My husband Shawn retired from healthcare finance after 30 years on Monday. Yes, two days ago. I was able to retire about two years ago after a 35-year career in nursing. So now, we find ourselves in our newest stage in our marriage. We started with raising kids in a somewhat blended family. (My oldest was married with children; youngest was headed to college a month or so after we got married. His two were 13 and 15 years old.) That was stage 1.
Stage 2 for us was the empty nesting, which, due to Covid, came and went and as it turns out, came back again. Raising children is wonderful; for those of you who haven’t experienced it, empty nesting can be that way, too! While we were empty nesting, my younger son came home from college and married his sweetheart, and our family kept growing.
After that we experienced aging parents, stage 3. My mother and father became chronically ill in 2019. My sister and I had flexible schedules within our careers by that time. We spent much of the next few years with them, ensuring their well-being and upholding their biggest wish, which was to stay in their forever home that they built together in 1983, until the end. It was both heartbreaking and beautiful. More to come on this, as I am writing a book to share our story.
I retired during that period of time, twice. Also during that time, we set up house in an apartment in Reno, Nevada, away from our home in California, as my husband had accepted a role as the CFO of a hospital in a neighboring town. I guess this would be our stage 4. I was able to travel back in forth to continue to care for my parents, spend time with our children and grandchildren, and be with him. My younger son and his wife had a baby just before my father died. Again, a heartbreaking and beautiful period of time.
Reno has been amazing for us. We love the neighborhood we live in, with walking trails, lovely restaurants and a short drive away from skiing in Lake Tahoe. It’s been a little honeymoon for us.
So now, we find ourselves in stage 5, retired, empty nesters, and excited that we are here. We want to expand our minds by reading and traveling and getting to know people around the world, spend time outdoors every day possible, focus on family, spiritual and personal growth, fitness, health and nutrition, and so much more. This stage 5 in our lives is the backdrop for the content of this blog. I hope you enjoy it!