Posts by
Frances McGowin
Musings From The Cove
ADVENTURES IN RETIREMENT: Choosing Happiness
As I write about my retirement and the pursuit of happiness, I know that each adventure I share brings me a great deal of fulfillment. The journey is not always easy and joyful because of the insecurity and judgments that I hold about it. I think this is mostly about breaking out from old patterns of thought.
Community Endeavors
ADVENTURES IN RETIREMENT Volunteer: A Gateway to the Joy of Purpose
My family, particularly my mother, was a great believer in helping people in need, all people in need, and volunteering everyone else to help them too. For our family and Mom’s close friends, there were endless projects requiring food preparation, events organization, and time spent with strangers.
Musings From The Cove
ADVENTURES IN RETIREMENT: Finding Your Mojo
The Eastern Shore Art Center in Fairhope has served as the cornerstone of the art community for as many years as I can remember. Since 2017, Bryant Whelan has been its Executive Director. Bryant has announced her retirement at the end of May, and a search for her replacement has recently been completed. Hers are indeed big shoes to fill!
Events That Inspire
ADVENTURES IN RETIREMENT: Grandchildren
Since I never had children of my own, which was likely a good thing considering what a problem child I was, I have adopted my grand nieces and nephews to fill that grandchildren position. They were one of the deciding factors that landed me in Fairhope. I have four grandchildren in Mobile and three grandchildren in Pensacola whose parents are more than willing to share with me anytime.
Musings From The Cove
ADVENTURES IN RETIREMENT: Senior Dating
Not Senior in high school or college. Senior means, we get discounts at stores, Medicare, and our own parking spaces. Makes us sound so feeble and needy, but we absolutely are not. I mean senior as in after 65, wiser, and better.
Sports & Fitness
ADVENTURES IN RETIREMENT: Taking Up Golf
Golf is the only sport that I know of, where most of the game is spent driving a cart around to find and hit a ball. For me, it’s kind of like a scavenger hunt. These continuous interim periods of driving an open-air vehicle provide all kinds of time for socializing, cocktails, cigars (yuck), and enjoying the great outdoors with beautiful scenery- both manicured (fairways) and wooded (rough). I am naturally drawn to wooded areas.
Events That Inspire
ADVENTURES IN RETIREMENT: The Retirement Puzzle
Retirement is a gift I have earned and intend to enjoy! I have looked forward to retirement for 20 years. Now that I'm here, it has proven to be somewhat of a challenge as well as a blessing.
Sports & Fitness
Pickleball: A Sports Phenom
Pickleball is for all ages, all levels of athleticism, and every socioeconomic group. It has been described as a combination of ping pong and tennis. Scenic 98 communities have more than 50 pickleball courts that we know of plus more in process, all built within the last five years. In fact, it is difficult to even find pickleball players that have actually played the sport for more than five years.
About Contributor
Frances McGowin
Frances McGowin worked with Ralph Lauren in New York from 1978-1982 before moving to Atlanta to work with Conde Naste fashion publications. In 1994, Frances headed Georgia Equestrian Training Alliance to place international equestrian teams in Georgia farms prior to the 1996 Olympics. After returning to Alabama in 1997, she developed therapeutic and educational programs for at-risk and incarcerated youth, children with special needs, Foster Care children and incarcerated adults. Frances founded the Dogs On Call Therapy Dog program in 2008 and Service Dogs Alabama in 2010. Frances is an avid animal lover and has trained dogs and horses most of her life. Frances is a visionary, public speaker, artist, and writer. She holds a Master’s degree in Human Development and Counseling.
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