Retirement actually begins!

Hunter's first week of retirement began with a farewell party at John Deere, honoring his 36 years with the company. Laughter and lively chatter flowed from the conference room where many people gathered to wish him well in his next career: RETIREMENT! Hunter gladly explained that for him retirement was moving on to another purpose-driven mission: MMAP. It will also be a time of visiting family and creating more memories with children and grandchildren, as well as exploring the wonders of the United States.

With the farewells said and the computer and keys left at the office Hunter shut one door and opened another. The next several days were spent in Minnesota at a niece's wedding and a time with our children and his one and only (at the moment) grandchild.








(Good family photo but not complete without Steve!)

His first week of retirement ended with quite a "bang", or should we say a "whirlwind"-a 95 mph whirlwind! The night we returned from Minneapolis, the Quad Cities, especially Milan where we are staying, was hit with a monster storm. The National Weather Service called it a "derechos", which is spanish for direct or straight ahead. This is a rare severe weather event, known for its longevity, incredibly high-sustained wind speeds and fast-moving nature. We safely, but a bit nervously, rode it out in our 40,000 pound motorhome which rocked back and forth, like a "cradle in the treetops". Pelting rain on our roof accommpanied the wind to create quite a lively symphony. Sleep didn't come for hours. In the morning light we discovered a campground strewn with fallen trees, some on other RVs as well as vehicles. Thankfully we were parked on a cement slab "out in the open", which we bemoaned when we first arrived!
Hunter immediately joined the crew of volunteers who spent the next several days sawing and hauling away the debri. Our only problem was a lack of electricity but with a generator we were supplied with power when we needed it.


(Hunter is the one in the "New York tuxedo"!)

I end today with a quote I found in a magazine targeting the older population.
"Don't resist transition. Embrace the change-learn about the new "world" you're in and take advantage of it. You still bring to bear all your prior experience, but you're riding on another level. It is liberating. Now, everything you do, you do because you want to. The best is yet to come."