True Stories
Dick and
Helaine Davis: The Road
Is Their Classroom
 Former human resources
executive, Dick Davis, 69, his wife, Helaine, 59, the designer of award-winning
educational outreach programs, have visited almost every state in the last four years in
their RV, immersing themselves in continuing education about the history, geology and
people of the United States. They were "fixed up" by Helaine’s college
roommate in 1989 after Dick had been divorced and Helaine widowed, and they married in
1993. They tell their story here.
Dick: I was born and raised in
Portland, Oregon, and graduated from the University of Oregon (I am still an avid DUCKS
fan) in 1953. I spent most of my career with Prescolite, a lighting fixture manufacturer
in the San Francisco Bay area. I started with Prescolite when it was quite small and grew
with it to become vice president of Human Resources. After 25 years and in 1981, I moved
to USI in New York City, the Prescolite Corporate Office. After USI was sold in 1984, I
started my own human resource consulting business with an emphasis on labor relations for
cities and towns in Connecticut. I sold the business in June 1996.
I loved my work in human resources and
thoroughly enjoyed working for Prescolite. I would do it again. The new job at USI was an
absolute joy - I traveled around the country to USI’s 32 divisions and gave them
advice on how to develop human resource functions. What could be bad about being asked for
advice everywhere you go?
Being out of work after 3 years was a surprise,
to say the least, but I had ALWAYS wanted to have my own business, and my severance
agreement gave me a chance to do that. I started the business from scratch and then bought
an existing labor relations consulting firm which made me smile most every day.
Together we have six gorgeous daughters and one
handsome son, who, as adults -- wives, husbands, mothers, each with
their own careers -- continue to amaze each of us just as they did as kids and young
adults.
I’m a persistent cuss, optimistic,
empathize with most people, flexible, fairly trusting and the only Republican Helaine has
every loved.
Helaine: I was born in New York
City. I graduated from Boston University in 1963, got my masters from the University of
Florida in 1965. I then stayed at home full time with my three great kids until my
youngest began third grade. It was time for a career outside the home. I began to work for
the Springfield School Volunteers in Springfield, MA in1979 as the designer and
coordinator of a Mentor Program for gifted and talented urban children. I then became the
Director of Springfield School Volunteers with responsibility for all corporate and
community involvement in the Springfield Public Schools. During my tenure as director, the
school volunteer program won numerous national awards for programs judged Best in America
for a medium sized city by the National Association for Partners in Education. Springfield
School Volunteers was also recognized for outstanding programing by the state of Mass and
Family Circle Magazine.
My career was fantastic. I was able to use all
of my creative juices, work with an amazing board of directors and staff, and was
encouraged to design and implement programs from scratch which is one of the things I love
to do. The only thing that was missing after a while was complete freedom, which is
impossible when working for a large bureaucracy. In October 1996, I took off my watch for
good and Dick and I hit the road.
My life is totally different than it has ever
been but thanks to my curiosity, imagination and flexibility, it just feels right to me.
We have been on the road for four years and have visited almost every state in the USA. We
have spent a lot of time in the National Parks and are happiest in the great outdoors. We
have been to Mardi Gras and space shuttle launches at Cape Kennedy. We have traveled the
beaches of California and Oregon, the Lewis and Clark trail, and have enjoyed the music in
Memphis and Nashville. We take the time to talk with lots of local people and are
continuously learning.
I have found that I love fixing things and am
good at diagnosing everything from plumbing to engine problems. I never knew about geology
or about the physical sciences until this trip. It still amazes me that the desert was
once under water. We both have learned to identify the North Star and the constellations
and understand and appreciate Lewis and Clark and their journey to explore the Louisiana
Purchase, We know now that there is a rich and diverse history of the Indians of North
America, and they are as different from each other as we all are who live in different
areas of the country. We also are more aware of the on going need to rid our country of
racism. I had really never been west of Pennsylvania, and I now can appreciate our
National Parks and the incredible beauty of the USA. I also look at our national elections
differently because I realize that all of us are not alike and I appreciate the values of
small town America more than I ever did. The challenge for both of us now is to identify
and begin exploring other lifestyles and experiences.
When Dick and I were dating, we sat down
together and each of us wrote a list of what we wanted to do when we retired. We then
shared the list and both of us had "seeing the USA" at the top of the list. So
that decision was easy. We then had to decide how to go about this. We did a lot of
boating on our 33ft. Egg Harbor so we knew that we could live together in limited space.
Dick had the idea of an RV and the research began. The research and search for the right
vehicle was one of the most enjoyable aspects of the transition from work to retirement
and we would highly recommend that people take the time to enjoy this part of the change
process.
We read books on RVs and RV-ing, joined FMCA and
Good Sam, went to RV and camping shows, and to RV dealers. We then were able to figure
out, considering our finances, what would be right for us. Dick found our 36ft. Monoco
Dynasty 1994 in Scotts Valley, CA and our new life could begin. Other research included
cutting out every magazine and newspaper article on travel in the USA, Canada and Mexico.
We started an accordion filing system with a spot for each state and it has been of real
value to us as we have traveled. The articles are filled with things to see, places to eat
and tips for travel. We also use the Lonely Planet Series, AAA maps and travel guides and
Woodalls and Trailer Life Campground directories as travel resources. We found this idea
in a magazine article - We invited our friends and family to a send off party for us. No
presents, but the ticket for admission was your favorite place in the USA, including
sightseeing and restaurants. The ticket included their names and addresses. When we
visited each place we sent the suggestor a postcard and this has helped us keep in touch
with friends.
Dick: The question I’m
asked most often is, "What’s it like to drive a motor home?" If a person
enjoys and/or is relaxed driving a car, he/she will feel comfortable driving a motor home
or RV in just a couple weeks. It all has to do with knowing (and feeling) where the rear
wheel is when you turn. The systems on an RV are fun and a challenge - you are traveling
around in a small, self- contained little condo. I highly recommend it. How can you pass
up seeing our wonderful country and meeting people with every imaginable background.
We had to take numerous steps to change our
lives. We wanted to keep a home so we had to arrange to Fed Ex our mail on a weekly basis.
We use our cell phone to call our children and Helaine’s parents weekly. We keep in
touch with our friends through our laptop and email and we use the FMCA 800 # for
emergency calls.
Getting Started
Before you answer the call of the open road, do
your homework. Here are the resources recommended by Dick and Helaine.
AAA Tourbooks and maps
Off the Beaten Path
Reader’s Digest Association, Inc.
Pleasantville, NY
The Interstates:Crossing America
National Geographic
Washington, DC
The Lonely Planet Travel Books
Fielding’s Freewheelin’ USA
Shirley Slater and Harry Basch
Family Motor Coach Association (FMCA)
8291 Clough Pike
Cincinnati, OH 45244
1-800-543-3622
Good Sam Club
P.O. Box 6903
Englewood, CO 80155-6903
1-800-234-3450
Woodalls North American Campground Directory
Woodalls Publications Corp.
13975 West Polo Trail Drive
Lake Forest, IL 60045-5000
1-800-323-9076
Trailer Life Campground Directory
1-800-234-3450
Home | True
Stories
Guest Book | Your True Story
2Young2Retire in the News
Top 10 Ways to Reinvent Retirement
Free
Newsletter | Links
Copyright
2000 2Young2Retire.com, All Rights Reserved
|
