Positive experience yesterday

[thrihyrne]

I've been writing some about this potential new career to do with getting involved with the aging/retirement community, the upcoming approach of the large Baby Boomer generation in this, and my personal desires and drives to be doing something fulfilling and that is an intuitive use of my skills. Yesterday I had an information-gathering meeting with the Residential Life Director at one of the retirement centers here in town (I'd written to one, then called and left a message because the person was out of town for a week, but I've heard nothing). I wasn't sure how the meeting would go, but it was an absolute delight and I came away feeling all the more certain that I'm on the right track. She has the kind of position that I think I would be exceptional in, in that she's a liaison, listening ear, concierge and conduit between the independent residents and the management of the institution. I was asking pretty specific questions about computer use and support for residents and she helpfully filled in the picture for me. The kind of hybrid position of training with working with the aging community and low-grade IT support doesn't really exist, and it might be too narrow of a concept. She did indicate that it would be a very welcome volunteer position that I could create, were I to be staying in the area. I think that once I've relocated I'll do this same kind of information-gathering at as many facilities as I can get into, though it definitely helped here in that mom knew someone who is in an independent living apartment there and she greased the wheels by providing this person's email to me. Still, if I can reinforce again and again that I'm not looking for employment, I'm information gathering (as well as hoping to volunteer) I should be able to continue finding out more and more about what the various environments and cultures are like, as well as upcoming needs and how these institutions are planning for the influx of people who are far more tech savvy than they have been in recent years. What was most wonderful was being able to really talk with someone about respecting this group of people who in many ways are shunted off by society.

I then was picked up by this women my mom knew and I went to her apartment where we talked, got to know each other, and I started the process of helping her to make a clone of her hard drive so that she has a back up before also potentially helping her to upgrade her operating system. Like me, she's a long time Mac user, and a very savvy, living-life-to-the-fullest woman. I think I may end up disappointing her when I let her know that I'm going to be heading out to the northwest! But I'll help out as long as I can.

Don't know that I've mentioned this, but we have another house guest, a former colleage of my mother's who's spent time here before more than once. He's on sabbatical from his university in NJ and will be here for the semester, staying in the room across the hall from my parents. So it's a full house! He's quite laid back, a perfect house guest, and I know my mom is enjoying having him help out in her lab.

The post wouldn't be complete without yet another picture of yet another knitted project- I don't have buttons for the Mystery 80's Cardigan™ so I haven't taken pictures yet, but there was enough yarn left over for me to make a scarf, which I've given to my mom.