Retirement...and Beyond
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Upon retirement from Blue Cross Blue Shield in 2006, Mike had little to do except play tennis at the country club. A little of that went a long way. He was fairly active with Raceplace Events, supporting his software systems. Still, it wasn't a full time activity and didn't pay much. It didn't replace the structure of a career, and Mike wanted to do something "productive". |
 Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona |
Volunteering
Mike started to explore volunteer opportunities.
Through tennis at the club, Mike had contact with a number of "movers and shakers.
One in particular, He went down to the facility and talked with the Administrator, who introduced him to the small IT staff.
Indeed, they needed some kinds of "programming help", and even though their work used software Mike didn't know, he agreed to help.
An advantage for Mike was that the facility was very hear a Light Rail stop which also stopped in front of the Regency House where he lived.
He could "commute" to work there, which was kind of cool...
After going through some extensive background vetting (because he'd likely come in contact with the girls being helped there), he started going in several days a weeks to develop computer reports and analysis tools they needed.
It was a good fit for Mike, and he liked the staff.
The volunteer "gig" lasted for about 2 years, and then the organization ran out of work for him.
With no reason to continue there, Mike was once again at "loose ends" with his life.
Fortunately, he was playing tennis twice a week at a city park with some guys he had met through the country club.
One of the guys never played on Thursdays; Mike casually asked him why.
He said he was a "volunteered at the airport", and Mike was interested.
This conversation led to enormous changes in Mike's life: being a Navigator at the airport and tennis/coffee with the "Drop-ins", activities he pursues to this day.
In 2010, Mike and Libby decided they'd had enough of the "high-rise life", and started to sell their beautiful penthouse in the Regency House.
Unfortunately, this was not as good time to put any quality property on the market (especially one in a "troubled building" such as the Regency House), and it took 2 years for them to sell it.
They signed up with a realtor friend who had successfully sold their house on Echo Lane and the unit on the 14th floor, but she seemed reluctant to face the rumors about the building's problems (needed reppairs, impending assessments, management issues), and she only passively marketed the property.
After almost 2 years, with no showings or offers, Libby contacted a man she knew through the Art Museum - and they switched realtors.
The new realtors, who knew about the property and had expressed an interest in marketing it, took a very different approach...and sold it in 30 days!
Mike and Libby were delighted and had to start searching for a place to buy, having avoided any such activity during the very uncertain previous 2 year "drought".
Libby had basic ideas where she wanted to live (and Mike felt it was "too ritzy" for them), and they concentrated on homes in the well-regarded Arizona Biltmore area.
A highly prized housing area, there were few homes available...and the closing on their place was looming large.
The were almost ready to rent, having not found anything.
As amazing luck would have it, they were leaving a rental (rejected), when they saw a new "For Sale" sign.
As they drove past, Libby asked their realtor about it; he said it was new to him but he would investigate.
He called that evening to report the house had been just listed and that they could see it the next day (July 4).
Mike and Libby leaped at the chance, went through it, saw (most of) what they'd been seeking, and bought it the next day.
They were fortunate: the house was being sold by a relocation firm that was transferring the owners to New York, and there was no negotiation!
The house met most of their requirements, but was dated and confining.
It had a sunken Living Room (the dominent style when the house was built in 1978); had a "galley kitchen"; and had a full 3rd bath room that wasn't needed.
Libby knew she could correct these, but the basics were more than adequate - they would start the modifications immediately...and did.
There were some cosmetic changes, as well (some painting, new floor and outside tiles, a complete kitchen redo and expansion).
The unusable 3rd bathroom was cut down into a powder room and extra closet space.
A part of the "move" included giving up her studio and moving most of its contents into the 3rd bedroom (across the hall from the new powder room).
The move and transition(s) were complete in October, 2012...a new life!
Florence Crittenton
Regency House