Changes afoot...

 

Rather than the "Coordinators ' Corner, " which has been a part of our newsletter for a few years, our current Steering Committee agreed that members might be more interested in a shorter, more newsy article.

 

Another change is the addition, in each newsletter, of a member 's story of transition. Most of us seem to welcome learning about one another 's experiences. It helps us put our own transitions into perspective. (And I think it gives fellow members a better chance to know one another.)

 

If you 'd like to share your transition experience(s), please email a draft of your transition narrative - limited to 300 words if possible - to Membership Co-Chair Lynne Frimond  [email protected] 

  

Last, but hardly least, Chapter Co-Coordinator, Robin Sarkissian, has decided to step down for the foreseeable future. As someone closer to 50 than forward, Robin has contributed enthusiasm and many good ideas about serving the younger women in our chapter and reaching out to engage more of that age range in our community.

 

As partner Co-Coordinator, I offer my thanks and appreciation for Robin 's many contributions during the nine months of her tenure. ~ Rachel

My Transition Story 

New Mexico had us at " Welcome to Santa Fe!" We know it now. We heard that phrase less than a two-day drive away from southern California, at the beginning of what would become an 18-month, 30,000-mile Vagabond Tour of America, with my husband Bernie, our beloved old retriever Zoey and me packed into our small SUV.

We sold our family home of 30 years, retired a law practice, and put furniture and the family treasures into one POD storage container. We said goodbye to our three amazing children, our dear friends and set out for an adventure. We would experience so many awe-inspiring sights, but our true quest was to discover new "home." Free of most roles and responsibilities, it was time to re-pot ourselves in a new container. Time to get on with the third chapter of life. All that stuff.

A new friend recently said, "Santa Fe just calls you. If you're supposed to be here, she just calls you." After testing that first call with a return visit, we answered yes and moved here last September. We loved being here from day one. At the same time, we had many transitions. We didn't know a soul. We missed our children terribly. We missed our forever friends. This was real retirement, not an extended road trip. So, what's next and where do we start? Every aspect of ordinary day-to-day living was new, requiring exploration. If I wanted to meet anyone, I had to put myself "out there" by walking into a roomful of strangers and saying, "hi." Not easy to do for this introvert. Without all the familiar roles and comfortable guideposts, perhaps most surprisingly, it has often been a challenging period of asking "who am I?" or "who am I now?"