Hitting Stride

"The trouble with retirement is that you never get a day off" -Abe Lemons

Steve and Rachel Harrison

     Steve and Rachel Harrison, my beloved folks of 68 and 70 respectively, are hard-at-it as usual.  Never okay with just sitting-around twiddling thumbs, they have turned into, as Dad likes to quip, “farts on a skillet.”

    Since retiring from the U.S Fish and Wildlife in 2001 with 30 years of government service, dad joined my mom who also was retiring from her own career with the Anchorage School District having taught elementary school in Eagle River for 25 years.  

    Upon retirement they relocated North from their Eagle River roots and settled into a nice spot on the bluffs of the Susitna River in Willow, Alaska.  Having fished commercially at the mouth of the Susitna and sport fished in its tributaries for years, it was a natural fit.

    Hitting-the-ground running never seemed so natural for these two retirees who during their working careers kept busy raising three children who were involved in multiple sports and dance all-the-while running a family oriented commercial fishing business in the summer-on their leave time.  

   Since their "retirement" they have become the busiest people I know.  Retirement for them hasn't been a time to slow down; it has been a catalyst for switching gears.

   What is amazing to me is that they seemed to have been able to find the perfect balance between family, recreation, and chores.  I look to them as models of the ideal retirement; if not an exact formula, here are their patterns:

   First and foremost, priority is always given to every possible grandchild's sporting event, recital, or babysitting opportunity.  They have seven grandkids, and this alone keeps them on their toes. Since two-thirds of the the immediate family still reside in Eagle River, they are constantly driving the 80 miles to watch hockey, basketball, and volleyball games and don't forget about birthdays.  They are not bothered by the drive and will make the trip at the drop of a hat.  Along with the grandkids, they have also taken to supporting their aging son’s running endeavors.

    Next, they have cleverly set themselves up with plenty of things to do, mainly in the form of cabins to maintain and improve upon. Besides their home base in Willow, they also have three other cabins strategically built in scenic wilderness locations scattered around Southcentral Alaska.  They are all incredible places in their own right, but the surrounding wilderness is the overwhelming appeal to each of them. Dad played a major role in the construction of all of these places including their house in Willow and has taken it upon himself to become the superintendent-of-projects at them all.  Every homeowner is familiar with the inherent burden of ownership.  Dad has four burdens but he doesn't see it that way.  He enjoys it.  He always has projects to do but he is good at balancing project time with fishing time. Amen.

    Mom is the chief decorator, resident artist, and artifact collector at all of their places.  She has brought her artsy style to life in them all.  She has a keen eye for regional touches and likes to collect local artifacts and nick knacks to display on shelves and window sills.  Her mosaic tile work can also be found in each of their places.  In addition, she is not afraid to voice her opinion about additions, improvements, or any other worth-while suggestions.

Mom's touch

   Their cabins are not accessible by any road; only boats or snow machines can get you there which, in-turn has provided ample maintenance opportunities for their three fully operational boats and two snow machines....you know, so they don’t get bored.  It is not uncommon for Steve and Rach to return from one cabin only to start packing for a trip to another.

    Each fall, hunting takes priority and it’s no wonder that their freezer is always full.  Dad has been a committed subsistence hunter and fisherman ever since they moved to Alaska in 1969. He has shared his passion with his two sons who pursue big game and fish each and every year.  Generally we all work together as a hunting team, processing and sharing meat.  As it turns out my folks have learned a thing or two over the years and are masters of fish and game processing. They are generous with their windfall and look forward to sharing with friends and family alike.

My mother is a case all her own and if social health were measurable, she would be pinning the needle, topping-out on  "full."  Somehow meshed with all the cabin trips, family stuff, and everything else, she manages to keep a social calendar rivaling that of Michele Obama.  Mosaic Wednesdays are a must, as-is yoga Mondays.  Don’t forget about Bunco and book club.  Did I mention the garden club? Also, it seems that her years of teaching haven't escaped her; she volunteers each year at the elementary school during art- week and she eagerly helps set up bulletin boards in my wife's classroom.

Fishing with Grandma and Grandpa

    Both Steve and Rach have been actively supporting the efforts to protect the Susitna River.  They have an extensive history of recreation, subsistence , and commercial activity on the river and have been interviewed, quoted, and consulted about their opinions on the proposed development of the Susitna-Watana Dam.  The dam, which could be quite possibly the worst idea to ever come out of Juneau, would dramatically change the river that takes them to two of their cabins and would destroy the salmon that thrive there.  Not ones to sit quiet while their wilderness livelihood is being threatened, they are doing what they can.  It is their hope that their volunteer and advocacy efforts will pay-off allowing their grandkids' grandkids to experience the same Alaska that they have become enamored with.

     Their love of Alaska is undeniable but they do manage to get out of state once or twice a year to visit friends and to otherwise scratch their travel itch.  In recent years they have enjoyed traveling with several of their former Alaskan neighbors that they have kept close contact with, and they have also reconnected with some old friends from their youth in Washington State.

 They have been known to travel with family too.  Imagine our excitement when in the summer of 2012 they surprised the whole family with Mexican Riviera cruise tickets to help them celebrate their 45th wedding anniversary.

  Several times a year the stars align and all of their children and grandchildren converge upon one location at a cabin or holiday gathering.   These are Steve and Rach's favorite times and it’s during these gatherings that it is easy to see that they are playing their cards perfectly.

The whole fam damly.

Dad carving up a beauty.

Mom taking full advantage of Pete's muscles and hip-waders.

Dad, Pete, and I doing our thing at fish camp.

Top of the world baby, top of the world.