Guest Post by The Horse
If you've been following the Senior Nomads from the beginning, you know me. I am The Horse. A much-loved, slightly battered metal equine that has been part of Debbie's life for at least 20 years. She spotted me in a dusty corner of a quirky, long-gone antique store in Seattle and carted me back to her design studio that same day. I lived a fine life overlooking Elliott Bay from my window perch at Tip Top Creative on the top floor of the Terminal Sales Building. It was a busy and exciting place. And, as clients and vendors flowed in and out, they often commented on me. I heard everything from "Nice horse!" to "Gosh. Can that be repaired?" Both applied, as I am sleek and interesting to look at, but I also have quite a bit of paint missing, an ear that is askew, and recently had to have my tail welded back on - but that's another story.
The terminal Sales Building sits at the corner of First and Virginia in downtown Seattle. This was the view from my office!
The creativity at Tip Top flowed as the design team created work for Tom Douglas Restaurants, Beecher’s Cheese, Plum Creek Timber, Starwood International Hotels, The Big Seattle Boat Show, The Pike Place Market, The Visitors and Convention Bureau, the Downtown Seattle Association, and food packaging of all kinds.
Debbie, in 2008 with her post-chemo short hair, and her very talented staff of designers, known as Tiptopians.
Then, one Spring afternoon in 2013, Debbie announced to her staff that she and her husband would be retiring and leaving Seattle! They would become Senior Nomads, traveling the world and living in Airbnb rentals. And, after 25 years, she would be closing her business and selling the contents of the studio. Oh dear!
All of a sudden, price tags appeared on nearly everything. People wandered in to say goodbye and leave with a stick of furniture, a stack of books, or a poster right off the wall. I kept waiting for the tag that would seal my fate - but it never came! In fact, if someone asked if I was for sale, my proud owner said I was one of the few things she couldn't part with.
I may be precious, but unfortunately, I spent most of the next twelve years in a dark storage unit. You've seen me awkwardly taking up space in two different storage lockers because, as a horse on a pole, I never fit neatly with the other boxes, but I was always right in front, guarding the contents.
At least I got out once a year to join the Christmas ornaments and winter clothing for a few weeks of holiday leave. I got to wear a jaunty wreath around my neck and sit near the Christmas tree where I could watch the family gather. But right after the first of the year, those Senior Nomads would stuff everything back in the storage unit and close the door for another year of travel.
During most holidays, we house-sat this beautiful home on Queen Anne, where we hosted family gatherings and old friends.
Somewhere along the way, my tail got knocked off. How embarrassing! Luckily, Debbie kept it safe - and me, too! Whenever Michael diplomatically asked if I was worth keeping, she would not even discuss it. Of course, there were a few other quirky things she just couldn't let go of. A squat stuffed dog, three yellow wooden ducks, and a vintage fake fireplace insert that glows and makes a crackling noise. And a giant framed Russian Circus poster featuring a roaring tiger. I am sure you have your own special things - maybe even a horse like me, that you simply can’t part with, and that’s okay.
This is Rufus, my trusty storage unit companion. You can see the tiger poster on the wall in the Tip Top picture earlier in the story.
About a year ago, the Campbells concluded it was time to reduce their travels and enjoy family and friends in the Seattle area. They searched for just the right place to set down their suitcases and found a beautiful furnished rental house.
The house is in Edmonds, Washington, a lovely little town on Puget Sound about half an hour north of downtown Seattle. The homeowners have a second home in the San Juan Islands, and wanted to experience Island Life with their 9-year-old son. They were hoping to find renters who would appreciate a well-furnished home and take good care of their things for a reasonable rent. The Campbells were perfect candidates!
The house had everything they needed - especially since they don’t own much, so they settled in and made themselves comfortable. But they still wanted to travel several months of the year, so they were not quite ready to give up the storage unit.
Then on July 7th, the twelfth anniversary of their original departure, they officially retired as Senior Nomads! They signed a lease for their lovely home through next summer and set about making the house a little more their own…so that meant it was time to find out what they’ve been storing all these years!
The door of the storage unit rattled open, and I blinked in the sunshine. They announced they were taking everything out of the space and either giving it to charity or taking it to Edmonds to be sorted further. I held my breath, but I was gently laid in the back of the car and taken to my new home!
Downtown Edmonds is like a movie set. There is a delightful main street that leads to a Ferry Terminal and long beach walks.
Edmonds is a very special place. It’s close to the water, and there are lots of things for Debbie and Michael to do every day. Michael even took classes at Edmonds College, and Debbie has been volunteering at the Food Bank - and even planted a small garden.
Edmonds is also the home of Rick Steve’s travel company. The Senior Nomads have been on Rick’s radio show a couple of times, but recently he invited them back to talk about their Twelve Lessons from Twelve Years of Travel - and to welcome all of us to his hometown. Debbie will post the interview when it runs later this fall.
Here is my new place of honor, where I oversee the coming and going of the Campbells as well as the beautiful front yard and creek.
Before I took up my new perch in the window overlooking the front garden (complete with a burbling creek), I needed to have my tail reattached. Debbie's older brother, Jerry, is a professional machinist, fabricator, and ace welder. He offered to make me whole again - even though he's never welded a horse's *** before! He did a great job, and I feel much better.
The yellow ducks are happy in the back yard, the Campbells are happy, and Grandchildren are always welcome on my perch.
My owners will keep traveling - and in fact leave soon to explore Eastern Canada for a few weeks. I am relieved I will not be packed up and put in Purgatory! Instead, I will stand watch over their possessions, just as I’ve always done.
Thanks for following along,
Debbie and Michael Campbell and The Horse!
WHEN I POST A NEW BLOG, IT WILL BE ON OUR SENIOR NOMADS FACEBOOK PAGE. YOU CAN ALSO JOIN OUR SENIOR NOMADS FACEBOOK COMMUNITY! THANK YOU FOR FOLLOWING OUR ADVENTURES, AND PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT. I DO MY BEST TO RESPOND, BUT YOU’LL HAVE TO CHECK FOR REPLIES.