Retiree Stories - Marlene Gerhan

Retiree Stories

Marlene Gerhan
Newcomer 2003, Seattle, Washington

Marlene is a newcomer to Campbell River and she can't wait to begin exploring it. She and her husband bought their retirement home here two months ago after living in Seattle, Washington. Neither of them are officially retired yet. Mr. Gerhan works in construction in Seattle and drives to his home in Campbell River on the weekends. Marlene is a housekeeper and will be getting another job before she retires officially. When they do finally say goodbye to the working life, they will become full-time enjoyers of the retirement life they are setting up for themselves in Campbell River. This future is largely based around the forty-foot boat of theirs they will use for fishing and exploring the island. Marlene has found plenty to keep her occupied in the meantime, though. She has only been here two months but has found time to enjoy the wide variety of choices. There's plenty to do, from dancing to volunteering, to enjoying the incredible surroundings.

Marlene and her husband visited Campbell River many times before deciding to buy a house here. It was the ocean and the moorage that lured them. They own a forty-foot fishing boat which they are able to keep docked literally just down the street from their house in north Campbell River. Fishing is Mr. Gerhan's biggest hobby and he will get to do a lot of it while they are exploring the coast of Vancouver Island in their boat, going to Tofino and Long Beach, investigating the old logging roads of Port Hardy, not to mention the unlimited number of beautiful places they'll discover on their own.

Marlene likes to walk and cycle. The wilderness that surrounds Campbell River was her second reason for coming here, after the ocean. She has discovered the beautiful Canyon View trail, a stunning hour long walk that takes hikers through the west coast rainforest, alongside the Campbell river, in among the spawning channels, past the dam, and even across a suspension bridge overlooking fern grown cliffs with the deep green waters of the river below. This is just one of the many trails less than ten minutes away from the city center.

Being near the water and wilderness and still having "so many choices" of things to do within the community, is one of Marlene's favorite things about life in Campbell River. The Gerhans had originally bought a retirement house in Pender Harbor but changed their minds when they realized there was "nothing to do there." In Campbell River Marlene has found plenty to do in just two months. She's found many volunteering opportunities through CR's busy volunteer center, and stays busy helping at the local hospital. The Gerhans love to go out dancing and have found several places to enjoy it. "We're retired but we're not dead! We need to go out once in a while!"

Mrs. Gerhan can't think of anything she doesn't like about Campbell River. She can have her busy, active life in the community, while enjoying the beautiful wilderness that is never more than ten minutes away. In addition to this, she has the adventures of her forty-foot boat to look forward to. For Mr. And Mrs. Gerhan, the best is yet to come.

Note: The Gerhans are Canadian citizens who worked in Seattle and moved back to Canada. They did not have to go through the Immigration process.