Information and Inspiration for the Solo Retirement Community
Sherry
Sherry L. Christensen is a retired high school teacher. She designed and built this blog site to inform and inspire others in an effort to build a community of solo retirees. You can reach her at livingliferetired16@gmail.com.
Reading the Bible with Grandchildren in 2020, Photo by nro
According to their website, “Since 2012, Generations United has spearheaded an annual campaign to encourage all generations to Do Something Grand and engage with another generation on Grandparents Day. As our society opens back up, our theme this year is a question: How will you look at connecting generations differently this Grandparents Day?” While some may celebrate a happy grandparents day with another generation today, others may not.
Since 2001, the number of grandparents has grown by 24 percent (56 million to 70 million). By age 65, almost all (96%) are grandparents.
In 2030, one in every five residents will be age 65 — increasing the number of grandparents even more.
The youngest grandparents are about 38 years of age, with the average age at first grandchild being 50 (an increase of two years since 2011).
Most grandparents have, on average, four to five grandchildren, and, by 2030, more than 70 percent of the U.S. 8-year-olds will have a living great-grandparent.
Grandparents spend an average of $2,562 annually on their grandchildren, totaling $179 billion per year.
Over half of grandparents consider themselves a source of wisdom and provide a moral compass on issues such as education, morals, and values.
Grandparents take care of their grandchildren by babysitting, with one in ten living in the same household with their grandchildren, and 5 percent of those being the primary caregiver.
Distance is the biggest barrier to seeing grandchildren. Over half of grandparents have at least one grandchild who lives more than 200 miles away, and about a third live more than 50 miles from their closest grandchild.
A majority of grandparents agree that relationships with grandchildren nourish their mental and social well-being, as well as their physical well-being.
While it may be taking two years to get my she shed ready for personal writing retreats, the welcome and unwelcome signs are now in use.
Custom sign from Etsy, Photo by slc
Welcome Sign
I ordered a custom metal sign from Etsy for Sherry’s She Shed. Since wildflowers are one of my most favorite gifts from God, I searched for a sign with beautiful flora. I applied a coat of spar urethane to protect it from the elements. After I installed the sign this week, I came across some of the old cabin cabinet doors. So I fashioned a wooden sign holder out of the cabinet door just to bring some of the original character of the 1938 cabin to the new shed.
Bear mat sign in shed window, Photo by slc
Unwelcome Sign
I also constructed two bear unwelcome mats this week. Over the years I have watched several tv shows about living and surviving in the wilderness. Alaska: The Last Frontier, The Last Alaskans and Mountain Men are my favorites. The brave individuals in these shows use bear mats at their remote cabin properties. Bear mats are made of plywood and nails. The bigger the bear the bigger the nails. While we don’t have grizzly bears in Colorado we do have black bears. A couple of years ago, I encountered a black bear about 30 yards from my property and last year one left me an unwelcome sign, bear scat.
Homemade bear mats, Photo by slc
To make the bear mats, I used ugly shelving from my home (that’s why there is vinyl flooring on them). After researching the making of bear mats on the Colorado Parks and Wildlife website, I purchased 2” nails. Nailing them on the board every 2” provides enough pain to get the bear to not pursue what’s behind the window of my shed, but they don’t hurt the bear. They are secured in place with rebar so a bear can not just move them out of the way. When using bear unwelcome mats you need to post a warning they are in use.
Unwanted visit
While I was working on touching up paint around the newly installed window, I encountered an unwanted visit. My most dreaded wildlife…a snake! It slithered from under my she shed, right under the doorway. This snake was long and I didn’t know what to do except wait to see it’s tail. In my mind at the time, if the snake had rattles, I would react differently than if it didn’t. Luckily for me, and for the snake, it did not have rattles. I think it just wanted to see what I was doing.
Western Terrestrial Garter Snake, Photo by slc
Luckily I saw it before it could go in the open doorway. I quickly decided it was probably a good thing to have a snake on the property to keep mice and voles in check. I sent a photo to the Colorado Department of Natural Resources and they identified the snake as a Western Terrestrial garter snake. They said it is harmless. Later, after researching online I learned that killing a snake, other than a rattlesnake, in Colorado is prohibited.
I enjoy learning survival techniques as I love the adventure, but I don’t enjoy feeling fearful. Preparation assists in having a more enjoyable experience. So come by for a visit. Everyone, except bears and mountain lions, are welcome.
What can fly backwards, has wings that beat up to 80 times per second, has the smallest eggs in the world, can fly from full speed to an instant stop and built a nest on my front porch? If you guessed a hummingbird, you are correct. A beautiful momma (the way my daughter spelled it when she was a little girl) hummingbird wove an intricate nest on the wind chime on my front porch. It was a tiny gift which delighted and brightened my spirit each morning while I prepped and stained my house.
Momma hummingbird in nest, Photo by slc
Norma K. wrote in a blog post at Woot & Hammy, “Hummingbirds, in their seemingly carefree and happy flight, remind us to live in the moment and enjoy life’s simple pleasures. Also, because they often seem to appear out of nowhere, they remind us that joy is unpredictable and can often be just around the corner.”
Devoted, momma sat on her nest and only left the nest to eat. I gave her plenty of space for a couple of weeks so I did not scare her away. Then, she allowed me to work staining pretty close to her nest once. She was becoming used to me. I began posting photos on Facebook of the two baby hummingbirds after they hatched. They were a tiny gift; smaller than a dime at first.
Newborn hummingbird, Photo by slc
I chronicled their growth via photos. A bench in the entryway allowed me to get up to their level without much interruption.
Toddlers, Photo by slc
Teenagers, Photo by slc
Then it was time for them to leave their overcrowded nest. The larger of the two took the courageous attempt of flight first. Unbelievably I was there to witness and capture it on video.
My cousin Kevin commented in a post that it must be a sign when he saw the hummingbird photos on Facebook. So I looked it up. Norma K. reports, “Hummingbirds have a long history of folklore and symbolism in native cultures. The Aztecs saw them as messengers between them and their ancestors or the gods. In Native American culture, hummingbirds are seen as healers and bringers of love, good luck and joy. In Central America, they are a sign of love and will bring love to the person who spots them. While there is no direct mention of hummingbirds in the Bible, they are sometimes considered to be a messenger from Heaven, gently nudging us to move on and release the burden of people or things that have passed and can no longer be a part of our lives. Some people also see them as signs from Angels, reminding us to follow what makes us happy and to enjoy the present moment.”
Two days later, the smaller baby bird took its chance at flight but with not as much grace as his sibling. He feel to the ground, gathered his composure and tried again. He made it out to my birdbath where he could bask in the sun. Then another unbelievable thing happened. Momma came back. She affectionately greeted her young child.
Not believing what I had witnessed over the last several weeks, I couldn’t help but to look back at the little woven home perched on the wind chime. It was now an empty nest. While I was sad to be an empty nester, literally, again, I was also thankful for the beautiful and tiny gift I was given.
What do hummingbirds symbolize to you?
…hummingbirds are a reminder that our happiness lies within us.
Norma K.
Footnotes: Today, while sitting on my deck reading Louise Penny’s A Rule Against Murder, a hummingbird came out of nowhere buzzing right up to my face as if to say hello before flying off. I wonder if it was one of “my” baby hummingbirds? I want to think so.
(Note: This blog post was originally written in 2020 but I forgot to publish it. I found it recently. Sorry about that!)
It is early Sunday morning and I’m driving alone down the paved highway to my Twin Sisters Peak hiking destination near Estes Park, Colorado. It is also my 62nd birthday. Suddenly the concrete path in front of me reminds me of my long solo drive to Iowa for my father’s funeral back in 2013. My dad would have been 88 today; I shared his birthday. We shared many birthday memories including separate birthday cakes, meals at the Amana Colonies and many birthday phone calls, including our last birthday call before his passing.
Today, in my side pocket of my hiking pants is the once gold plated pocket watch I gave my dad when I was 18 or 19 years old. Engraved with an “O” on the outside and the words, “To Dad With Love,” on the inside, it was a special gift.
Dad’s pocket watch I inherited, Photo by slc
When I was a little girl growing up on the farm, my dad wore a pocket watch tied with a shoelace instead of a chain. The other end of the shoelace was fastened with a safety pin to a front pocket in his blue striped overalls. Often times he broke the glass face so I purchased a watch with a cover like a locket. The watch came with a chain and a small pocket knife attached.
Close up of dad’s pocket watch near trail (see photo below), Photo by slc
After retiring from farming full time, my dad moved to a small home in Palo, Iowa. Within a few short years, the 2008 Cedar River flood displaced him from his home. During the clean up phase of reconstructing my dad’s house, the treasured pocket watch was found. It survived but now wears a yellow tinged face.
I toted dad’s pocket watch throughout my hike today, rubbing it once in awhile for good luck and to remind me of dad. I loved sharing my birthday with dad and today I shared my hike with him; he loved Colorado. Since his passing in 2013, my birthdays have been bittersweet. This year I wanted my birthday memories to be happy and they were. Happy birthday dad, with love!
Dad’s pocket watch is in the grass at bottom of photo, Photo by slc
It has been nearly two years since I began my she shed project at my mountain cabin property. The she shed structure’s progress has encountered several road blocks along the way. That first summer it took several months, instead of days, to improve the build site and complete the custom designed Tuff Shed properly. Last fall, improvements to Sherry’s She Shed were halted due to the Cameron Peak wildfire evacuation. Then, winter set in. Now, I’m back at it with some help and the she shed structure’s (say that three times fast) progressing again.
Adding a window view, Photo by slc
I recently hired a family friend and master carpenter, Matt Tanner, to install a window I purchased at Home Depot last fall. I asked him to install it with the bottom sill about 32″ from the floor so my desk can sit right underneath it. Matt also added 2″ x 4″ bracing around the small windows on two sides of the shed. Little did I know at the time, but I saved a ton of money since I purchased the materials last fall. Building materials are now outrageously expensive.
Added 2×4 window blocking, Photo by slc
Once Matt finished installing the window and bracing, I was able to complete the insulation installation. Finally, the she shed structure’s progressing and now it has a window view.
New She Shed Structure with a Window View, Photo by slc
Window View, Photo by slc
Neighbor’s Rubbish Pile, Photo by slc
P.S. A hiccup I’m dealing with now is the neighbor’s new rubbish pile on their property but is also near the entrance to mine:
Traveling solo has been around for years. Many articles and books have been written about it. Tour companies cater to the solo traveler. Senior solo travel expert Janice Waugh of Solo Traveler World “…estimates that probably 75 percent of solo-traveling seniors opt for a tour, but there are certainly some who choose to explore completely independently. ‘I think that as long as you’re fit and healthy and adventurous, then it works well,’ Waugh says. ‘Those who go independently, it’s very interesting to see the response of the world to them. It’s very welcoming.'”*
Cyndy Miller-Hughes and Van-Geaux
Cyndy Miller-Hughes, a friend and former colleague of mine, retired in 2018 after 32 years as an educator. She has been traveling independently since. I met up with her recently to examine her “new” way of traveling solo in Van-Geaux.
Sherry: What were you most looking forward to in retirement?
Cyndy: Travel
Sherry: I understand you purchased a small van for traveling. Why this particular van?
Cyndy: It is just the right size, drives like a car, and has everything I need.
Sherry: Did you have it customized?
Cyndy: It was built out by Cascade Campers in Nevada City, California.
Sherry: Does it have a name?
Cyndy: Van-Geaux…I went to grad school at LSU…Geaux Tigers!
Sing, sing a song Make it simple to last Your whole life long Don’t worry that it’s not Good enough for anyone Else to hear Just sing, sing a song
Sung by The Carpenters, 1973
Over the past year, I have been reading a series of books by Samuel Dickey “S.D.” Gordon. “In the early 1900’s, Gordon was a widely traveled speaker in high demand. A prolific author, he wrote more than 25 devotional books, most with the phrase ‘Quiet Talks’ in the title.” Currently, Quiet Talks on Service has been my morning page turner. When I read the following passages recently, they reminded me of the song by The Carpenters. I think they go hand in hand in today’s crazy world where many, including me, have felt anxious or worried more than ever. The following are Gordon’s words from over a hundred years ago. I hope they speak to you as they did to me….
Anxious for Nothing.
“In Philippians, chapter four, verses six and seven, are the words that contain the rules: ‘In nothing be anxious; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.'”
“The first rule is this, anxious for nothing. In other words, don’t worry. Deliberately refuse to think about annoying things. Set yourself against being disturbed by disturbing things. Say to yourself, it is useless, it has bad results, it is sinful, it is reproaching my Master, I won’t. That is the first simple rule.”
Thankful for Anything.
“The second helps to carry out the first. It is this, thankful for anything. Thanksgiving and praise are always associated with singing. When you feel the worry mood creeping on–it is a mood that attacks you–when it comes sing something, especially something with Jesus’ name in it. These temptations to worry are from the Evil One. He can come in only through an open door. Remember that. Yet the open doors seem plenty. Even when we trustingly and resolutely keep every door of evil shut the circle in which we move will open doors upon us. Singing something with Jesus’ name in it sends him or any of his brood off quickly.”
“Some one asked me if whistling would do. She was a busy housewife and said that was her rule. I have gone to singing myself. But maybe whistling is just as good. I’m inclined to favor giving it a place within the range of this rule.”
“There’s a bit of deep, simple philosophy here. Music is divine. There is no music in the headquarters of the enemy. He has used it a great deal on the earth. That’s a bit of his cunning. But he always has to steal it from God’s sphere, and work it over to suit his own crafty purposes. Music, singing, is an open doorway for the Spirit of God to come in, and come in anew and move freely. Its sweet harmonies found their birth in the presence of God where sweetest harmonies reign. Lovers of music should be lovers of God, for He is the one great Master-musician.”
“We should use the musician more in our days of battle. And God has wonderfully provided every one of us with a music-box of sweet melodies. If we would only open the lid, and let frequent use wear off the rust, and sing His praise more. In music God speaks to us anew with great power. This is the second rule, thankful for anything.”
Prayerful about Everything
“The third rule helps to make both first and second effective. These three are closely interwoven.”
“There’s a morning coming, always a morning coming, with the sunshine and the chorus of the birds. Love’s discipling touch that seems at the moment like anger is only for a moment. The loving favor is for always, a lifetime of eternal life.”
“Again David says, ‘Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and He shall sustain thee.'”
“…if a thing is big enough to concern you, it is not too small for Him ‘because He has you on His heart.’ For your sake He is eager to help in anything, however small in itself it may seem.”
“Peace is the gentle even flowing of the river. Joy is where the waters go bubbling, leaping with ecstatic bound, and forever after, as they go on, making the channel deeper for the quiet flow of peace.”
“These three rules really mean living ever in that Master’s presence. When we realize that He is ever alongside then it will be easier to be anxious for nothing, thankful for anything, prayerful about everything.”
