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What I will miss not living near Edmonds

We’re going to be moving to another state now that we’re both retired, and I just wanted to share a BIG grateful thanks and also the link below in case others aren’t aware of the wonderful free travel classes at the RS Center in Edmonds. The Tour Guides’ weekend is what started us taking RS tours, and the travel classes have been part of my planning each year for independent trips and picking up a few supplies.

These two classes stand out in my memory:
My favorite class for ramping up my excitement and also using entertainment to make the words stick were the two Beginning Italian classes with Graz.

The class I found most practical for my first solo trip was the Technology class (sorry, don’t remember the instructor ‘s name).

One interesting story - my husband and I took a French language class several years ago at the center during the Winter. We arrived a little late and slid into a couple of empty chairs after the class had started. I was focused on the instructor and when she asked us to pair up and practice, the person sitting closest to me was Rick! He was the first person to hear me butcher the French language- ha!

https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/travel-classes

Posted by
4086 posts

I know that you’ll miss a lot but you also have great memories to draw on. Enjoy your retirement and adventures in your new state!

Posted by
11832 posts

Unless you are moving to Hawaii, I cannot fathom why you would want to leave Mill Creek.

Happy travels!

Posted by
3036 posts

Jean, where are you moving to? Enjoy your new home and your retirement. Love your French class reminiscence. I keep hoping Rick will become a snowbird and open a (winter) learning center in AZ.

Joe, we were in Washington in September for my 50th high school class reunion. The gloomy wet weather reminded us why we moved to Arizona 35 years ago and have no desire to live in the Northwest again. But each to her own....

Posted by
32345 posts

horsewoofie,

"we were in Washington in September for my 50th high school class reunion."

What a coincidence! I had my 50th high school reunion in August. I couldn't believe how many old people were there ;-)

Jean,

Hope you have a long, happy and healthy retirement! You'll enjoy the fact that every day is a Saturday.

Posted by
7053 posts

The Pacific Northwest (and Washington State) is a very special, beautiful, green place...I would miss that most of all (especially the fresh air and progressive politics). Where are you going? Don't say Florida :-)

Posted by
3036 posts

Ken, I was actually surprised how good many of my classmates looked. It was either very good plastic surgery or the fact they seldom see sun, probably the latter.

Posted by
10106 posts

Jean — good luck with your move. Love your post- you guys clearly took good advantage of living near RS HQ! And very fun about your not having noticed Rick and then pairing up with him in French class!

Posted by
3961 posts

I can certainly relate to the wonderful free travel classes at RS Travel Center. It's one of the many tools I use in planning our itinerary. Already booked for another class next month. Appreciate all the knowledgeable, enthusiastic instructors. In addition, the center's staff are always welcoming & helpful.

Jean, wishing you and your husband all the best for the next travel chapter in your life. Thanks for sharing.

Posted by
7756 posts

Thank you for the kind comments, and yes, seeing Rick sitting next to me in the class was a nice surprise!

Which warm, sunny destination did we pick for retirement? Not Hawaii (although we do go there), not Florida. We’re moving to the Coeur d’Alene area in Idaho. Beautiful area, and it’s the closest my husband will get me to move towards his home state of Montana. It definitely helps that three grandkids are in Spokane Valley, too!

Posted by
2398 posts

hey hey jean
congrats on your guys retirement. you'll love it, i retired 2 years ago and at times seems i'm busier now than before. so many things to do and see without worrying about that four letter word "work".
love coeur d' alene, so gorgeous. we did a road trip to yellowstone which took us thru lower idaho, grand tetons, montana, coeur d' alene, hood river valley, oregon coast. one of my favorites vacations to see all of this, i laugh about "big sky country" and understand why now, nothing but open lands and big skies in montana, coming from my small little town on the big island of hawaii along the hamakua coast lol
enjoy your time there along with your grandkids close by.
@ken i got 2 years for my 50th, hoping to not look "OLD" :)
aloha

Posted by
2509 posts

Jean,
I attended my first RS Reunion last January and had the time of my life. I feel that living in the area near the RS center would be heaven. I guess being on the forum will have to suffice as I’m still working. I love reading and thinking about travel. Plus planning trips.
I’m sure you will love being close to your grandchildren and that might compensate for missing the RS center.

Posted by
32345 posts

Jean,

Although the retirement location you've chosen is note exactly in the "sun belt", I'm sure you'll enjoy it as, after all, you're retired! It appears that you're an hour or two from Moscow, so perhaps you can join the RS travel group meetings occasionally. You're also not far from the Canadian border so you can take advantage of the exchange rate and do some shopping.

horsewoofie and princess,

Attending high school reunions is always a reminder that we're all getting older. Just the same, it's always nice to see what one's classmates have done with their lives since graduation so many years ago.

Posted by
14632 posts

Jean!! Yes, as Ken indicates we’ve got a RS meetup group in Moscow the 3rd Saturday of each month. We don’t meet in December.

There are a couple of members who drive down from CdA during good weather.

We’d love for you to come! Either Darcy or I post on the meetup forum and if you decide you are interested we can add you to the email list when you are settled.

Welcome to Idaho!

Posted by
7756 posts

Thanks for the invite to the RS Idaho group, Pam! I’ll be in contact after we’re settled into our new home, and I’m dreaming about my next trip to Europe. ; )

Just for clarity, I retired in 2018; my husband just retired this year.

Posted by
2282 posts

Just to note: There's another travel group in Boise. Of course, that's much farther from your new abode than the Moscow group, but you never know when you might be in our area!