I retired from a job in public service four (4) years ago as the Planning Director for the small city of Hood River, Oregon located in the scenic Columbia River Gorge. I had spent most of my career here, twenty-eight (28) years with the City and another three (3) years with the county.
I was excited, nervous, and scared about this major life change, but most importantly, hidden below the surface, was the thought “What would I do?” I decided to travel for my first (1st) year in retirement and I toured all over the United States, Chicago, New York, Florida, Arizona, Minneapolis, Northern Michigan, and I even made a trip to Mexico. I created so many beautiful and lasting memories. I visited friends and family, saw Broadway Shows, magnificent art galleries, basked in the Mexican sun, walked the beautiful shores of Lake Michigan, and attended many music concerts, a particular passion of mine. The sounds of Fleetwood Mac, Bonnie Raitt, Earth, Wind and Fire, Chicago, Beach Boys, James Taylor, and others still play in my mind from time to time. I was enjoying a very good time. Someone who had retired a few years before I advised me, “Don’t wait to do everything you have ever wanted to do, because there is only so much time left.”
That first year in retirement was a beautiful escape from reality. But when I got home, there I was. The thought that I did not have much time left depressed me. What would I do, especially if time was of the essence? I did some soul searching and started me on a different trajectory in retirement, one that has been personally and spiritually fulfilling. I am happy, optimistic and I look forward to what a new day brings, something I could not always say when I was working in a full-time job.
I asked myself, what kind of person have I been in my life so far, and how could I be a better version of myself. That required an inventory and that was quite enlightening. I discovered that I could learn more about the qualities I yearned for by looking at people that I truly admired. The attributes that I admire most in people are honesty, humility, selflessness, and contentment. I had these in my life but I came to understand that I could manifest them to a greater degree and become a better version of who I aspired to be. So, whatever my journey in retirement might be, it should be filled with activities that manifest greater honesty, humility, selflessness, and contentment.
Now, where did I want to make this vision a reality? I truly love where I live, my small town, historic community, the cozy home I have created, the wonderful people who live here, and the warm and friendly social network I am part of here in Hood River. Hood River is located in the Columbia River Gorge, a stunningly beautiful natural and scenic area about an hour's drive east of Portland, Oregon.
So, I had two (2) pieces of the retirement puzzle put together, who I aspired to be and where I wanted to realize that future. That is all good but now what do I do that will make this a reality? Well, when I got quiet (I do it through meditation and a spiritual connection to a Power greater than myself) I was able to see possibility and it was not long before opportunities presented themselves.
First, a little background on Hood River. For much of its existence, Hood River was not well known. It was a quiet town on the Columbia River, an agricultural service center and lumber town on a railroad line that provided one of the few sea level crossings through the Cascade Mountain range. An eclectic group of ex-hippies began to discover its recreation potential and imparted a distinct and colorful character on the town many years ago. Its location on the river can be quite windy but those were ideal conditions for sailboarding (such as windsurfing and kiteboarding). In the years that followed, more people began to flood into the Columbia River Gorge and Hood River is at the center of it all. They were seeking adrenaline rushes with almost every type of recreation imaginable in this four (4) season scenic splendor. Sailboarding, skiing, hang gliding, whitewater rafting, mountain biking enthusiasts, to name a few, came to the Gorge and the recreation industry boomed.
The recreation industry was part of a larger tourism-oriented economy that grew up here. The fertile growing conditions for the large fruit orchards in the county helped the development of wineries and micro-distilleries. The historic town center of Hood River and other towns and the rich heritage of several, nearby Native American Tribal Nations brought in people looking for a cultural experience. And, of course, the many beautiful and scenic waterfalls in the Gorge attracted people far and wide.
Soon a noticeable schism developed between the people who called this place home and those that came to visit. An influx of wealthy people looking for a second (2nd) home outbid locals for housing. The average price of a house is too expensive for many local people to afford. The term, 'dark streets' came to signify the large number of second homes that were unoccupied most of the year and were dark at night. There was a painful awareness that there were the 'haves', those that could afford to live here and the 'have nots', those that were being pushed out.
Both agriculture and tourism require farm and service workers. Latinos represented over 32% of the population and they were some of the most affected. Most of them rented their homes and could be pushed out readily from their homes to more affluent people wanting their home or property. Another group of people affected was younger adults who were born and raised here. They, too, were hit hard especially by skyrocketing housing costs and wages that did not even allow for the rental of an apartment. My hometown since 1986 became a place of the haves and the have nots.
And this is where I began my search for something to do with my found vision. I knew I wanted to help those who were being left by the wayside with this new infusion of wealth (real estate and business, and tourist amenities). I knew that I had to be part of helping those who had been displaced by the changes. I also knew that I could not just give money away and use that to justify my ego. I wanted, I needed to do something much more 'hands-on'. The only way to help was to get to know the people affected, and their stories. What did they need?
I did not know the path forward exactly; it was more of an inside voice calling me in a direction. I got quiet and listened. I would make the discoveries I needed to make as I went along. My job was to start the journey. And so started the real story of my retirement, a life of service. It all started with a question, who am I? Little did I know at the time where it would take me or that this would become the most amazing journey of self-discovery.
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Next week - Thankful - Finding Grace. A retiree discovers that helping others teaches us a lot about ourselves.
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