"One Foot In Reality" will contain a lot of our personal opinions and views about many different things and we are not writing just to generate page views or income. We view writing as an activity that we both enjoy that feeds our creative spirits (not that Harold has all that much creativity). Any income generated by this blog, we consider nice, but accidental and will just smile, when or if it ever happens, but it would be nice to supplement the income a little.
We are a couple who both left the "9-5 world of work" for something slower, less stressful and more healthy. The plan here is to write about how we are learning to be more self-sufficient, not as influenced by the consumer economy (living within our means), the experiences and thoughts that we have while moving towards and enjoying retirement - which does not equal inactivity. There will be tales of the funny things that happen, the mistakes we make (there will be more than a few) and even writing about some of the stuff that did work.
What we write about here will be determined by what needs to be written, and who knows, maybe the muse will notice.
Mary's Bio
I was born in Berlin, New Hampshire. My family moved to Norway, Maine when I entered Junior High. My family also had a camp on a small lake outside Errol, New Hampshire, and we spent most summers living at the lake. Because of camp, I truly appreciate nature and outside activities.
I attended the University of Maine at Orono and graduated with a Master's Degree in History and English. I spent several years at different careers as varied as advertising copywriting and sail making sales writing before settling into my final profession as a litigation paralegal. I retired two years ago.
My husband, Harold, and I have a busy home with four cats and a dog, and many visiting critters from the woods behind our house. Our bird feeders are a delight to watch. One winter our bread and donut offerings even attracted deer.
Harold and I work hard at the garden during the summer months and I continue to can and preserve into late October and early November each year. During the winter storms, we relish (no pun intended) opening a jar of homemade preserves or cordial!
Outside, I enjoy running, hiking, walking, gardening, kayaking, cross country skiing and snow shoeing, Inside, I enjoy all crafts, knitting and quilting. I watch travel shows on Hulu at night, and follow the latest archaeological news on a daily basis. I am an avid reader of most everything.
Harold's Bio
I am originally from Newport, Maine. I grew up in the 60's & 70's and spent most of my time outside playing and trying anyway possible not to be stuck inside where adults could tell me what to do.
In 1996 I retired from the Coast Guard as a CWO3 (PERS), became a Special Education Teacher at a private and then a public school, was the AmeriCorps State Grants Program Officer for the State of Maine. If you want to know more about me, here is my LinkedIn profile.
I can be rather abrupt or blunt at times and while I was taught how to be tactful in the military, I still call things pretty much the way that I see them. I can be sarcastic, but try not to be caustic - there is a difference.
I am married to a wonderful woman, we have a blended family of four daughters and am the proud grandfather to three beautiful boys.
Some of my interests include: the initial stages of learning to garden, blogging, reading, fantasy role playing computer games, archery, hiking and being active around the house.
Three things that I believe in very much are:
- self-sufficiency
- persistence
- resiliency
I also believe it is time to allow people to decide things for themselves more often and they can suffer the consequence (good and bad) of their own choices, instead of it always being "someone" else's fault for whatever happens.
I really do wonder what would happen if there were less attitudes of entitlement or "I will get mine now" (greed) and more attitudes of community and self-sufficiency?
Finally, we are adults and believe that those who read this blog are adults, therefore, expect the occasional "salty" language (especially if Harold is writing), used where it is appropriate to emphasize a point being made. We will not use the f-bomb or g-damn, unless there is a specific reason for doing so. You are forewarned.
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Terms of Use
Written by Harold Shaw and published at One Foot In Reality, © 2007-2011 – All Rights Reserved. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Harold Shaw and One Foot In Reality with appropriate and specific directions or links to the original content.
One Foot in Reality - was created 8/21/10.
Other Blogs that contributed to the content in "One Foot In Reality"
Blog posts before that date were created for my other blogs "My Thoughts", "My Thoughts II", "Resource Room 220", "Aging Reluctantly" "Thinking at Last", Simple is Working or Sort of Retired.
Follow me on:
Terms of Use
Written by Harold Shaw and published at One Foot In Reality, © 2007-2011 – All Rights Reserved. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Harold Shaw and One Foot In Reality with appropriate and specific directions or links to the original content.
One Foot in Reality - was created 8/21/10.
Other Blogs that contributed to the content in "One Foot In Reality"
Blog posts before that date were created for my other blogs "My Thoughts", "My Thoughts II", "Resource Room 220", "Aging Reluctantly" "Thinking at Last", Simple is Working or Sort of Retired.
