I was born 45 years ago today and raised in Nanakuli; the eldest of umpteenzillion grandchildren. I was the only girl in my family until my mom hanai’d my baby sister who is now 30 years old.

I married my high school sweetheart in 1978, we have three sons and one daughter. We also have 4-2/3 grandchildren. Our youngest son and his girlfriend are expecting their second son in a few months.

My husband joined the Navy right out high school so Navy life is pretty much all we’ve known until last year, when he retired after serving 28 years. The Navy has been good to us as far as benefits go. While he was on active duty, we’ve lived and traveled to Maryland, Florida, Georgia, Washington State, Japan and Hawaii. He traveled to more places than that when he was on sea duty. Some people can’t imagine being separated from their loved ones for six months at a time, I was fortunate to have been back home with my family whenever he was on sea duty. It made the time move quicker or so it seemed.

When hubby retired last year and after a year of debating whether to retire in Hawaii or Washington State, we decided it was more beneficial for us to retire in Washington State. The reason for that decision was simple. We couldn’t afford to live comfortably in Hawaii. The cost of housing is astronomical and I couldn’t see myself living on the beach in a tent village. Don’t get me wrong, if I were going to be homeless, Hawaii would be my #1 choice with it’s perfect weather. But I need my own bathroom, I’m finicky like that. Besides, Washington is a really pretty state and it’s still on the West Coast so it’s not that far from home. We’re centrally located so our children who live in Boston can travel almost the same distance as our son who lives in Hawaii.

Other than that there’s really not much more to say . . . . . about me.