Three-quarters of a century. That
’s how long my wife and I have lived. Nevertheless, I find that
I don’t understand the meaning of most of my life’s experiences. I
don’t understand why I love looking at the green hills east of our
new home in Morgan Hill.
Three-quarters of a century. That’s how long my wife and I have lived. Nevertheless, I find that I don’t understand the meaning of most of my life’s experiences. I don’t understand why I love looking at the green hills east of our new home in Morgan Hill.

Why is each day exciting? Why do I have no regrets nor nostalgia for leaving my home of 15 years which overlooked the ocean at Monterey Bay? Why do I love to look forward each day at the morning view of those green hills? Perhaps, that might be called wisdom …. questioning each day.

Oh, just give me a cafe mocha grande and I’m happy.

Back in 1988, Joanne and I moved from San Jose to Aptos, overlooking Monterey Bay. What a beautiful place. From our front patio as well as from our upstairs bedroom picture windows, we could marvel at our ocean scene.

In 1992, we both took early retirement. She from West Valley College; I from Lockheed. Now, I was able to write the book that I had always wanted to write about my experiences as a Korean War Marine. And, I did write that book. It’s called “We Claim the Title, Korean War Marines.” (To date over 4,300 books sold. Please check: www.koreanwarmarines.com http://www.koreanwarmarines.com)

I finally did what I had always wanted to do. Write the book. Although, back in the 1950’s, I majored in English with bachelor and master’s degrees for the purpose of being a writer, my life’s vocation actually was in aerospace as a proposal writer, budgetary person and finally in contract negotiation. Nevertheless, our retirement home for “doing what I always wanted to do” was an Aptos condominium. For most of our 15-year stay, our neighbors were owners. Later, however, neighbors became renters.

After 15 years, our area of paradise no longer was a paradise. Fortunately, we now could sell our 1540-square-foot condo for an appraised value of some 3.5 times what we paid for it and well over $500,000. With the profit, we could completely cover our expenditures for the remodeling of our cabin on five acres at 29 Palms in Southern California, as well as buy another home. Actually, do even more …..

Old friends from my life’s work in aerospace came to the beach looking for a second home, a resort home. And, we had it. They wanted to buy for the appraised value. We wanted to sell. But, first, we had to find another home.

We loved the valley, east beyond our Aptos hills, actually several green miles south of San Jose, called Morgan Hill, only 15 flat freeway miles from our twin bachelor “playboy” sons; 20 flat freeway miles from our oldest son, wife and grandson; 30 flat freeway miles from our daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter.

No more travel on “accidents almost daily” dangerous mountain Highway 17 from San Jose to Santa Cruz and Aptos for our visiting children.

We jumped to this valley with mountain vistas. We searched for our final retirement home and found it in a private community off East Dunne Avenue. Then, I researched the necessaries and sold our condo without a real estate agent, saving some $35,000. (The manager of the title company, which handled the transaction, said, “You’re so complete, I’d buy a home from you.”) Our old home as well as our new home completed escrow on the same day, amenable to all.

Our cabin on five acres at 29 Palms then became our remodeled second home. Almost every other month, we go there and stay for a week or more. Even in the hot months we go because we have an evaporative cooler that brings down the temperature inside our desert home some 20 degrees cooler than outside.

Since late 2003, we have lived in our final retirement home. At this stage in life, we look forward each morning to viewing those green hills to our east and the enjoyment of Morgan Hill.

Perhaps, fate, fortune or the Almighty gave us a wonderful “two-for-one” deal.

Burton Anderson, a U.S. Marine veteran of the Korean War, has lived in California for 47 years. He has a background in the aerospace industry. He may be reached at [email protected] The Board of Contributors is comprised of local writers whose views appear on Tuesdays and Saturdays.

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A staff member wrote, edited or posted this article, which may include information provided by one or more third parties.

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