Comments
Having been a widow for 30 years, my life has been very different than I imagined when I was in high school. But different isn't bad.
I have a satisfying position at Discovery Institute as the Director of Development Operations. There I oversee everything from donation processing to donor care and cultivation, to the systems and staff that support those activities. Our work to advance a culture of purpose, creativity, and innovation is truly culture changing.
I moved to Friday Harbor in 2015 to be closer to my sister (and best friend), Kristine Bourland Brown, and my mother. I commute every other week to work in Seattle for 3 days, then work from home the rest of the time.
I run an AirBNB on the weekends during the high tourist season and serve hot breakfast to my guests. Look me up on Facebook under "All Seasons Guesthouse." This is a joy, as I meet people from all over the US and worldwide. Someday I may host folks during the week and may open up a room in my house for a BnB. But for now, the weekend bookings bring in the income needed to renovate my 1910 house in downtown Friday Harbor.
Since 2015, the house has had 3 major renovations (interior and exterior) and 6 smaller renovations. There are still two more to go, including lifting the house to place it on a higher/better foundation and siding the guesthouse. But, who knows when those projects will happen?
I am busy all the time, volunteering as a bookkeeper for my church and helping with worship. I also do the bookkeeping for my sister's small business and take care of two children on Fridays.
Over the last 30 years I have traveled to Israel, Italy, England, France, Guatemala, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, and other smaller European countries. I wish I had more time for travel, but that will come when I cut back on full-time work.
