to connect with them…