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Posted on: Jun 28, 2025 at 1:33 AM
Posted on: Jun 09, 2025 at 6:28 PM
I just updated my contact info since a year ago we moved to Independent Living a half hour from our home of 46 years.
After graduation from Med School, Martha and I traveled around the world with three months at a mission hospital in Nepal.
When I started at Monroe Medical Center in 1978, we moved to a 1400 sq ft. home on 16 acres east of Monroe. We doubled the size of the house, built a barn and 10 years ago added a 1000 square-foot extension to the south end of the barn for solar panels and a shop. We had sheep and llamas. Both sons did sheep 4-H and were on multiple soccer teams.
At one point we had 15 ewes and 25 lambs. We had a succession of dogs and cats. We also had llamas, alpacas, goats and chickens. We had a large garden and had a stir fry of greens and fresh eggs daily. For several years, I had 25+ tomato plants and enjoyed fresh tomatoes and froze many to have on Martha’s bread with the stir fry.
It was enjoyable until a few years ago. For example, I maintained the pool primarily for the grandchildren, which was great during the heat dome. But as they’ve gotten older, being at the farm is not as much fun. They have other interests.
The home maintenance was an enjoyable challenge and learning opportunity but became burdensome. And the gardening no longer gave Martha joy. For five years I had increasing difficulty with some chores and stopped getting up on ladders because I had seen too many life-changing injuries from falls.
We moved to independent living while we were still able to experience new adventures and relationships. I thought I would have regrets, but it was definitely the right move for me. I have not worried about our well or thought about moles or home maintenance since moving here.
There is a 1 mile mostly forested trail within the 35-acre property that is maintained by a resident “trail crew”.
There are many wonderful people, lots of activities and outings. I am able to go to the gym every day and swim on a regular basis. As I tell people, it’s like being on a cruise.
Posted on: Jun 09, 2025 at 5:55 PM
Does anyone remember Sly and the Family Tone at the Cinamon Tree in San Carlos??
Sly Stone, Influential Maestro of Multifaceted Band, Dies at 82
Leading Sly and the Family Stone, he helped redefine the landscape of pop, funk and rock in the 1960s and early ’70s
Happy Birthday Tom, Hope it’s a special day.
Hi sue. Have a great birthday and a happy new year! Thank you for all that you've done for us!
hi Gordon,
I hope you are well. We are starting our seventh months in independent living and it’s a relief to not have to do any home maintenance, worrying about the well and the septic system and home repairs.
Have you retired from real estate?
Hans
PS.I don’t think they called it the day of infamy because it was your birthday.
Hallo Janlyn,
Toen wij in Carlmont waren was jij Jan Gerbrans?
Ik heb 45 jaar in Monroe, Washington gewoond, anderhalf Uur van Bellingham.
Hi Tim,
I appreciate your FB posts.
Although you probably resist labeling, I get the sense that you are a libertarian.
Warning: This is a note about a High School memory that I am sharing, but it could be seen as obliquely political.
On Facebook, Timothy Browne noted that a vice presidential candidate suggested that people without children should pay higher taxes and wrote an eloquent post that referenced Flaubert.
I replied with: Hans Dankers
Well, said Tim,
Though I am not a childless cat lady, I do recall, Mr. Fasman accusing you of plagiarism when you wrote about a transmogrifying bee in a context I cannot quite recall.
Then, feeling slighted, you countered with a soliloquy, including playing the trumpet.
I don’t recall Mr. Fasman‘s response, but you acquitted yourself well.
By the way, I thought, Mr. Fasman and Mr. Border were excellent teachers.
Be well, Hans
Posted on: May 27, 2024 at 6:50 AM
Remembering our classmates, who made the ultimate sacrifice this Memorial Day!
Posted on: Feb 03, 2024 at 4:52 PM
Happy birthday, Diane.
You are always so consistent wishing people a happy, birthday, so we gladly return the favor.