Jim Dickens  1/16/2025

The 2024 holiday season was a forcing function to make sure we moved into our new home properly.  We had visitors coming and a series of parties to host.  It required an intensive effort and dusting off some old project management and handyman skills.  We are past that now and have even had a little recharge time.

Between Thanksgiving and the mid December,  new furniture installation, tile work, carpentry, paint, new electrical, fixture installation, and decorating.  All had to be optimized coordinated and prepped. As usual things that looked easy were harder.  For example,  the simple task of changing a light bulb also required changing the light switch to accommodate going from incandescent to LED. Long days but the satisfaction of visible creation and improvement made it worthwhile. 

We had visitors from December 21st to January 1st and hosted Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Eve.  My wife, Lori, did something I would recommend.  She surveyed our visitors, our kids for the most part, about things they would most like to do.  Then she stack ranked them, made reservations, and publicly posted the itinerary around the home.  Fun increased, boredom decreased, and chaos was mitigated.  If you don’t already, do a day of family volunteer work.  We made meals for Feed My Starving Children and really enjoyed ourselves.

2025 started, everyone left, undecorating began, and we slept as much as we wanted,  January 3 we flew to below 0 weather in Grand Rapids, MN.  We attended the service for Lori’s uncle who married us in 1988 and spent some time with her Minnesota cousins.  I was sitting in the church basement after the service having lunch listening the banter and felt like I was in an episode of Prairie Home Companion.  It was peaceful, comfortable, and interesting with that distinctive northern Minnesota accent.

Upon return, we finished undecorating and slept some more.  The Duluth trip brought back some nice memories.  We have our new place and are well rested.  We are recharged and ready for a great 2025.

Opinion Piece by Jim Dickens 11/26/2024

It’s the time of the year when we give thanks and make resolutions about the future.  Our family now has a tradition where we sit down and share our charitable donation choices and the reasons why.  It’s a deeper sharing beyond sports and the weather resulting in constructive heartfelt emotion.  I want to share where I am coming from these days.

As I’ve said before, it’s been a good run and what I really want is for my kids to have a good future with liberty and prosperity. This brings me to my future fears around the sustainability of our current best in class lifestyle.  I worry our financial, environmental, and geopolitical trajectories are unsustainable in my children’s lifetime and we lack the governmental leadership to correct.

Financially, we Americans are creating an unsustainable financial debt and the borrowing benefit has accrued to those with assets, generally the older generations.  This leaves our children with huge debt to carry and inheritance as the main avenue to prosperity.  It’s not the financial future we want for our children.

Environmentally, our population is growing as is the resource use per person.  The energy and materials generated for the basics of food, shelter, and transport remain extractive and polluting.  Climate change, biodiversity, and clean water are foundational to remaining civilized.  The worse we make it the harder it will be for our children to address and remain civilized.

We Americans love our liberty and are willing to die for it.  Well amazingly there is a large land war going on in Europe with well over a million casualties and almost 10 million refugees. Russian dictator, Putin invaded fledgling democracy Ukraine and our American response has been relatively weak.  Geopolitically America needs allies that value liberty as well.  Our children need liberty expanding in the world.

Somehow, we have American leadership that is incapable of addressing the issues above.  Our top leaders in the executive, legislative and judicial branches are octogenarian in low mental capacity, declining health and out of touch.   

So my charitable donations, voice, vote and action will go to allaying those fears until I’m 65.  Then they will be subject to my kid’s approval because I too am in declining health and getting out of touch 🙂

by Jim Dickens October 2024

It was interesting to me how the situational context changed my emotional response.  For several months I planned a trip with flights, lodging, guides, gear and research.  I planned to visit the Smoky Mountains for a couple of weeks with my family for a while and my fishing buddy, Chet, for a while. Then two hurricanes, Helene and Milton hit and all plans were cancelled.

Consulting with Chet and family, vacation was replanned to Montana and San Francisco respectively requiring a new set of expenses and hours of effort.  It hardly seemed an inconvenience. There was no anger at the forced change and we were not flabbergasted. For me, the reason was that compared to the misery of the affected in North Carolina  what I had to do was nothing.  It seemed like a calm easy change.  Under different circumstances, the change would have seemed much greater.

Chet and I ended up free styling do it yourself fishing in Montana thanks to our buddy Pete who joined us and put us up.   We saw new country and new water,  the Smith River 10 miles outside White Sulphur Springs.  The area was full of wildlife including golden eagles.  Driving through the Bridger mountains back to Bozemen we saw over 1,000 deer, over 100 pronghorn, and two herds of elk.  Since it was DIY wade fishing we did more than 20,000 steps a day in waders,  good for our health.  It also prepared me for the hills of northern California.

Lori and I met our son and daughter in law in San Francisco.  Lori and I walked the city up and down and up and down.   We went to the de Young Art Museum in Golden Gate park, an unusual outing for me as I know little about art.  My favorite piece the rest of my family found very off putting so I have included a picture.   We also rode coaster bikes down the coast from Princeton to the Half Moon Bay Ritz Carlton.  We all preferred modest fare so we ate lunch at Dad’s Luncheonette and had a beer on the beach instead of the Ritz.  So great to be with family exploring new beautiful things.

In addition to the great experiences, here is a key takeaway.  When unplanned, unwanted change happens don’t make it any harder with negative vibes.  It may not be as bad as you think.

Informative but boring

by Jim Dickens October 2024

Ok our world changed.  The kids left, we stopped working and it was time to spend our savings living out retired freedom.  We could live anywhere and do anything.

Lori and I are just finishing up moving our household just 7 minutes away from our old home after a couple of years of evaluation.  With all that freedom we are still in the cold, gray, flat midwest. Looking back I have a few insights.  There is no right time to move.  The earlier in retirement you move the higher the risk and benefit.  The move itself is a true paradox of misery and delight. 

We choose to move relatively early at age 62.  There is a trade off.  We get the benefit of the new home for longer.  However, we run the risk of significant changes like all our kids have grand kids and they live together somewhere else where we should move.  Also, will the home cover all contingencies as we age.  The home should suit us when we are very active including hosting guests and events but also needs to be suited for when we become decrepit.   Finally will the house stand the test of time as technology progresses and society changes.

We choose to move early and close by for a few reasons.  Our children very likely will not live in the same geography.   I lived in a location, Reno, with great year round activities but we found we liked being near friends and family more.  We have seen what happens when a move is forced on you because of aging and it’s not pretty.  So we moved to a nearby home and spent extra to handle our different stages of aging.  We hope it’s the right home in the right place but since it’s early there is a greater chance it’s not.  Unexpectedly, moving early had another benefit.

We vastly underestimated the effort and time required to move properly. It is so hard. Had we been older it would have been traumatic and done less well.  We also probably would have placed a greater burden on our children.  Moving early was right for us. 

We are very excited about our new home and are enjoying the creative outlet of fixing and decorating.  We have already had overnight guests and hosted a party. It’s delightful.  Emptying our old home including a crawl space of 20 years and sorting through the detritus for weeks on end.  It’s misery.  We have lost a couple of precious months.

So no advice on when and where to move in retirement.  Just don’t put off thinking about it.

By Guest Blogger: Colonel Ian Ferguson, Marines Retired 8/31/2024

“The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost refers to the road less travelled and is somewhat cliché, but if one chooses to take this less travelled road, one will find that it is often less-maintained, gravel or dirt.  Slim organized “Phil’s Big Chill” in Steamboat Springs, Colorado for August 2024 and I decided to go.  I also decided to drive from Pittsburgh and see if I could take some of those roads less travelled. It was a good decision.

On the way out, I got off the interstate, experienced smaller towns and camped out in Illinois, Kansas, and Wyoming before linking up with Phil in Steamboat.  The rest of the crew trickled in, including Slim, ‘Nado, Pete, and Sparky (who was, of course, a day late and a dollar short – not cliché if you know Sparky). Steamboat is high-end and ‘Nado was our top-of-the line chef, proving his cuisine as good as any of the fancy places in town. But the highlight of our trip was when we got out of town.

The six of us embarked on a float fishing trip on a stretch of the Colorado River near its headwaters.  To get there, we went with guides who drove us on less travelled state and county roads and eventually on gravel and dirt roads.  These roads took us to a special place as we floated through canyons and rapids on the Colorado.  Fishing was not great (except for me and ‘Nado in the least experienced boat) but the River and view of the terrain was spectacular – a ten mile float.  Each of us got at least one fish, even Slim who actually had to get out and wade…does it count?  Pete says no.  As if by magic, Phil ensured we had cold Coors after we extracted from the river, and they tasted fantastic.  This is one of Phil’s super powers – he can always find cold beer when you need it.   

A side note on our Guides.  These guys are familiar with the road less travelled because they drive it all the time.  And they are totally prepared for Zombie Apocalypse.  My Guide, Nick, had a couple of years of college and wrestled at the University of Wyoming.  He’s a fishing guide in the summer. In the early fall he guides for elk hunts with bows; in the late fall he’s after elk with rifle.  In the winter he’s got a paid ski patrol position and is qualified to employ explosives in avalanche control.  He doesn’t buy meat at the store because he gets elk, deer, duck and fish on his own.  He and his wife grow some veggies too. It is amazing to see a young man who is so self-sufficient.

We had some nice golf venues in Steamboat Springs…very fun and also pretty posh.  An event that is not posh is the Rodeo.  We went to the Rodeo on Saturday night and it was a tremendous event.  I had seen some rodeo 30 years ago, but had no recollection.  This time I paid attention.  These are real cowboys (and cowgirls) with mad skills.  And it’s a tough sport…football, lacrosse and wrestling we all played and they are tough, but rodeo is TOUGH.  The skill and horsemanship are incredible.  These are the people who work the land and raise the animals that feed our Nation.  I tip my hat to them.

Leaving Steamboat I was dropping Slim off at the Laramie Airport, but we had a full day to explore.  Pete advised Slim to look for the AWE (as reported in previous blogs), so we decided to take the road less traveled out of town and on our way to Laramie.  We drove up and over Buffalo Pass (elev 10,339 ft).  It’s a dirt road and not very well maintained, and luckily my ’22 Tacoma has 4WD and high clearance.  It was worth the drive as we found the AWE cresting the Continental Divide and hiked around Summit Lake at the top.  Coming back down, we stopped in Walden, saw a moose on a side road, and stopped in at a local Fly Fishing shop.  Slim spoke the lingo and got the scoop on where to go next.  Getting off a state highway near the Colo-Wyo line we pulled onto a dirt road, then parked beside the North Platte River.  Then we hiked a less-travelled path into a pretty awesome canyon.  The path was hard to follow and we had to do some scrambling and climbing to get in and out.  But it was worth it – to be in a secluded place that most people will never see.  Slim dropped in his fishing line and got a few nibbles, but just being there was the great catch.

I dropped Slim off at the Laramie Airport and he made it back to Chicago.  Phil, Sparky, Pete and ‘Nado all made it back to their homes too.  I still had a few days left on my walkabout and drove some dirt roads in Wyoming and Nebraska and stayed on the Big Horn and Niobrara Rivers.  Saw the farm country of Iowa and made it to Naperville, Illinois to see Slim and L3 (Little Lovely Lori) before making it home to Pittsburgh and Miss Teri.  A nod to Frost – taking “the road less travelled by” did make all the difference.

By Jim Dickens July 18 2024

On the return from a great trip to Hilton Head, I found myself suffering because I was lazy and unprepared.  It’s something to guard against. It was my own doing.

With over 20 friends from way back at college, we played our 41st annual tournament, the Red Stackloaf in Hilton Head.  Lots of hijinks, new and old stories and many belly laughs were had.  On Sunday, departure day, I went chasing red fish with my good buddy Pete and then headed to the airport.  We got to the Savannah airport at 3:30 with 90 minutes to spare and the plane on time.  It was a short, direct flight home.

Just before boarding, the steady drip of flight delays started.  Pete found another way home and I sat inactive hoping the most recent delay would be the last.  At 10 pm,  they cancelled the flight and rebooked us for 8 am the following morning.   I had just been sitting there receiving notifications on my phone and doing nothing about it.   Upon cancellation, I finally to took some action and booked a hotel nearby, and took a cab to the hotel.  

I should note at this time, that I was in a t shirt, shorts and flip flops with a wallet an a phone.   Nothing else  what so ever.   My phone battery was down to 20% and I turned it off.  At the hotel, I begged some toiletries and attempted to check in.  They had no reservation, I was at the wrong hotel which of course was full.  The receptionist started giving me directions telling me it was just a short drive over.  Then I told her I was on foot.

Taking the described pedestrian short cut of about a half mile, I found myself getting a little uneasy.  I was walking through some woods next to a swamp in the pitch black holding toiletries.  I was tripping in my flip flops and brushing up against whatever in my shorts.  When I exited the woods into the correct hotel street light,  I was greeted by signs that said, “stay away from the water, alligators”.  Aaaahhh!  Shaken but uninjured I successfully checked in.

Lying in yesterday’s clothes, I awoke to try again.  The 8 Am flight was delayed two hours so it gave me time for a little introspection.  I am an Eagle Scout of the BSA whose motto is “Be Prepared”.  I am a seasoned traveler.  I am 63 and with age comes wisdom.  How did I get here?  Pure ennui and laziness that’s how.

What about next time? I like traveling light and simply so I’m not sure, but I have upcoming trips to figure it out and test it.

PS The phone ended at 2% after being a boarding pass, limited texter and Uber summoner. There was no battery for pictures of my debacle.

Guest Written By Nancy Dickens (sister in law) May 10, 2024

Here’s a little story about a few days with a few of my favorite people. Tim and I just got back from a visit to Tybee Island and Savannah GA with Squid and LoLo (more commonly known as Jim and Lori).

I’ve known Squid since I was 19 years old. I have my own 3 amazing siblings, but I also think of Tim’s big bro Jimmy as my own as well. Luckily Jim’s best decision in his life was marrying Lori and I gained a best friend /sister in the deal! While we have spent a lot of time together, the four of us have not traveled together without kids for 33 years.

We traveled to a beachfront Condo on Tybee Island. Our first night we went to dinner at a restaurant that was featured on Diners Drive Ins and Dives. The pimento fritters were

The perfect weather the next day made for a beautiful, long morning walk on the beach. Then we headed into Savannah where the Spanish Moss dances in the breeze. We took a trolley tour that highlighted history, lush parks, ghost stories, dad jokes and made one important stop at Leopold’s ice cream IYKYK. We had some time after the tour before dinner, so we strolled along the riverfront coming nose to nose with enormous cargo ships. Then indulged in another delicious meal at Vic’s on the River.

Saturday Jim and Tim played a round of golf (not an “official Dickens championship round”) while LoLo and I beach walked some more. Our final dinner together was at The Crab Shack with its 78 alligators. The ambience was unmatched- we ate outside on a beautiful evening under lit trees. Such a happy place with delicious food! You must go there if in Savannah or Tybee!

I think the four of us would agree that the best part of the trip was the laughs! We had so much fun catching up, reminiscing about previous get togethers, hearing more of the Dickens boys mischief filled years in Towanda PA, and looking ahead to getting all the Chicago and Philly Dickens together.

Spending time with people I truly love and cherish fills me with gratitude. Squid and LoLo are those people. Let’s not wait another 33 years!