Diana Haslam - Priorities, determination and adventure!

What a fun way to end the year, by featuring the effervescent Diana Haslam! Be prepared:  after you read this you WILL want to book a trip down a river with her!  On a day when I’m too tired to think and am reading by the fireplace, she’ll be remodeling her home, reorganizing the garden, volunteering, baking and then going to work --- whew!  If we could harness her energy there’d never be another energy shortage and the economy would always be percolating!

Much has been written about the baby boomers and how we changed the notion of what working actually looks like.  Thinking outside the box, questioning authority, having it all --- expressions born of a generation now entering retirement planning years.   In many respects, Diana is the poster child of her generation. One of the most interesting parts of her story is how she crafted, of necessity, a non-traditional career path that matched her passions with her desire to raise a family and her need to earn income.   I hope you will enjoy her story and find parallels that resonate with you.

Diana enjoying a break while biking along the Maine coast, August, 2013.

A mutual friend was gracious to introduce us, Diana, a “bit” over 20 years ago when you and I were first adopting our children.  I have always been drawn to your “can do” attitude and positive spin on things.  And when I could barely figure out how to find time to clean up my house, you were remodeling, landscaping your beautiful garden and raising two boys --- and working!   However, as your life as a Mom evolved, you decided to make a major career shift.  Tell us about your professional life before you were a Mom and what made you shift your professional focus. 

Luckily, I inherited lots of energy from my Mom and Grandpa (her dad), and developed many interests so I am never bored; only wishing for more time (and a bit more money!) to pursue them all.  Oddly enough, I don’t even mind housework, I just need more time to fit it in.

Before kids, beginning in the late 70’s I worked in high tech industries first when the office was called “Personnel,” eventually evolving into the field of Human Resources.  I really enjoyed the field “back in the day” when the focus was on advocating for the employee yet protecting the best interests of the company too.

When we adopted our first son (in my mid-thirties and before the Family Leave Act), I took a leave of absence from a job that I truly valued.  Staying home to care for my son was a special time but I was perplexed about how I would be returning to the work world.  It was my first time as a parent and I recall feeling so unsure how the future would unfold.  I had concerns many working moms struggle with:  If I didn’t work, what would be the financial impact?  Would I lose ground in the competitive work world should I want or need to return to employment? Had I worked diligently from the bottom up to become competent in my position just so could I walk away? Would staying home provide enough identity? I was conflicted, as I also wanted to be a hands-on Mom in the largest sense of the word. Since my husband and I had worked so hard to become parents, how could I miss this opportunity if I didn’t seize it to the fullest capacity?  Just a few weeks into my leave while mulling all this over and caring for a newborn, my employer asked me what my plans were regarding my intent to return to my job? She needed an answer due to work pressures. At this time “creative/flexible” options weren’t as readily available as they are now but to my good fortune my boss, the same wonderful person that introduced me to you, offered me a chance to work part-time in the same position. It was an awesome opportunity and I was very grateful that I could remain employed at the same job I enjoyed but also have some time with my son (a BIG SHOUT OUT to Rena Snyder, my then boss, and featured in the April 24, 2013 Ballou Plum Blog).

Diana dropping son, Alec at school before work, 1995.

Your shift didn’t just happen overnight, if I remember correctly.  There were a few interim moves before you ended up with your current firm, doing something you love and really believe in.  Walk us through that journey, Diana.  What did it take to leave a full-time and very successful corporate career and head towards your current passion?

While I seized and appreciated the initial opportunity to work part-time at my same level of position, things in the work place began to evolve more dramatically.  Those of you in a corporate setting may recall the time when Personnel basically just involved itself in paperwork processing and administration, running applicant ads, basic interviewing, and adherence to simpler legal requirements. Then it evolved to embrace the concept of “Human” resourcing with an overlying consideration of workplace happiness, employer loyalty tied to job satisfaction, and became more complex.  We had to navigate through a more complicated legal environment. There were mergers, acquisitions, benefit conversions, lay-offs, contemporary social issues and so on. Eventually, with cost-cutting, high tech options, and a large global market in all ways, many of the “human” aspects of Human Resources that I found to be meaningful became outsourced, shifted onto the backs of the managers, or devalued and tossed aside.  During these corporate philosophical and economical changes, I had taken on more responsibilities in the work place and felt this pressure.  My first son was growing and changing, and we had adopted a second son, so I felt the pull to be more available to our family. Ultimately, I became disenchanted with the big corporate experience and felt the imbalance between work and home was compromised such that I wasn’t contributing to my standards on either front. So, with the support of my wonderful husband, I decided to embrace motherhood 100%, take the plunge, and leave my job.  It took me just a couple of weeks to get over the fact that I wasn’t accountable to any outside “validation” and be okay with this along with more strict budgeting.  After a very short while, I loved my new life and did the typical Mom thing: Room mom, soccer mom, den mom, swim team mom, etc. etc. etc……

About six years later, my husband found himself laid off so it was time I helped pay for groceries again.

At this stage, I didn’t want to embrace the stress of corporate life nor commit to a full time job because of the subsequent impact to our home life, so I looked for something that would at least make a temporary contribution to our financial situation.  I worked a couple of light gigs in retail and as a data entry temp. Then, one night in Safeway, I ran into a former member of a babysitting coop we both once belonged to and I inquired about her daughter’s job at a local whitewater rafting company she worked for.  Well, the rest is history, as they say.  That night, I received a call from the owner, saying they had been wishing for someone such as me to join their team.   I was ecstatic as I had rafted as an early 20-something and had really loved it!  I hadn’t been this excited about a job ever!!!

Diana "on the job" - Tuolumne River, August, 2011.

Life on the river sounds very adventurous!  Tell us about your role in your company and some of the more amazing trips you’ve been on and helped lead.

I started as a part time reservationist and am now managing their reservation system from staffing and training to procedures and protocols. I partner with another manager who focuses more on the operation side and physical office. Together, we get it done. Rafting is a business that embraces what nature offers and is impacted enormously by outside elements (water levels, weather, economic times, coupon wars, and safety perception).   I have rafted all but one of our many trips from mild to wild. One of my greatest personal achievements has been rafting Cherry Creek, Class V, the most difficult trip in North America.  I’ve done it twice and reserve the bragging rights. We have an awesome guide staff that makes it seem easier than it really is.  And, they will tell you, just “STAY IN THE BOAT” --- “STAY IN YOUR SEAT!”

While working for a small employer in a seasonal business doesn’t provide the same income or benefits that a corporate job does, it has provided me with a richer personal and ultimately professional experience. We do it all (running the business) from top to bottom. And, I get to dress down, ride my bike to work, and enjoy annual rafting trips. Inviting different friends to go with me has enriched these relationships as well….one of the magical elements of spending time on the river together!

Diana enjoying "Hole Surfing," July, 2013.

Would you say that your passion for fitness has influenced your career path and choices?  Now that you aren’t running, how do you stay in such great shape?

Actually, my drive to be fit stemmed from an eating disorder in my late teens and throughout much of my 20’s.  Exercising to burn calories became crucial as part of that mentality but became a good habit to keep. And, as someone once said to me, “You love large muscle work-outs!”  The great feeling I get from swimming, biking, hiking, and moving to music is what keeps me interested.  Definitely, adventurous outings in nature, such as skiing and rafting, make me feel great!  Regrettably, the aches and pains and limitations we get as we age have slowed me down some. These days there is much room to get into better shape!  It’s on the list!

Share some of your childhood memories and influences with us, Diana. Where did you get the drive and focus and sheer willpower you possess? (And can you package some of it for the rest of us, please?)

My family camped quite a bit growing up and I loved the out-of-doors activities this brought. We took car vacations and rented snow cabins…all of which I experienced as adventures.  My Uncle Harold (Dad’s side now) took me canoeing on the Grand Canyon when I was 16 years old and I thought it was great!  Being outside without many boundaries was and still is exhilarating to me. This spills into all the things I love to do. In regard to any drive outside of this, I have come to strongly believe that we are hard wired at birth and move from this inner template.  So, I can’t really share any secret about willpower or focus other than to realize, we are our best when we come into ourselves through experience, acceptance, and putting ourselves into healthy environments, at home, work, and with friends.  My experiences have led me to believe that we are usually motivated to move away from something painful or towards something that seems wonderful.  In the middle, not much happens.

Camp Haslam, Oregon, 1996.

How did you and Tim meet?  What drew you to each other?

Tim and I met at work.  He was attractive, single, smart, but a bit shy.  He came into my office a few times to ask some benefit questions and when he didn’t take my hints about getting together outside work, I dropped a piece of paper off my desk with my phone number on it and said, “Sometimes I’m not busy on the weekends and we live in the same community”. HINT HINT.  He was bright enough to catch on….

Because I can be rather spirited (others might use a different adjective), I was drawn to his steadfastness, high values, clever sense of humor, and of course, to his excellent character.  I think he might add that I have pulled him into activities he might not have otherwise tried such as dancing, kayaking, rafting, and skiing.  Of course, I usually enjoy these things much more than he does….this is only fair as I haven’t learned to love research in the library as much as he does.  You can read more about my wonderful husband, Tim, in the October, 2010 Ballou Plum Blog.

When did you decide to pursue adoption?  What type of adoption process did you go through?

We were in our 30’s when we married and didn’t really plan on a family.  Then, four years later, my sister gave birth to my niece, I fell in love with her, and we re-thought things.  After a year of not conceiving naturally, we decided to pursue adoption.  Prior to this we volunteered to “puppy raise” a couple of Labradors for Canine Companions, an organization that provides service dogs for the disabled.  We knew going into this we would be saying good-bye to them a year later and that this would be emotionally tough. Letting them go but knowing that would be okay created a sensitivity to open adoption where a birth mom could have peace of mind about her decision to relinquish her child.  We also thought it important that the kids would know they had been placed out of love with direct access to information about themselves.  We had the good fortune to have two awesome birth experiences and we still maintain contact with these fabulous women and their extended families.  Both boys have birth siblings and enjoy these relationships.

Alec, Tim, Diana and Austin, 1992.

Your sons, Alec and Austin, are both handsome young men, continuing to grow and evolve. Looking back, for parents thinking of adopting children, what advice would you have for them?

Adopting through open doors is an exercise in trust and not comfortable for everyone. If both parties are willing to embrace this relationship, it can set the stage early on for how later adoptive related issues might be dealt with.  Both birth mothers and we agreed to seek counseling together if anything began to feel uncomfortable during our journey together.  With the help of an adoption agency, we discussed many possibilities the future might bring and then just went for it trusting in one another. The women were putting their faith in us that we would care for their babies and us in them that we would raise them as we saw fit. The best way to describe their role in our lives is they are like caring aunts.  They are available but never interfere.  It’s been wonderful.  We have such respect for them and will be forever grateful for their gift of parenthood to us.  As for the boys, they have extra families that love them.

We have come to believe that children are genetically pre-disposed at birth.  Each of our kids is very much like their birth families.  So, whether children are reared by a birth family or adopted, at the basic level, they are who they are. No guarantees what path they will take, what gene pool embedding will surface, and sometimes love and good parenting just isn’t enough to overcome issues and challenges.  But, as with most parents, we love our kids and do our best to provide an environment and morals to sustain them favorably in life.  Motherhood has been the most incredible journey of my life.

You have always loved nature and planned incredible family trips that focus on appreciating and exploring the beauty especially of the western United States.  Tell us about some of your more memorable vacations and what areas you would love to see again.  Where would you still like to explore?

When the boys were young, we took a few car camping vacations up through Oregon and Washington, stopping at all things animals, and having a great time around the camp fire playing charades.  While I would love to visit this gorgeous territory again, I would also enjoy visiting new areas.  My husband and I went to Washington DC for the first time last year and loved it.

Our second date was a bike ride where I promptly ran into a curb and flipped heels-over-head flying over the handle bars onto a grassy median.  Last year, about 33 years and 2,000 dates later, we road bikes through parts of Maine and re-captured some of our youth…It was awesome and we hope to do other similar trips. So, on to new sights and new adventures! 

Diana and Tim on a ride through Acadia National Park, Maine, August, 2013.

So, what’s next for you, Diana?  What would you still like to accomplish both professionally and personally?

Seriously, I want longer days, longer years, more time, fewer wrinkles and achy joints….there are so many things I enjoy and I’m lucky to be happy doing most things.  Before work yesterday, I gardened, polished my new kitchen floors, walked my dogs, got dinner started, made a to-do list for the evening, then went to my fabulous job.  If I could have, I would have baked a banana cake, sewed some curtains for the kitchen, swam, called a friend, read the book club book, planned a holiday party…..and so on.  I always manage to fill my time productively and with the many things I enjoy doing….yes, even house work.  I love a clean house! 

I don’t see much changing over the next five years although with Tim’s retirement pending, maybe less chores (he can do them!), more biking adventures, and more travel.  We’ll be heading to Costa Rica next year; a big trip for us!  Job wise, I imagine I might like working for the American Red Cross doing logistical planning and field work for disaster recovery….although I suspect it would be very stressful and thus, maybe not the best of choice for this stage of life…yet to be explored.

Diana and Tim ready to head out, Utah, 1983.

I’m sure everyone reading this will want to contact you and sign up for a rafting adventure for the upcoming season!   How can we reach you?

Okay, a commercial break here…..  Anyone wanting to mix fun, exhilaration, some exercise and relaxation, go rafting!  I can be reached at All-Outdoors California Whitewater Rafting http://www.aorafting.com (925) 932-8993, ext 164.  We have mild to wild options. All trips are on sale, 25% off, through January 31, 2014!

What other thoughts would you like to share with us, Diana?

I feel EXTREMELY lucky to have a fabulous life.  It’s so robust because I have friends and professionals such as you by my side along with amazingly supportive and caring family and relatives!!!

Thank you for listening and for caring enough to ask!!!!  Anyone willing to read this “selfie” about me, thank you too!

Team Ballou Plum wishing Diana a great "milestone" birthday this November.

Long-Term Care - Can it be Affordable?

This month we are going to take a detour from our usual client interview to discuss a topic that comes up increasingly in our meetings with you: the affordability of long-term care.  I sat down with our Financial Planning Associate, Laura Knolle, who has done a lot of research on this topic recently. In turn she decided to write a comprehensive white paper on this theme and after review, because it’s so well written and content accessible, for October’s Blog I decided to publish it in its entirety. 

I think you will find this topic timely for many reasons not the least of which is that it’s a suitable tie into this fall’s opening of our national health insurance exchanges.  As a country we’ve really opened up the conversation about health care, and with an aging population (whether it’s ourselves or our loved ones), we really need to get a better handle on what it means to need this type of care and how we can best prepare for the costs and coordination.

I think you will find her paper very interesting --- she opens with a case study. I’ll let her take it from here…..

Long-Term Care – Can it be Affordable?
By Laura R. Knolle, MS, CFP®

Bob was diagnosed with brain and lung cancer in 2010.  He, and his wife, Sue, lived in a retirement community for active seniors.  Sue didn't drive much and when Bob started to decline they were unable to make it to their doctor appointments and pick up necessities such as groceries.  They began having difficulty cooking and cleaning their home.  Within a few months it became almost impossible for Bob to make any trips out of the house or to even get dressed in the morning.  As more time progressed, he had difficulty bathing and Sue wasn't strong enough to assist him and was concerned she would hurt herself trying. Their son, Jeremy, lived in a different state and was busy taking care of his wife and young children.  Their daughter, Nancy, had special needs and needed care of her own. What do they do and who can they turn to for help?

What is Long-Term Care?

Long-term care includes medical and support services for individuals with illness. Most long-term care is custodial care (1)  and not skilled care (2).  Individuals who need custodial care are unable to perform “Activities of Daily Living” such as bathing, bowel and bladder management, dressing, eating, feeding, mobility, and personal hygiene. A long-term care insurance policy covers expenses associated with custodial care.  It can also cover supervision from cognitive issues such as Alzheimer’s and Dementia that might require 24 hour care.

Why You May Need a Long-Term Care Policy.

Incorporating a long-term care insurance policy into your financial plan can help protect your assets if you need care. You don’t buy home insurance hoping your house is going to burn down and you don’t buy long-term care hoping to need care. You purchase insurance to protect yourself against a loss that you can’t afford to incur.

There are four basic resources to provide the financing you may need to cover long-term care expenses:

• rely on your family; 
• welfare programs such as Medicaid (Medical in California);
• self-insure with your assets; or 
• purchase long-term care insurance.  

The first two options are not pre-planning options; they are what you do in a crisis. The focus of this article is on the last two options, whether to completely self-insure with your assets or pass some of the risk to an insurance company by purchasing a long-term care insurance policy.

How Much Can Long-Term Care Expenses Cost?

Let’s look at some estimates on what this type of care really costs.  In the California East Bay, a home health aid would cost ~$56,000 (3)  per year.  That same care is estimated to be ~$91,000 (4)  in the year 2037.  And of course this could be twice as much for a couple.

Most people can’t afford this type of care without substantially lowering their standard of living, compromising the quality of care, limiting their care choices, or endangering their financial stability. It can be burdensome for your spouse, children, or family members to provide care if you cannot afford to hire the help you need.

Jeremy came to visit his parents over the holidays and saw the rapid decline in Bob’s health.  While in town, he interviewed and hired two caregivers who could alternate schedules to come to Bob and Sue’s home to help drive them to doctor’s appointments, pick up groceries, cook and clean. The caregivers also assisted Bob with bathing, dressing, and walking.  Jeremy remembered that his Mom and Dad had purchased a long-term care policy years ago.  He called the insurer to submit a claim. After completing the paperwork to submit the claim including a letter from Bob’s doctor and the caregivers, the claim was approved and they were able to start collecting benefits.

What Programs or Insurance Do Not Cover Long-Term Care Expenses?

There are many misunderstandings on how long-term care costs are covered.  It is important to know what does not cover long-term care expenses or has a limited benefit:

• Medicare is restricted to specific illnesses and injuries for short periods of time.  This is also true for Medigap or Medicare Advantage.  
• There are some benefits for Veterans but only for specific populations and in specific circumstances.
• Medicaid may cover some long-term care expenses but eligibility varies by state and applicants must have a certain level of impairment and limited financial resources. 
• Disability covers a loss in wages due to a disability, and not long-term care.  

Do you Self-Insure or Purchase Long-Term Care Insurance?

Now that you know how much long-term care can cost and what does not cover those costs, should you self-insure or purchase a policy?  It is important to have a discussion with your CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional to review your options.  Here are some basic steps to guide you through this process:

Step One: Estimate the Cost of Care.

• Where do you want to live during retirement?  Obtain an idea of the cost of coverage in that area. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has a resource online to estimate costs of care in your state. Click here to access the site.  
• Do you want to receive care in your home or a facility?  Most people want to stay in their home as long as possible.

Step Two:  Do you want to insure the full cost of care, or purchase long-term care insurance to cover some of the risk?

• Do you want to avoid having to depend on your spouse, children, or other family members for care
• Do you want to use your assets to pay for care or rely on insurance to cover the costs?
• Would you feel more comfortable to push some of the risk to an insurer by purchasing a long-term care insurance policy?

Step Three: Obtain long-term care insurance quotes.

• By obtaining quotes this will help you weigh the relative value of purchasing a plan. 
• There are a lot of bells and whistles to choose from when purchasing a long-term care policy such as the amount you receive daily or monthly, how long your policy pays, and does it have inflation protection.  It is also important to find out if the premiums may increase over time. While this can make these products complex, the numerous options also allow a policy to be customized to what you need and to what you can afford. Flexibility in products enables you to design a coverage that meets most budgets. 

Step Four: Review your options, make a decision, and a plan.

• Is purchasing a policy affordable?  If not, can the coverage be adjusted to decrease the premium?
• If you self-insure, how much will you set aside in reserves?  Make a game plan to stay on track.
• Review your plans annually with your CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional.

Years earlier Bob and Sue had spoken to their financial planner about the possible need for long-term care insurance.  It was difficult to think that a need may arise, but they knew it was important to have these conversations now while they were still in good health.  They first determined that they wanted to stay in their home as long as possible and estimated what home care was in their area. They knew they didn't want to burden their children financially with their care and decided they were more comfortable passing some of the risk to an insurance company.  Their financial planner ran long-term care insurance quotes showing various options within their budget. They reviewed several quotes and discussed with their financial planner any questions they had so they could make an informed decision. They decided to purchase an individual long-term care insurance policy on each of them to help pay for some of the risk.

Possible Ways to Reduce Your Premium.

Affordability is one of the reasons why people do not purchase a long-term care insurance policy.   Here are a few ideas that may help your premium be more financially manageable in your budget.

• Shorten the term of your policy.  Perhaps you’d like a three year policy but the premium is too high. Consider a two year policy instead.
• Share the benefit with your spouse or domestic partner.  Couples can share a combined pool of benefits for either spouse or domestic partner (or both) to use.  
• There may be discounts available to you such as couple’s discounts or preferred health. 
• Look at your options when designing a policy: Daily (or monthly) benefit amount, benefit period, elimination period, inflation protection, optional riders. These can be adjusted to meet your needs and affordability.  
• The cost for your policy will be determined by your age and health when you first apply.  Therefore the younger you are, the lower your initial annual premiums will be. 
• Also the younger you are when you apply for coverage the greater the chance you’ll qualify for a good health discount. 

Bob’s health continued to diminish and he needed care around the clock.  Jeremy and Sue were able to find a third caregiver to stay at the home overnight.  Jeremy became the Power of Attorney for his parent’s financial matters and each month would submit the expenses on behalf of his parents to the long-term care insurer. The insurer paid the approved expenses up to the limit on the policy.  While it didn't cover all of their health expenses, it did help prevent eroding their existing financial assets that Sue needed to live on.  Bob passed after needing two years of care.  Sue was thankful that she and Bob had made a plan in years past to help cover these expenses when the time came.

Summary

Long-term care doesn't have to be an all-or-nothing decision.  You can always put some level of protection in place versus ignoring the risk altogether.  Obtain the facts so you can look at your options and make an informed decision.  If you have any questions on long-term care insurance or would like to review your personal situation, please do not hesitate to call our office.

Thank you for following along with Laura’s well thought through remarks and her extremely helpful case study.  We know that every situation is unique and will involve careful consideration and planning.  Know that we are here for you as these issues arise.  Don’t hesitate to reach out to us at anytime to discuss your own personal and distinctive circumstances.  We look forward to being able to help! 

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1)  Custodial care is non-medical care that helps individuals with his/her activities of daily living.
2)  Skilled care is generally from a licensed nursing personnel or certified nursing assistant.
3)  Information obtained from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.  Click here to access the site.
4)  Information obtained from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.  Click here to access the site.

The Affordable Care Act (ACA), Also Known as "Obamacare"

Okay, we all feel a bit overwhelmed with the new health care laws, let’s be honest! Some of it has been easy and understandable. But the hard stuff is just coming up around the corner and we can’t ignore it --- we have to stay informed.

Toward that end we've been collaborating with the well-known and very knowledgeable health insurance professional, Colleen Callahan of Colleen Callahan Insurance Services, and will be presenting a webinar with her on Wednesday, October 9th at noon PDT. During this webinar, we’ll really dig down into the new law and discuss information pertinent to our clients and colleagues. Information about how to register will be available through our office and you will receive an official invitation to participate soon, if not already. Since there’s never a perfect time for everyone, we will record this event and post it to our website shortly afterwards so that you can replay at your convenience if you were unable to attend live.

There’s a lot being written about the new laws; some helpful, others not so much. The best writing I've seen to date is the three part Blog series published by colleague Eleanor Blayney, CFP®. In her role as CFP Board of Standards Consumer Advocate, Eleanor has become a nationally sought after speaker on all topics in our field of Personal Financial Planning. When I read her Blogs recently on the topic of “Obamacare,” I was very impressed at how she was able to make this very complicated topic accessible and understandable. So, for this month’s Blog, I am simply referring you to her three part informative series published through the CFP Board of Standards website “Let’s Make A Plan.org.”

I cannot encourage you strongly enough to read her three Blogs on this topic. To access them, you simply need to click on the three links we've provided below. I recommend reading them in order as she covers all topics in a logical and organized format.

Click here for Part I – Financial Planning and the Impact of the affordable Health Care Act on Individuals Working at a Large Employer

Click here for Part II – ACA’s Impact on Small Businesses and the Self-Employed

Click here for Part III – What about the Uninsured?

We look forward to your participation in our upcoming webinar on October 9th. Please don’t hesitate to reach out at anytime if you have questions. We are in this together and there’s much to learn!

Happy Fall!

From Blind Date to Friends and Clients -- The Fabulous Lee and Anne Samuels

Lee and Anne in Churchill, Manitoba, October, 2009

I recently had a chance to catch up with our globe-trotting friends and clients, the Samuels.  When you read their story, you’ll see how remarkable it is that I was able to corner them long enough to grab the salient points of their lives well lived, squeeze a couple of pictures from them, and then send them packing ---- literally!  On their next adventure, that is!  

Teachers with a passion for excellence in education who helped raise thousands of great kids in a relatively quiet part of our state, they take their positive thinking and inquisitive minds to the greater world, and I imagine there will be no global stone left unturned in their journeys.  We first met the Samuels during a “blind date” arranged by USA TODAY.  Marilyn and I had just joined forces to create our firm and one of the first opportunities we had with the press was to help with one family’s finances by pitching in with hopefully helpful suggestions to make their already remarkable lives even better.  Our lucky day, because not only did we have a great time and enjoy a small moment in the press sunshine, but even better, we made a lasting friendship with two of the coolest educators, kindest and most generous world citizens ever.  

Living their life-long dream of world travel might seem like a simple and foregone conclusion, but they made important choices, living on teacher’s salaries while fully funding every retirement plan they could.   They made a decision to trade short-term instant spending gratification for long-term happiness, retiring relatively young and living their dreams.  What’s even more remarkable is their upbeat attitude through a few serious challenges, including Anne’s ongoing battle with cancer.  I know you’ll want to keep reading and learn all about our friends, the Samuels.

Lee, we met in an unusual fashion in 1998 through a USA TODAY interview while you were both still teaching.  Your goals were clear:  as much as you and Anne loved teaching, you wanted to be able to plan a healthy retirement filled with lots of travel! You also wanted to have the space to indulge another great passion: cooking!  Not many would be as willing as you have to be a featured financial planning case study in such a national publication as USA TODAY!   How did this come about for you?

As early as 1988, Anne and I were placing significant portions of our paychecks into our 403(b) plans.  Portfolio growth was markedly slow, and we were looking to make a change from our investment counselor.  We had become acquainted with USA Today during its infancy period as we visited Europe, becoming subscribers by 1990.  The financial section became my initial morning read accompanied by that first cup of coffee.  After reading a USA Today notice of an opportunity for a financial makeover with expert consultants, I told Anne that we should apply. Never really believing that we would be chosen, we were surprised when we received a phone call from a representative of USA Today asking if we still wanted to participate.  If we agreed, we would be interviewed by one of their financial reporters, who would match us up with an up-and-coming financial management team from Northern California.  

At our initial phone meeting, we received short and long-term advice offered by Lynn and Marilyn (long distance may I add, as we live several hundred miles south of their Lafayette office) and we turned our financial lives over to them.  We never looked back as Ballou and Plum recommended changes to our financial plans and have continued guiding us up to and into our retirement.

Several inheritances over the years have been wisely saved, we continued adding to our 403(b) and IRA funds, giving us the ability to travel and otherwise enjoy our retirement years. Since our initial phone contacts, we have visited their offices many times and grown to think of them as dear friends.

Lee and Anne enjoying food and friends, 2013

Tell us a bit about your careers in teaching and what lead you to pursue your careers, your specializations, and how you and Anne met.

Anne and I spent our earning years as high school teachers.  Anne knew she would be a teacher at age seven after playing school with neighbors, her sister and cousin. She always played the role of teacher and enjoyed helping others learn.  With her allowance, Anne purchased "Dick and Jane" books and math workbooks to assist in her “instruction.”  During her 35 year career, she taught various levels of English. Besides being the English Department Chairperson for her last 17 years, she instructed Honors English at the 9th and 11th grade levels, and AP Language.

From my first experience as a high school student in a drawing and design class, I knew I'd be an artist. Teaching entered the realm of possibilities when I was a senior at San Diego State University.  Following 18 months of teaching 7-8 grade art in La Mesa (east county San Diego suburb), I became a Proposition 13 casualty.  Only two visual art vacancies were listed in Southern California that summer (1979): Corona/Norco and Eagle Mountain, a Kaiser mining company owned town situated in Riverside County's low desert between Indio and Blythe in the appropriately titled Desert Center Unified School District.  I was hired immediately following a July 3rd interview.  Anne, whose EM tenure predated mine by five years, and I began dating (much to the amusement of extremely bored students) the following spring.  Our wedding in April, 1982, was the community’s social highlight that spring.  Kaiser terminated mining operations the following year, subsequently closing our school and the community.  Eventually, Anne and I moved to Apple Valley and taught in the Hesperia District for 23 years. 

As life-long learners I know you are always reading, Anne, and Lee, always pursuing art.  And then you have a shared love of cooking!  Tell us about these interesting hobbies.  And do they enhance your enjoyment of travel? 

I instructed 2D visual arts (painting, drawing, graphic design and advertising art) for 30 years.  I loved teaching and miss interacting with students ("my children") and colleagues.  We remain committed to public education, and I continue to volunteer, mentoring teachers and working in classrooms integrating the arts into core subjects (English, social sciences, life sciences and industrial design/ engineering).  I still have a passion for the learning process and enjoy witnessing students make connections in a proactive and creative environment.  And being with students has kept me thinking young.  Both of us feel some of our most satisfying accomplishments lie in the legacy of our “children.”

30 plus years as a secondary teacher is time entirely well spent...time for some other educators to have the opportunity to teach and, hopefully, create a positive impact through their interaction with students.  When Anne and I began our careers immediately out of college, our goal was to retire in our 50s.  Not having children (except for the 9,000 we taught between us) of our own meant using vacation time for travel opportunities.  And take advantage we did.  While our house was being constructed during the summer of 1985, Anne and I escaped for six weeks of independent travel primarily in the British Isles and Italy.  We fell in love with the folks we met, the local cuisines, sites, art and aesthetics of place.  Talking with locals whenever possible, we quickly realized, with the exception of minor cultural nuances, we're all really seeking the same goals out of life.  

Anne and Lee in Ireland, October, 2011

Your passion for travel is infectious!  Where have you been and what’s been the best trip yet. Where would you still like to travel?  Any booking or travel tips you’d like to share?

In 1990, while visiting Prague, Anne and I witnessed the campaigns for the first Czech legislative elections resulting from that country’s Velvet Revolution. Two years ago, we spent two weeks in Ireland and before that Iceland.  In April of 2012, Anne and I traveled to Krakow, Poland, with my cousin to research our family’s roots. (I have investigated fascinating ancestral archives and studies while building family trees for our respective families).  We’ve been to all of the US National Parks except Kobuk Valley and Gates of the Arctic (both located in Alaska), American Samoa, Virgin Islands and our newest park:  Pinnacles.  We intend to visit each of these parks eventually.  Recently, Anne and I spent three weeks in England, touring the southwest (Wiltshire, Cornwall, Somerset, Hampshire) and London. Culture, history, the arts, and of course, sampling regional cuisines are central to our travel experiences.  

However, it is sharing native cuisine with locals that provides true insight to a culture. On my final evening in Italy (following a seven week education journey), I was invited along with several in our travel group to a penthouse overlooking the floodlighted Roman Forums.  Over cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, guests (American and Italian) and our hosts discussed politics, debated foreign policies, enjoyed operatic performance and, upon our departure, exchanged warm embraces early the following morning.  On the same journey, I was invited into a Roman kitchen (trattoria) where I learned and then participated in preparing saltimbocca and carbonara.  Earlier, in Venezia, on Giudecca, a gray gato of medium size pointed, then directed, five of us into a house fronting the Grand Canal.  Stripped of its living quarters downstairs and outfitted as a kitchen-trattoria, we shared platters of frito misto (cozze, vongole, calamaro e polpo) accompanied by a stupendous Veneto vini bianchi da tavola with locals and the proprietors as one contented (well fed and petted) gato gazed out to sea. 

My dream trip to Israel occurred three summers back.  On behalf of my parents and grandparents, I recited Kaddish at the Western Wall then strolled its tunnel alongside ancient foundation stones and, upon exiting, walked the Via Dolorosa continuing into the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.  Accompanied by a former Israeli Defense Force member who fought in the Yom Kippur War, my friend and I scoured the Golan Heights Syrian bunkers that his platoon recaptured.  That same morning, we studied the Lebanese frontier in the shadow of an Israeli military forward post and drove northeast for lunch with Druze community members.  That same afternoon, we met up and shared cookies and milk with 20-something IDF Merkava (tank) commandos conducting drills near the Syrian frontier.  Proceeding that late afternoon southbound to Golan wine country we toasted our complete day with Yarden Syrah and Chardonnay.  Another private tour, escorted by Palestinian Jordanians, enabled a visit to the shifting sands and camel caravans of Wadi Rum followed the next day by that Indiana Jones moment revealed as El Khasneh (The Treasury at Petra) appeared between walled canyon escarpments.  Perhaps the most stirring portion of the journey “home” was an emotionally intense day at Yad Vashem’s museum Holocaust Memorial.  Touring exhibits documenting events and atrocities with IDF conscripts, men and women no more than 18 or 19 years of age being instructed in hushed tones by older leaders…and penultimately arriving at The Hall of Names with its memorial to each Jew who perished, photos of the murdered reaching skyward as their portraits reflected in a pool of water carved below into Mt. Herzl’s bedrock will remain forever seared into my consciousness.  

We’ve taken several trips to Alaska (Anne’s favorite destination) where we have watched bears snag king salmon atop Katmai Falls, traveled to wilderness destinations by float plane, taken raft trips, hiked on glaciers, snow-mobiled on groomed trails and viewed Aurora Borealis from Chena’s hot springs in -55 Fahrenheit temperatures.  The perfect Alaska day:  Anne and I departed our Port Alsworth (Lake Clark National Park) lodge for a rendezvous with river guide. Following a scenic 20 minute float plane flight, we deplaned 20 feet from shore and gingerly hip-waded our way to the nearest bank, carrying provisions for a two mile tundra and muskeg portage before rafting several hours of a pristine river with no trace of other humans; bald eagles soared on the thermals above and grayling swished about underneath. The river emptied into Sixmile Lake where our raft was attached and towed by floatplane across to Nondalton Townsite where we met Athabascan children offering us hot tea. 

Too close for comfort, Churchill, Manitoba, October, 2009

What’s next for the Samuels?

Come February, we embark from Ushuaia (Quark Expeditions), Argentina on a 21-day epic voyage to the Malvinas (Falkland) Islands, South Georgia Islands and the Antarctic Peninsula (traveling below the Antarctic Circle).  High points will include encountering Emperor along with other penguin breeds, shore birds and aquatic life during twice daily zodiac shore excursions. Our Antarctic voyage will provide a fantastic bookend to recent Icelandic explorations, as well as viewing polar bears several years ago at Churchill, Manitoba. 

Two years out, Anne and I envision traveling to Botswana’s Okavango Delta, Moremi Game Preserve, Linyanti, and Chobe National Park on a photo safari of African Big Five.  Perhaps we’ll include wild Namibian dunes and Zambia’s Victoria Falls in our itinerary.  Occasionally friends request that I share travel ideas and tips.  Most of what I have learned comes through extensive research.  For domestic travel I refer to Frommer’s and Insiders’ guides.  For international travel I’ll checkout Frommer’s, Michelin and Lonely Planet sources.  Also, for those impossible-to-book or one-in-a-lifetime tours, I’ll contact experts as provided by Conde Nast's Wendy Perrin (Top Travel Specialists) which costs more, but instead of being tourists, we’re elevated to traveler and partaker.

Lee, we know that Anne has experienced some health scares in her life, which together you’ve faced and continue to battle head on.  Tell us more about these challenges.

In 1998, not long after we joined the Ballou Plum family, Anne was diagnosed with breast cancer.  Fortunately, we’re about an hour and a half from City of Hope in Duarte, a nationally acclaimed cancer research and treatment facility.  After a lumpectomy, chemotherapy and radiation, Anne went 4 1/2 years before we discovered her cancer (Her2 Positive) had metastasized.  Another bout of radiation kept the cancer at bay for six additional years.  Four years ago, we learned it had once again spread, resulting in more chemotherapy.  At this point, she has an infusion (Herceptin) every three weeks which has prevented the cancer from returning, and throughout all of this trauma, she has lived a normal active life—traveling, quilting and, of course, reading. 

Bruce Springsteen meets Anne backstage before his May, 2009 show
at Hersheypark Stadium, Hershey, PA

So fast forward 15 years, and if USA TODAY were to visit you now, what would be the most surprising thing you would share with their readers?

If USA Today conducted a follow-up interview we’d love to share our “secret” for success with fellow readers.  Our rich and varied present lifestyle is possible because of our pensions and other assets that we focused on growing during our working years.  We own our home, have no loans and pay off our credit cards every month. 

Anne and I are able to engage our love of independent travel.  We garden (organically) and I enjoy preparing meals (especially during the summer and autumn months incorporating our vegetables and fruits into a variety of recipes).  We are fortunate in having family and a group of retired teacher friends with whom we observe birthdays, go to movies, have parties, and celebrate our lives.  

If readers would like to reach out to you, how can they best do so?

We’d love to chat with Ballou Plum “family” members and can be reached at:   leesamuels@mac.com  

Lee and Anne in Iceland, July, 2011

It Really IS All About You…….and a little bit about us!

You know how much I love writing my Blog about all of you, and I look forward to many more years of great client stories!   That said, frequently you ask for updates about us as well, so I thought it would be fun this summer to visit with the Team here at Ballou Plum and chat a bit about what’s new in OUR lives!  We’ll start with our biggest news, first.

Our very bright Financial Planning Associate, Laura Malinowski (soon to be Laura Knolle), and her husband, John, enjoyed a romantic wedding and honeymoon in Kauai this past May. Here’s a great picture of them together (adorable!) on their special day!  Laura is also very busy in her last semester at Golden Gate University, finishing up her Master’s in Financial Planning and Taxation with an emphasis in Estate Planning this August.   She’s looking forward to weekends of play and not study!

John and Laura on their wedding day!

Busy and beloved, our Operations Manager, Debi Murphy, finished her degree as well!  In June, she graduated Cum Laude from Cal East Bay with her Bachelors in Liberal Studies and a minor in California Studies.  Debi is our inspiration on so many levels, as she had to abandon college in her younger years to support her family, help put her husband and daughter through their college studies and support their goals and ambitions, but never lost sight of the importance of a degree and education for herself. Here she is in her full graduation regalia!  We are SO proud of her!!!  Later this month, Debi and her husband, Pastor Kevin Murphy, will be heading to Honduras with a group from their church to spend a week working at the Children’s Rescue Mission (www.crmission.org) in Tuepasenti.  They are making a huge and positive impact on the lives of so many who live without things you and I take for granted.



Debi graduates with Honors!

Our hard working, multi-tasking Chief Investment Officer, Sid Ean, and his wife, Sophon, welcomed their second son late last year.  Here’s a picture of Parker (now three and proud big brother) with adorable baby Liam, and proud Dad.   Sid is embarking on studying for his CFA this year, so he’ll be a busy man between family, work and burning the midnight oil over text books. And they still want that daughter, so, we are looking forward to more little Eans in the future!

Parker and Liam visiting Dad at work

Ever patient, detail oriented, and always empathetic, Ballou Plum’s Client Services Manager, Mark Young, is a lifelong student.  Before joining us he was already well underway on obtaining his CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ designation.  This summer he’s finishing up the last coursework for that designation and then he will sit for the exam in the fall.  He continues to have a passion for sports, especially golf, and is looking forward to scuba diving in Cozumel in August.

Mark, high above the shores of Lake Michigan at Arcadia Bluffs

The calm and loving voice of Ballou Plum, Cristina Holloway, continues to wear many hats here at Ballou Plum.  She is a woman of many talents from helping you with appointments and paperwork, to becoming our event planner extraordinaire!  Those of you who attended our Shred party recently met her terrific son, Brent, the youngest of her three sons.  Cristina loves traveling, biking and spending every free moment outdoors.  

Cristina and Benny enjoying a beautiful day at Tumalo Falls near Bend, OR

Super sharp and very fun, Rene’ Trujillo, the true and quintessential soccer mom (attended UCSF on a soccer scholarship), has been a great addition to our team.  With an extensive background in portfolio management, she has been a perfect fit as Research Assistant in Team Research.   Full-time Mom with two busy youngsters and part-time with Ballou Plum, here’s a picture of her, her husband Craig, and their two adorable children Jameson and Zeke.

Hanging around with Rene' and her family!

Meredith Ballou, our newest addition, joins us part time this summer, as a “junior” Client Services Coordinator.   As my daughter, she’s helped us out over the years somewhat informally, and now we are really happy to have her join us as an official Team member.  Passionate about providing great customer service, she’ll be serving us in the much needed role of internal general office support. 

Meredith in her Tigger ears at her favorite place, Disneyland!

Marilyn and I continue to feel honored to be here for you.  This fall, Marilyn will be traveling to India in November. You know her love of adventure and travel --- so there’s no telling what’s next!  Here’s a picture of her and her husband, Todd, enjoying the great outdoors in their EarthRoamer (learn more about EarthRoamers at www.earthroamer.com).

Marilyn and Todd enjoying a trip in their EarthRoamer

And last, but hopefully not least, I want to thank you so much for your many kindnesses and good wishes while my husband battled a very invasive cancer this year.  Having your understanding along with a great Team here at Ballou Plum enabled me to cut back my hours a bit to focus on my husband’s health issues.  So far the news is excellent:  he appears to be cancer free!   And on a fun note, my son, Nicholas, has decided to try his hand at touring as a tennis pro.  He and his doubles partner are already doing well.  If you would like to see him play in the Bay Area, he’ll be in the Moraga Country Club tournament this August 6^th – 11^th. 

John and Lynn enjoying date night!

So, whew!   That’s it from us!  Aren’t you glad you asked!?!?  ;-)

Wishing you a very fun and hopefully relaxing summer!  Big hugs from all of us to all of you!  

Miriam Hospodar ---- Wisdom, Joy and SO Much Talent!

As I write this, I’m jealous of you. Why? Because you are about to discover Miriam (“Mimi”) Hospodar, not only a truly unique and mind-bendingly talented artist, but even better, one of the kindest and most generous souls you could ever find. Her work is joyful, colorful and visually delightful --- its own complete botanical garden exploding with life and promise. The way she embraces color --- in fact every piece of work is a fascinating study in the smart and limitless uses of color --- and has such control over her subject, will make you think differently about how illustrations can vibrate from the page and tell a complex story all in a very compact space.

So that should be enough, right? That should be the totality of her unique story --- ah, but that’s where you’d be wrong because in addition to these talents, there is so much more to learn and love about her. I’m going to get out of the way of her story and let her tell you all about her remarkable life as artist, author, teacher and student of the world.

Miriam "Mimi" Hospodar, 1999

Mimi, even though we’ve only been working together just over a year or so, I feel as if we’ve known each other a long time.  Perhaps it’s due to our “coming of age” in the sixties and both being children of that amazing time and generation.  You were my northern California counterpart that I’ve just recently met!  Growing up in the Bay Area during those incredible and historic moments must have been inspirational for you, especially as an artist.  I’d love it if you would share your thoughts on those years and how they shaped you.

I was nine years old in 1960 and turned nineteen in 1970, so I came of age during the 1960s. The Civil Rights Movement was at my door; my middle school in Berkeley was the first school in the USA that voluntarily took steps to racially integrate. The Free Speech Movement took place while I was in middle school and the U.C. Berkeley Chancellor’s son was a classmate. In high school, every boy I knew was going to be drafted for the Vietnam War as soon as he turned eighteen. Therefore, involvement with anti-war activities had great urgency and personal importance.

So-called “psychedelic” art was decorating everything in San Francisco from underground newspapers to fabrics and fashions. People awoke San Francisco’s then-crumbling, low-rent Victorian houses by festooning them with exuberant colors and designs. My art was greatly influenced by the marvelous posters for the Fillmore Auditorium, Winterland and Avalon Ballroom. I studied the Art Nouveau artists from whom the poster artists drew inspiration. I copied their lettering styles and embraced their sense of freedom with color and imagery. I was also inspired by the fashion trend of vintage clothing that could be picked up for a song at thrift shops. The beauty of the ubiquitous arts, crafts and fabrics from India especially caught my eye; years later I majored in Indian art history at Oakland University, and received a BFA from California College of the Arts. I also spent two wonderful years studying with a Tibetan thangka painter, Pema Wangyal of Dolpo. All these experiences informed my painting style.

Cacao Deity, 2004

From what you’ve told me, your entire family has always been very artistically inclined from musicians, to writers, to artists, as well as collectors of art. What fields did your parents pursue professionally? Did your family worry about you pursuing a career in the arts, wanting you to find a more traditional profession? Were they concerned about the difficulty associated with choosing a tough field to break into financially?

My father was a mechanical engineer who took up metal sculpture in retirement. My mother, a clinical psychologist, did ceramics and worked in copper. After she retired, she became a prolific painter. They collected folk and primitive art from New Guinea, Africa and Mexico. My brother is a Celtic fiddler and a sea chantey singer. My godfather, with whom I am very close, was a painter who worked with Richard Diebenkorn, David Park and Elmer Bischoff.

My parents wanted me to become an artist. However, I don’t think they considered the professional challenges of such a life too carefully! I actually have had three careers, two of which I received a significant amount of training for. I am a visual artist with a BFA and also a BA in Art History, a certified teacher of the Transcendental Meditation Program and the published author of three books and many magazine articles. However, none of these has proved a lucrative career path. I have frequently had to take “day jobs” to provide the majority of my income.

Mimi, you are probably the hippest, coolest woman I’ve ever met! You have this amazing vibe and vibrancy about you that’s hard to explain. Tell us about your early influences that set you on your incredible and creative path.

Quite simply, I have to create in order to be happy. I think that it is a blessing and a curse that one is born with. Fortunately, I had parents who encouraged me to draw and paint, to write and to pursue other creative projects. The greatest influence on my creative life is my practice of Transcendental Meditation. I learned in 1970 when I had just turned nineteen, and trained to become a teacher of the technique three years later. I have never missed a day. It helps keep me centered and stokes the creative fires. I have never experienced artist’s or writer’s block, and it has helped me access deeper wells of inspiration.


Healing Angel, 2012

Where have you traveled and lived over your life? What were some of the most interesting places and how did you come to be there? Where might you want to return to visit or newly see?

When young, I traveled with my family to Navajo and Hopi reservations, and to the Anasazi archeological sites in Arizona, and many times to Mexico. I was fascinated by the arts and crafts of Oaxaca, and by the sites of the ancient Aztec, Mayan and Toltec civilizations. As an adult, I lived in France and Switzerland for three years, and spent a year each in the Philippines, Taiwan and India with the Transcendental Meditation organization. I returned to India to travel on my own for four months, and have also traveled in Italy. I would love to go to Chicago, New Orleans and Mississippi for the blues music, and to spend a few months in Venice, painting and exploring. It is the most improbable, romantic city I have ever seen.

You’ve also met a lot of fascinating people. Any stories you’d like to share? I especially love the one about you meeting Richie Havens, who sadly, recently passed away.

Richie Havens was a dear friend, whom I met when I was writing a book about the social significance of sixties music. He told me about his wish to give concerts for peace in Israel and Egypt after Anwar Sadat made his historic trip to Israel. Havens was not able to receive permission to visit both countries on one passport. However, for the first time ever, Israel permitted an Egyptian film crew to enter the country and film his Israeli concert. Havens said that his beloved late grandmother had always wanted to visit the Holy Land. When he first set foot on Israeli soil he said aloud, “Well Grandma, we made it!”

Mimi with Richie Havens, 2007

Donovan is a fascinating and serious poet and student of poetry. He created a series of artworks to illustrate the poems of the ancient Greek poet, Sappho. He studied the Beat poets, and once did a low-key concert tour of historic California coffee houses frequented by them.

Bob Weir of The Grateful Dead recounted the countless hours he spent listening to very early rock ‘n roll records, and talked excitedly about the difference between “rock” music and “rock ‘n roll”. His assistant told me that it was the best interview he had ever heard Weir give.

Ellis Amburn, Jack Kerouac’s last editor, expounded on Kerouac’s love of rock ‘n roll and his fondness for Elvis. He encouraged me to visit Kerouac’s grave site. I am not one much for cemeteries, but when I was in Lowell, Massachusetts, I sought out Kerouac’s final resting place. Indeed, it has a powerful vibration. I brought some sand from a California beach that Kerouac wrote about to sprinkle around the grave. Also, like many other writers, I left a pen.

How have you evolved as an artist most recently? What are you currently pursuing and most passionate about? What inspires you?

I think that evolution as an artist simply comes from putting in the hours. When one has long stretches of time in which to create, new and unexpected ideas emerge. I have decided to devote the remainder of my artistic life to creating healing paintings. Some are personal for individuals, and others are more universal. I recently painted a guardian angel for a friend who is recuperating from breast cancer surgery and chemo. I also recently finished a painting to help heal broken hearts. Right now I am working on a celestial “garden of the gods.” The imagery comes from my inner vision, but I will often research what I “see.” For instance, the painting for healing broken hearts features symbols of transformation and renewal, such as butterflies, a phoenix, dragonflies and spring blossoms. I looked at many images of these subjects before creating my own.

Healing for Broken Hearts, 2013

You have been working over many years on an extremely interesting biography. I know you’ve put it on the back burner for now, but can you tell us about the expansive subject matter and how you might change the way you tell these incredible histories and stories?

I worked for about four years on a book about sixties music and how it reflected the values of the time. It takes place mostly in the San Francisco Bay Area. I wove into it a lot of autobiographical material, as I was deeply involved in music from childhood on. From folk music to rock, blues and jazz, the music of the time reflected the politics, art, gender roles, spirituality, health and ecology issues, racial issues etc. that were in upheaval and in which exciting experimentation were occurring. I interviewed a variety of important figures, primarily musicians, but also underground radio personalities, social figures such as Wavy Gravy, artists and writers. My favorite story took place when I was fifteen years old, and Bob Dylan passed out in my lap!

What was most important to me was to tell the story about the significant and lasting changes that were initiated during the time, not just the “sex drugs and rock ‘n roll” stereotype of a bunch of stoned people with impractical ideals. Awareness of ecology and sustainability, organic food, gay rights, women’s rights, civil rights, important artistic movements, spiritual awareness and many other important societal changes and advances had deep roots in the sixties. I used music to show the expression of these values. Unfortunately, the book did not find a home with a publisher, as the general consensus was that there are too many books about the sixties already. One editor asked me, after reading the proposal, “Where are the sex and drugs?”

In addition, I have three published books, including two cookbooks, The Age of Enlightenment Cookbook (Arco, 1981) and Heaven’s Banquet (Plume, 2001) and a book about Italian street painting that I co-authored, Asphalt Renaissance (Sterling, 2011).

"Heavan's Banquet," 2001

Another thing to admire about you is your approach to being charitable. You really believe that charity begins at home with family and friends, with those who are close to our hearts, rather than in donating to the more traditional charitable organizations. How did you come to feel this way? What do you do to express that belief and act on those core values?

Although society generally acknowledges “the arts,” the actual artists are not supported well, even though they are often very well educated, experienced and work extremely hard at what they do. They often subsist on low-paying, part-time jobs without any benefits. They have accrued virtually no retirement income. These worthy people have no safety nets to cover accidents, catastrophic illnesses and unexpected expenses, nor do many of them have health insurance.

I prefer to give money directly to artists in need, rather than funnel it through organizations and foundations. It can be used immediately, I know exactly who the money is going to, and the artists do not have to go through any daunting application process. If I feel that the gift will affect our relationship, I send it anonymously by mailing a certified check (Thank you Lynn and Marilyn for figuring out that maneuver!). Even if the amount of money will not solve a problem 100%, it serves to encourage and uplift the artist. It has been a very fulfilling way of giving, and much appreciated by a valuable segment of society that does not get many breaks.

What are your current challenges as an artist in these economic times, and how do you address and tackle them? What do you see as your next professional steps?

Visual art is an elective expense that fewer people participate in during challenging economic times. I continue to show my paintings in galleries. However, I also sell much less costly giclée prints, fantastically true-to-life computer reproductions done with archival inks on watercolor paper. Lately I have been producing high quality greeting cards of my paintings.

I am currently looking for an artist’s representative, who will do a much better job of marketing than I!

I think a lot of our readers will want to view your work and perhaps be in touch with you. May I give out your website address? And how should they reach out to you?

My website is www.miriamhospodar.com and my email is scribblescribbler@gmail.com I’d love to hear from anyone reading your blog!

Poster for the Santa Barbara Blues Society, 2012