My folks are still alive and well. My Dad just turned 80 in Jul. Mom is 78. They still are on the go constantly. An article was written abt them in a newspaper in Everett, WA abt how they don't hang around waiting till they need to be dusted off.
Couple leaves old age in the dust
By Linda Bryant Smith / Herald Columnist
R etirement comes with choices.Participate, stay active, explore, take risks.Or let the "tired" creep into retired, and life will slip by as you watch others "do."Bob Browne and his wife of 55 years, Denise, are among the seniors that do.He'll celebrate his 80th birthday in July. She's 77. Those are just numbers people attach to us, Bob Browne said. "Life is really 90 percent attitude, and we choose to feel young."Ski slopes in winter, kite festivals in the summer, swim aerobics, card games, trips with friends, model railroading events, travel in their motor home and myriad other activities are tracked on very busy his-and-hers calendars.As a boy, Browne said, "When it was wet outside, I played inside with trains. When it was windy outside, I played with kites." Snow was even better. It led to the ski slopes.He still plays with those toys."If you're halfway practiced and intent on what you're doing, you're really age neutral. I can be kid at any of these things," he said.Most often you'll find Denise Browne along for the fun, especially if reaching their destination involves a little RV travel. They share driving as they've shared so many tasks in life.The two met while in their 20s at a Seattle group for Catholic singles. For most of his career he was a research technician for the Boeing Co., and she was a stay-at-home mom busy with their seven children.An empty nest and retirement truly changed their lifestyle. Shortly before he left Boeing in 1988, she found a help-wanted ad in a magazine for a "maid and mechanic" to manage a condominium complex in Park City, Utah, a resort community.They left their home in Lynnwood, packed the motor home and the car, and began retirement in Park City. That adventure lasted about four months. It was too much work, Browne said, "We're retired, after all." Besides, the Utah ski slopes couldn't compare to the Cascades.They came home to the Pacific Northwest, their base camp ever since."I never get up without something to do that day. If it rains, I may change the list, but I'm always busy," he said.Both relish the new friendships they've made since retiring. "Most of our friends are 'mobile' ready to play ... if they're not, they don't last long," Denise Browne said frankly.On a trip to New Zealand they met members of the "One Ski in the Grave Club." Through those friendships, they were alerted to a gathering in Sun Valley, Idaho, of the Over the Hill gang.At Sun Valley they were given Over the Hill ribbons and instructed to introduce themselves to anyone else on the slopes or in the lodge wearing the ribbons. More new friends.That led to membership in a Portland, Ore., group, which evolved, into the Cascade Prime Timers. This 400-member organization has year-round activities that extend beyond ski gatherings. The Brownes attend the monthly meetings and look to this group for new adventures.In April, Denise Browne joined folks from that group for a bike and barge trip in the Netherlands. "At first I told them I'd probably just ride the barge and let them do the bike trips," she said.After a little coaxing from her friends, she bought a new helmet and freshened her bicycle skills at a workshop for seniors. Although she's had both hips replaced, she was game to keep up with her companions on and off the barge.Her husband stayed home, busy with model railroading and a series of open houses at Lake City at the North End Train Center.In June the Brownes will be back in their motor home heading off with a group to Lind in Eastern Washington for the annual Combine Demolition Derby. After that it's kite flying time along the coastal beaches and a trip to his favorite such event, the Long Beach Kite Festival.It makes sense that a man whose career focused on airplanes would be interested in other flying objects. Retirement has afforded him the time to reacquaint himself with this art form.He builds his own kites, some from kits and others from plans, such as one he did a year ago that was based on a century-old design by Samuel Cody. He's even taken a ribbon or two in competition for his kites and flying skill."There really isn't a 'fail' involved when you try something new like building and flying a kite. Some things are just less successful than others, but you always learn a thing or two in the process," he said.That philosophy ... no such thing as failure, just a chance to learn ... has kept life interesting for both.A year ago they sold their home in Lynnwood and moved into a rental house in the Shoreline area. In between adventures, they're trying to downsize by getting rid of the clutter that came along with them as they moved.Still, an RV trip with friends or almost any other shared excursion will usually come first.I've interviewed a lot of elderly people through the years. Most often it was the things they did not do that caused the most regret. Trips not taken. Friendships not pursued. A chance to learn something new ignored because the risk seemed too great.Regrets for opportunities missed don't always fade from memory.Denise and Bob Browne's choices ensure their memories won't include such regrets.
By Linda Bryant Smith / Herald Columnist
R etirement comes with choices.Participate, stay active, explore, take risks.Or let the "tired" creep into retired, and life will slip by as you watch others "do."Bob Browne and his wife of 55 years, Denise, are among the seniors that do.He'll celebrate his 80th birthday in July. She's 77. Those are just numbers people attach to us, Bob Browne said. "Life is really 90 percent attitude, and we choose to feel young."Ski slopes in winter, kite festivals in the summer, swim aerobics, card games, trips with friends, model railroading events, travel in their motor home and myriad other activities are tracked on very busy his-and-hers calendars.As a boy, Browne said, "When it was wet outside, I played inside with trains. When it was windy outside, I played with kites." Snow was even better. It led to the ski slopes.He still plays with those toys."If you're halfway practiced and intent on what you're doing, you're really age neutral. I can be kid at any of these things," he said.Most often you'll find Denise Browne along for the fun, especially if reaching their destination involves a little RV travel. They share driving as they've shared so many tasks in life.The two met while in their 20s at a Seattle group for Catholic singles. For most of his career he was a research technician for the Boeing Co., and she was a stay-at-home mom busy with their seven children.An empty nest and retirement truly changed their lifestyle. Shortly before he left Boeing in 1988, she found a help-wanted ad in a magazine for a "maid and mechanic" to manage a condominium complex in Park City, Utah, a resort community.They left their home in Lynnwood, packed the motor home and the car, and began retirement in Park City. That adventure lasted about four months. It was too much work, Browne said, "We're retired, after all." Besides, the Utah ski slopes couldn't compare to the Cascades.They came home to the Pacific Northwest, their base camp ever since."I never get up without something to do that day. If it rains, I may change the list, but I'm always busy," he said.Both relish the new friendships they've made since retiring. "Most of our friends are 'mobile' ready to play ... if they're not, they don't last long," Denise Browne said frankly.On a trip to New Zealand they met members of the "One Ski in the Grave Club." Through those friendships, they were alerted to a gathering in Sun Valley, Idaho, of the Over the Hill gang.At Sun Valley they were given Over the Hill ribbons and instructed to introduce themselves to anyone else on the slopes or in the lodge wearing the ribbons. More new friends.That led to membership in a Portland, Ore., group, which evolved, into the Cascade Prime Timers. This 400-member organization has year-round activities that extend beyond ski gatherings. The Brownes attend the monthly meetings and look to this group for new adventures.In April, Denise Browne joined folks from that group for a bike and barge trip in the Netherlands. "At first I told them I'd probably just ride the barge and let them do the bike trips," she said.After a little coaxing from her friends, she bought a new helmet and freshened her bicycle skills at a workshop for seniors. Although she's had both hips replaced, she was game to keep up with her companions on and off the barge.Her husband stayed home, busy with model railroading and a series of open houses at Lake City at the North End Train Center.In June the Brownes will be back in their motor home heading off with a group to Lind in Eastern Washington for the annual Combine Demolition Derby. After that it's kite flying time along the coastal beaches and a trip to his favorite such event, the Long Beach Kite Festival.It makes sense that a man whose career focused on airplanes would be interested in other flying objects. Retirement has afforded him the time to reacquaint himself with this art form.He builds his own kites, some from kits and others from plans, such as one he did a year ago that was based on a century-old design by Samuel Cody. He's even taken a ribbon or two in competition for his kites and flying skill."There really isn't a 'fail' involved when you try something new like building and flying a kite. Some things are just less successful than others, but you always learn a thing or two in the process," he said.That philosophy ... no such thing as failure, just a chance to learn ... has kept life interesting for both.A year ago they sold their home in Lynnwood and moved into a rental house in the Shoreline area. In between adventures, they're trying to downsize by getting rid of the clutter that came along with them as they moved.Still, an RV trip with friends or almost any other shared excursion will usually come first.I've interviewed a lot of elderly people through the years. Most often it was the things they did not do that caused the most regret. Trips not taken. Friendships not pursued. A chance to learn something new ignored because the risk seemed too great.Regrets for opportunities missed don't always fade from memory.Denise and Bob Browne's choices ensure their memories won't include such regrets.
Since this was in the paper in May 07, they have moved out of the rented house and into a one story rented apartment. The one story is a huge thing for those with knee & hip issues. This is the latest in their DOWNSIZING and it's been hard to decide what to keep, what to throw and what to give away - yet not compromise their normal living arrangements. Their 10 year old 30' Storm motorhome might have seen it's last trip to the beach as their rig. They are considering selling it as once you turn 80 the vehicle insurance skyrockets. Their travels won't stop, just how they travel will. As Mom says, "there are always places to rent to lay your head down." I'll miss their trips via the motorhome, but I'm not going to have to worry abt Mom driving the rig anymore. She is a good driver mind you. It's just less of a worry that's all.
Wow Karen! What an inspiration there two are. I'm going to try to be more like them. They sound like such fun people.
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