In last year’s letter, we lamented our difficulties finding time to both travel and look for a new home for our retirement.  In 2023, travel won out.  Another year has passed. We did less traveling in 2024, but aren’t much closer to a future home.  The good news, our health is still sound, so it’s not an emergency.  But home hunting needs to gain our focus in 2025.

We traveled some.  We started the year with 3 weeks on the Big Island of Hawaii with Rich’s cousins Kathy, Susan and Murray.  We were all scheduled to sit in the row with the famous disappearing door plug.  That event cancelled our outbound flight and we survived by changing airlines.  On several days extremely high surf warnings closed beaches and sent the surf’s spray up 3 stories to our lanai.  But we enjoyed many beach walks, a hike around part of the volcano in Kileaua National Park, and of course, basking in the sun while it snowed in Seattle!  The sunsets are often spectacular, especially when observed with a passion fruit mai tai.

Late April we flew to Chicago to visit Susan’s brother Alan and family, hoping to watch nieces Brooke play league volleyball and Caitlin in her last La Crosse game.  We took a side trip drive to Evansville to enjoy time with Susan’s brother Steve and Lita who were visiting after moving last year to the Philippines.  We returned to Evansville in late July for Susan’s annual family summer reunion, and will return again this month for family Christmas events.

Early June brought Susan’s sister Louise and Bob to Seattle/Tacoma to see us and their daughter Sara graduate from Seattle U.  Wine tasting, Mariners Baseball and a graduation party rounded out the fun!

A visit from Rich’s brother Ron and family was scheduled in July following their Alaska Cruise.  They spent a day with us prior to their boarding, but they contracted COVID on board and bypassed us on their return.  Their daughter Erin and her fiancée, Arjun, drove from Oakland to join them at our house. Instead, they stayed with us while her parents quarantined in her Oakland apartment before flying home.  We really enjoyed our time with both of them.

Early October brought 18 of our close friends together for 4 days to celebrate each other and our many years of friendship.  We stayed in an amazing cabin near Easton on the east slopes of the Cascade mountains that divide Washington.  We filled our time with walks, games, tons of food and side trips to small towns Roslyn and Cle Elum.

Last year we started a new monthly tradition of Lunch and Game Day with Rich’s cousins Kathy and Natalie.  Besides enjoying the food, the goal is to try to beat Rich at whichever game we play. And that’s not easy!

We had the privilege of joining Keith and Sandi at numerous Sounders matches (MLS soccer).  This year, we watched a lot of games in the rain. But an exciting win makes the wet clothes worth it.

Susan continues her involvement in a scripture study group, a Children’s Hospital guild, monthly book club meetings, sewing projects and morning walks.  Rich still has several financial planning clients, as well as managing our own investments.  After 20 years, his beloved Taurus station wagon developed serious transmission problems, and was sold.  We are now researching for a new replacement, and deciding to EV or not EV.

2024 passed incredibly fast. Yard and house maintenance, and attempting to downsize our possessions, consumed much of our time.  Lost was more time with friends, relaxing sunset dinners on our deck, and more travel opportunities.  Other than being too busy, we are doing well, and looking forward to more senior adventures in 2025.

May Christmas bring much joy and peace to your heart and home! We are grateful for the blessings of family and friends and the memories made in 2024.  We look forward to hearing from you.

Wishing you a happy, healthy and safe 2025.

Rich and Susan