Posted in N&V
What’s New in August
Interested in previous issues? Go to the News & Views page or the Arts & Info page. Scroll to the bottom of the page. In the center is a “Load More” link. Click this to display past articles.
NEWS & VIEWS
HAPPY THIRD!!!, from the Complement Staff
High Heat Hazards, by Bob Buddemeier
A Fairy God-daughter Story: Scholarship Money has Changed my Life, by Catherine Venegas-Garcia (transmitted by Joni Johnson)
Satisfaction, by Bob Buddemeier
ARTS & INFO
ESSAY: The Theremin and the Birth of Electronic Music, by George Yates
Word Play: Idioms, contributed by Connie Kent
August in the Library: The Reruns Continue, by Anne Newins
What to Wear in Oregon, by Robert Mumby
Nit Wit Newz – August 2023, by A. Looney
Events & Opportunities
Classes, Games and Parties, submitted by Sarah Karnatz
Concerts and Performances August – October 2023, submitted by Mary Jane Morrison
in Big, Borrowed, or Both
3550: the Portland Mirabella quarterly magazine (most recent issue) Click Here
Mirabella Monthly, Newsletter of the Seattle Mirabella (July-August issue) Click Here
— note for the Bird Nerds — there’s a crow story in this issue
PREPARE
Please see the August issue of hillTopics, which contains much information on emergency preparedness and responses
What’s New in July
Interested in previous issues? Go to the News & Views page or the Arts & Info page. Scroll to the bottom of the page. In the center is a “Load More” link. Click this to display past articles.
NEWS & VIEWS
Rode a Rad Rod, by a team of contributors
— a car show RETROspective
Bill Anderson: A Man Prepared for Emergencies, by Joni Johnson
— an electric car is just the beginning
RVM: Strategy and the Future, by Bob Buddemeier
— Next, the Tactical Plan
ARTS & INFO
Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone, a book review by Bonnie Tollefson
The Word Nerd on the Letter ‘E’, submitted by Connie Kent
July in the Library, by Anne Newins
How Some of Our Animal Neighbors Deal with Extreme Heat, by Robert Mumby (pictures and text)
Events & Opportunities
Classes, Games and Parties, submitted by Sarah Karnatz
Concerts and Performances, submitted by Mary Jane Morrison
in Big, Borrowed, or Both
3550: the Portland Mirabella quarterly magazine (most recent issue) Click Here
Mirabella Monthly, Newsletter of the Seattle Mirabella (July-August issue) Click Here
— note for the Bird Nerds — there’s a crow story in this issue
PREPARE
Notice: The contents of the RPG Manual on the Prepare page are being transferred to MyRVM by Vicki Gorrell. This will be the home of additions or modification to RPG and preparedness information. We will announce when the new site is ready for public review and use.
What’s New in June
Interested in previous issues? Go to the News & Views page or the Arts & Info page. Scroll to the bottom of the page. In the center is a “Load More” link. Click this to display past articles.
NEWS & VIEWS
The Evening Turkey Show, by Robert Mumby
The Virginia Range Wild Horses, by George Yates
Bemused Birding, by Bob Buddemeier
Veterans’ Honor Walk, a photo collage by Reina Lopez
ARTS & INFO
The Wager – Book Review, by Anne Newins
The Word Nerd on Puns and Noodles, by Tom Conger
June in the Library, by Anne Newins
Events & Opportunities
Concerts and Performances, submitted by Mary Jane Morrison
Classes, Games and Parties, submitted by Sarah Karnatz
in Big, Borrowed, or Both
3550: the Portland Mirabella quarterly magazine (most recent issue) Click Here
Mirabella Monthly, Newsletter of the Seattle Mirabella (June issue) Click Here
PREPARE
Notice: The contents of the RPG Manual on the Prepare page are being transferred to MyRVM by Vicki Gorrell. This will be the home of additions or modification to RPG and preparedness information. We will announce when the new site is ready for public review and use.
What’s New in May
Interested in previous issues? Scroll to the bottom of the page. In the center is a “Load More” link. Click this to display past articles.
NEWS & VIEWS
This issue offers a thematic section on the joys of relocation
Aloha to Stan Solmonson, Photos: Robert Mumby & Reina Lopez, Text: Connie Kent
— A major life plan relocation
How NOT to Start an International Vacation, by Sally Densmore
— A temporary international relocation
Hawaiian Perspective, by Tom Conger
— A long-distance cultural relocation
A Moving Experience, by Bob Buddemeier
— A local relocation
ARTS & INFO
Editor’s Note:
A. Looney has advised us his NIT WIT NEWZ feature that has appeared in “The Complement” for the past two years, will be suspended for an undisclosed period. He claims a serious erosion in his ability to maintain a high level of worthless nonsense in his prose dictates a significant furlough from his monthly postings in this publication.
We wish Mr. Looney a speedy recovery.
May in the Library, by Anne Newins
A Quilt Is On Exhibit, by Robert Mumby
Three Poems, by Ray Teplitz
Euphemisms, by Connie Kent
Events & Opportunities: May 2023 – July 2023, by Mary Jane Morrison
in Big, Borrowed, or Both
3550: the Portland Mirabella quarterly magazine (most recent issue) Click Here
Mirabella Monthly, Newsletter of the Seattle Mirabella (May issue) Click Here
PREPARE
Notice: The contents of the RPG Manual on the Prepare page are being transferred to MyRVM by Vicki Gorrell. This will be the home of additions or modification to RPG and preparedness information. We will announce when the new site is ready for public review and use.
Aloha to Stan Solmonson
photos by Robert Mumby and Reina Lopez; text by Connie Kent
Many residents attended the farewell party for Stan Solmonson as he retired as RVM Executive Director.
Stan and his wife Cindy, setting off on retirement.
During his farewell speech, Stan said that two places he’s worked — his first (on Kauai) and his last (at RVM) — both demonstrated ‘Aloha’ (hence the Hawaiian theme and the leis).
A decorated golf card took him from Part One of his Bye Bye Bash at the Manor to Part Two at the Plaza.
In-coming ED Dave Keaton takes the wheel.

Stan with residents in the Umpqua Room.
Here are the words to “Stan’s Hukilau Song, ” sung to Stan with ukulele accompaniment by Manor residents, to the tune of the traditional Hawaiian “Hukilau Song” by Jack Owens (1948).
Stan’s retiring, he’s retiring. He’s retiring, he’ll be leaving, he’s retiring now.
Everybody loves retirement. He can ski, he can fish, he can go golfing now.
He’ll grab his clubs and head for the tee, or cast his fishing line into the sea
He’s retiring, he’s retiring. He’ll never come to work here any more.
What a beautiful day for fishin’, the Oregonian way.
The salmon lines are swishin’, down in old Nehalem Bay.
Stan’s retired now, he’s retired now.
He’s really not so tired since he’s retired now.
Everybody loves retirement. The pressure’s off, the golf is on, the skiing’s wow.
He’ll throw his appointment book onto the floor, grab his clubs and head out of the door.
We’ll remember him, he will remember us.
We’ll be grieving, that he’ll be leaving.
He’s got lots of happy years in store.
Photos by Robert Mumby and Reina Lopez
Text and lyrics by Connie Kent
HOW “NOT” TO START AN INTERNATIONAL VACATION
By Sally Densmore

Sally and Al in Alba- Medford’s sister city
We hadn’t traveled internationally for over four years and never for this long (26 days), so I had planned meticulously for months, reading travel guides and books on packing, so I’d know what we should take. I found gadgets invented to make traveling easier. I bought a new set of luggage and a travel purse with all sorts of zippered compartments and pockets. I even made a list of what I put into each of those pockets, so I’d be able to put my hands on whatever I needed immediately.
What I hadn’t counted on was leaving that purse on the plane from Medford to Seattle and that purse not being found until we were on the plane from Seattle to Amsterdam. I had my passport, or we wouldn’t have been able to leave the country at all. But until we learned from Sea-Tac Lost and Found that it had been found intact, we were anxious. I had thoughtfully

Sally in Amsterdam, the day after the loss
packed all the items I would need on a 10-hour overnight flight: toothbrush and paste, cleanser, contact lens case and solution, make-up, and sleeping pills. As it was, neither of us slept more than an hour or so. The most important item, however, was my phone. My husband and I have learned to text often to reassure each other where we are and when we will return. That ability to stay in touch was lost during this trip. Also, I had made some of our tour reservations on the phone, so we missed a cancellation which caused some undue frustration one morning. I had no way to receive my email, so 1200 were waiting for me when we returned home. I became totally dependent on my husband for the time, weather, and use of the camera phone. And we both became quite obsessive about knowing who had “the” phone. If you want to detach from your phone, I suggest you do it in a more controlled environment at home.
As you might imagine, I was a total basket case about this whole thing at first. My husband spent a couple of days talking me off the ledge. After berating myself for my careless stupidity a hundred times, I bought a few replacements, finally “made friends with the situation” and learned that indeed I could do without a lot of “things”. Once I relaxed, the trip wasn’t totally ruined, and my husband and I actually grew closer. I finally got my bag when I returned.
But I still wouldn’t advise this as the ideal way to begin a vacation.

All and Sally- The smile has returned
A Moving Experience
by Bob Buddemeier
Part I – well begun is half done, or vice versa
Last November I decided it was time to move. My wife had died, I had given up driving, I was having physical problems that reduced mobility, and the cats and I were rattling around in the cottage at the bottom of the hill. The convenience of the Manor had started looking pretty good – the independent part of independent living is relative.
The only problem: I am a SMAL (Single Male At Large), lacking much of the domestic expertise needed for moving a household. However, I could feel myself moving into the quicksand phase of residence selection: the longer you stay where you are, the harder it is to get out.
Step one is figuring out where to start. I knew that Erin Marsh (Marketing) was the Transfer Coordinator, so I threw myself on her mercy. Fortunately her mercy recovered quickly, and after explaining how the system works (HINT: start here, and pay attention) she found me quite a nice apartment. She actually found two, but somebody with more seniority beat me to the first one.
Good news/Bad news — the apartment was due for a renovation, so I could get what I wanted in décor (the good news) by the simple expedient of making some decisions and waiting several months (the bad news).
So, after demonstrating financial solvency and signing a few bits of paper, I found myself in the showroom with Irene (Renovations), picking out paint, tile, floorboards, countertops, cabinetry, hardware, etc. etc. HINT: If you are a SMAL or anything similar, I recommend that you find some tasteful and decisive person to go along as an advisor. And pay attention.
Part 2 – Optimistic waiting

Post-move decor, dining area
Around the first of the year the actual renovation got started, with a “firm” completion date in late March. I had three months to get ready to move from 1420 square feet plus garage to 970 square feet plus a 4’x4’x10’ “chicken coop” in the resident storage area – piece of cake, right? Well, not really.
Downsizing to come to RVM was challenging, but why should a shorter move with less stuff be a problem? (1) you are older and probably less vigorous in mind and body. (2) you probably got rid of all of the easy discards on the first move. (3) you may have separation anxiety, about your lifestyle as well as about your residence. BIG HINT: you need help. Admit it, get it, and get on with it.
I am fortunate to have a daughter who is loving, supportive, and a serious butt-kicker. If you don’t have one, it’s late to get started, but there are substitutes – I hired a personal assistant, got some home care to look after me, and engaged a moving company that specializes in moving seniors, including packing everything, supervising the transfer, and unpacking in the new location.
And you probably have friends you haven’t used yet. They can work wonders. My daughter lives in CA and travels a lot, so I was fortunate to have a local deputy shepherdess and some ancillary sheep dogs who did quite a good job of herding an old goat.
The last month or so of sorting and packing was accompanied by a near-constant litany of questions from my advisors: “WHAT are you going to do with that?” “What are you going to DO with that?” “What are you going to do with THAT?” The obvious answer – take it with me and throw it away later – has limited viability.
BIG HINT TO THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE: Help with the quicksand extraction process could be a prime target for a Residents Helping Residents organization or something analogous.
Part 3 – Endgame

The relatively well-appointed living room
When things start going wrong, you know you’re getting close. I had two postponements of the renovation completion date. The first move-in postponement was perversely welcome, because it cleared the calendar for some long-awaited brain (well, head) surgery. After a quick recovery, the second postponement threatened to take me past the last availability of the movers. However, Erin was also displeased with the delay, and performed some sort of magic that moved the goal posts back in place. When the going gets tough, the tough get going – HINT: your staff support is a critical resource; use it wisely.
Just a week before M-day I came down with an infection that resulted in a hospital overnight and serious fatigue thereafter. Dispelling any thoughts of independence, the Deputy Shepherdess maneuvered around the movers, and got me and the cats successfully transferred (in spite of spending most of a day in crates, the cats seemed calmer and less exhausted than I was).
At first, I experienced a tremendous sense of relief and accomplishment. Then it dawned on me that there was only a week in which to get the cottage cleared out or start paying double fees. Enter the auxiliary sheepdogs, whose perceptiveness and energy made it possible to get out on schedule. Of course, the fact that I retained my golf cart garage took a little of the urgency off that final downsize.
So here I am, relieved and happy to be dealing with the administrivia of moving (schedule and address changes, finding stuff that you know you have somewhere, etc.).
FINAL GIANT HINT #1: If you think it might be time to consider moving to an apartment, you can be sure it’s later than you think. Don’t hesitate; the quicksand won’t wait.
FINAL GIANT HINT #2: Get help! Advice and information as well as physical help. Staff help, resident help, volunteer help, paid help – don’t cut corners unnecessarily; your physical and mental health, or what remains of it, is more important than hoarding resources, and you put both at risk by staying too long in the same place or by carrying out a botched move.
Hawaiian Perspective
by Tom Conger
A surprising percentage of RVM residents have roots in Hawaii. The reasons for this are several, primarily: very few folks can begin to afford retirement in Hawaii’s unconscionable cost of living. And, yes, there is no CCRC anywhere in the Islands which offers all the amenities that RVM does. So the kama’aina flock to the Rogue Valley.
Now, bear in mind that not only are these immigrants coming to So. Orygun from a different state, but that [newest] state is also the most remote habitation on the planet. As a former monarchy there are, uh, cultural differences which persist unto this very date, and English is often spoken as a 2nd language—if at all.
Given the distance from continental US, in the middle of a temperate ocean which modulates weather and temperatures, one of the first differences transplanted Hawaiians experience is seasons—it gets freakin’ cold here! I mean, not the modest cool of a December trade-wind evening, down to 60°F, but cold!—like below 32 degrees, which our high school biology class told us is freezing! Gotta wear shoes, you know… And that calls for acquiring a whole new wardrobe – call it Adaptation #1 – phased to the changes outside as the earth wends its annual way around the sun. Who knew…?
Further, as we circle our central star, we meet Adaptation #2: Daylight Savings Time. One bleary Sunday morning, before it’s even officially spring, we turn all our clocks/timers an hour ahead. Now it stays light longer in the evening—and the Islands are three hours behind us—kinda nice in summer, as it’s still light on the lanai when bedtime draws nigh; but a bitch on that Sunday in fall when it’s all of a sudden dark an hour earlier—and the 49ers play the second half under the lights…
Of course, these differences from the isles prevail most anywhere one moves to (except AZ…); what’s specific to Orygun is that it rains—a lot. Not the kinda rain (”mauka showers”) we’re used to, but an insidious, persistent drizzle, from dark, clouded, leaden skies, where you don foul weather gear, go get the mail, and come back soaked, without really noticing it was raining… ugh. Why do you think the University mascots are Ducks and Beavers…?
But there are some nice things particular to OR. There is no sales tax: an item marked $10 on the price tag costs $10 at the register. What a surprise! Another nicety of life in OR is you don’t pump your own gas. Not sure how/when this originated, but it is kinda pleasant to pull up to the pump and have the attendant get the gas on his hands/overalls.
Mainland living does differ from the island lifestyle. We’ve mentioned seasonal changes, and Daylight Savings; but how about driving for miles in a single trip, crossing into other states? Why, back at home one must board a commercial airliner just to get into the next county…
Another adjustment, merely from relocating to the PacNW, is that live TV comes on later the farther east one travels. Remember when local channels used to tape-delay Monday Night Football in order to prevent folks from tuning in during normal work hours?
Nobody in the Rogue Valley has mango trees, nor papaya or guava, in their back yard. Meals in our fine RVM dining halls are not often accompanied by rice, no matter how many scoops, Talk about a differential in the flavor of life…!