Deborah Oye:  

Life A little over 10 years ago, I retired from my job as a GED instructor at Tacoma Community College and moved to a new little cottage in Westport, WA! This was a huge process for me, as I had lived in the Puyallup/Tacoma area most of my life, overlooking Puget Sound for at least 28 of those years. I'd bought a large old (ca. 1908) Craftsman-style house in the north end of Tacoma in 1978. It had been made into an apartment house during WWII. After my divorce, I was the "onsite owner/manager" from 1993 through 2003, living in the largest 2nd floor unit which afforded me a view of Commencement Bay, the Olympic Mountains, and Mt. Baker. In July, I had a wonderful view of the Old Town fireworks. Work was just 5 minutes away. Life was good there, but in 2003 --after some unexpected health problems--I decided to make some major changes in my life. I left my job and sold my apartment house. For 2 years, I lived in Westport, less than a mile from the ocean and Grays Harbor Bay. I had a small cedar building constructed as an art studio, where I returned to working on a children's book and other projects. Early in 2005, I bought a home with acreage near Packwood, WA. Here, I was surrounded by mountain peaks...the Cascades, Tatoosh Range, and Mt. Rainier "up close and personal". Packwood had four distinct seasons, with constantly changing vistas... it was a most amazing adventure! Elk were regular visitors, and I had 2 calves that came right up to the back deck hoping for an apple treat. I tried to keep up with my arts and crafts projects and my other hobby...roasting coffee beans from all over the world. (Morning coffee might be Hawaiian Kona coffee, El Salvador organic, or Ethiopian Harar!) However, Narl --my partner--and I were busy doing research re new construction of large apartment complexes in 3 counties for a Seattle firm. Also, we built a 64' x 32' vegetable and flower garden and started a new venture raising 3 of the fastest-growing trees in the world. Retired??? If yo...Expand for more