NEXT MEETING: March 1, 2019

A place to stretch out

Bridge Storage and ArtSpace has been in the self-storage business for nearly twenty years. Jeff Wright, the founder, will introduce us to the facilities and newer amenities. These include co-working spaces (with specialized areas like an art studio, wood shop and sewing lab), a film stage with chroma-key cyclorama, and a new commercial kitchen.

Got a friend or relative who’s looking for space where he or she can foster a new business or develop an avocation? This may be the ticket.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

• Alan Baer encouraged everyone to participate in BARSHEEP’s TGIFF at Four Fools Winery in Hercules. $20 covered a couple glasses of wine and delectable from El Sol Catering.
• Josh Genser announced the work party on April 6^th. Richmond Rotarians are encouraged to come help build barriers around the oak trees on Richmond Greenway, or at minimum to attend and support those who ARE working!

MEETING OF February 22, 2019

Welcome

President Jerry Feagley called the meeting to order and asked Simon Ellis to lead the Pledge of Allegiance. Herb Cole led a silent prayer for peace, freedom and justice on earth. “Thoughtful” Sid Chauvin had this to share: “We never really grow up, we only learn how to act in public.”

Visiting Rotarians and Guests

• Sal Addiego was visiting from El Cerrito Rotary, not for the first time….

Special Events

• President Jerry presented Tamara Shiloh with her Blue Badge. Tamara has been an extremely busy member so it is very appropriate she is now “official”!

Recognitions and Happy and Sad Dollars

Ric Ambrose did the honors.

• Ric was celebrating his birthday! He was also happy to have an art critic compare his work on display in San Jose to another well-known artist, saying that Ric’s work is better than his!
• Ric also noted Erle Browne was celebrating his birthday in absentia. (Poor baby is in Mexico for the month!)
• Josh Genser was happy to have attended the Richmond Community Foundation’s 3^rd Annual Winemaker and Chef Dinner. He acknowledged your faithful scribe’s efforts as well as the team of event planners, chefs and winemakers who participated. People were amazed at how the Courtyard Marriott was absolutely transformed! Josh also had a happy dollar for Pam Jones and Neville Guard, who saved him by buying a special bottle of Irish Whisky only available in Pleasanton. Josh plans to share the spirits at his whisky tasting event in March.
• Hank Covell had happy dollars for Joe Kellman. He and Joe were getting together at Hank’s house later and invited any Rotarians wanted to come by.
• Jim Finley was extremely happy for his interesting life! First of all, he was ecstatic to learn that he had no lung cancer, despite the diagnosis from his doctors. He also was happy to be out of the hospital after being admitted for a serious sinus infection. To good health, Jim!
• Tom Butt had several happy dollars. He was in DC trying to extract money from HUD for the City of Richmond, and then was overjoyed to have spent an hour with President Obama, his President.

PROGRAM

Retirement, Refocus or What?

Nick Despota moderated a very informative forum featuring a panel of Richmond Rotarians who discussed retirement. Tamara Shiloh, Josh Genser and Jan Brown represent different stages and experiences of retirement. Each shared personal observations and advice. Nick noted that for some, retirement represents emancipation from the job they’ve held their whole lives, freeing them to do things that were new and different. Other never really retire because their work is deeply connected to who they are, or because they love their work, and/or don’t want to give up the income it brings. Others refocus their skills to volunteer work or community service.

Some themes and key takeaways that emerged from the conversation:

• It’s very important to have social networks to depend and rely upon – either build new networks or sets of friends, or join an organization like Rotary, which may replace the built-in network at work. Rich social interactions also help keep the mind active and support our health.
• The response of one’s spouse to retirement can make this phases of our lives more satisfying or more challenging. For example, partners can have difficulties if both spouses are retired but one doesn’t have interests or networks. In other cases, we were told that if one partners wants to retire and the other doesn’t, tensions can ensue.
• There are stages of retirement: Josh’s wife Elaina calls them “Go-go, Slow-go and No-go.”
• Physical activity when younger can help you maintain your health and agility when older.
• As people age, it’s important for them to embrace technologies that can their improve quality of life when the body is failing: smart phones, self-programming thermostats, security devices, and so on.
• We need to also consider the impact your children can have on retirement. It’s not always positive. Children may want to impose their own values and opinions into the decisions you make.
• Planning for retirement is important, but you still never know what life might throw at you. For instance care-taking or illness can usher in new demands. Flexibility is necessary to adapt to changing circumstances.

Stacey Street, Rotating Scribe