I Always Wanted To

City girl gone country! I moved to Alstead Center, NH from MA, in the fall of 1980. You have to be creative to "make it" here. Learning to; unfreeze plumbing pipes, get out of 18 inches of mud, drive up or down an icy hill with a rear wheel drive car, get lost and then found, has kept me here, and I am happy. The natural highs are plentiful and the neighbors are terrific, they come with a tractor to pull you out of that mud. I raised my family here, met the love of my life, finished my Art degree at Keene State College, retired from cooking at Cheshire Medical Center and am currently working to revive our old organic farm. I have always grown plants and gardened. Scaling up to farming is not an easy progression, but I'm getting there! https://www.facebook.com/cookhillfarmorganic/ View photos from Cook Hill Farm Some of Jean's favorite sites: www.Johnnyseeds.com www.JLHudsonSeeds.net www.nh.gov/nhnursery www.florediem.com www.gilbertwild.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lizsumner.substack.com

Peter Scharf is a British pensioner living in the rural Le Marche in Italy. He spent many years working in finance in the old City of London whilst running a sheep farm at the same time. His interest in music was sparked late in life by a fateful visit to a NY music store and a desire to trace back to the origins of finger-picked acoustic blues of the 1920's, 30's and 40's. The two largest download sites for musical instrument teaching material are: Homespun.com - run by Happy Traum, an accomplished fingerpicker who played on a few Bob Dylan tracks on the early records. The site covers all kinds of instruments including the ukulele. guitarvideos.com - run by Stefan Grossman who has pioneered the teaching of early blues acoustic guitar to thousands of would be fingerpickers throughout the world. The site is mostly concentrated on the guitar but also has ukulele material. An excellent online store specializing in ukuleles is southernukulelestore.co.uk. They have a great selection of ukuleles from £40/50 to £2000+. The sweet spot in terms of ukulele beginner spending is probably around £80 to £120. They also write a blog and a good one for beginners is southernukulelestore.co.uk/blog/best-10-ukulele-sites-beginners/ YouTube is a vast ukulele source with hundreds of sites dedicated to teaching the ukulele. Other internet sites are: ukulele underground ukulele hunt got a ukulele, and there are many, many more which a google search will reveal. Check out The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain on https://www.ukuleleorchestra.com/ (and also on YouTube) if you look for inspiration and an idea of what the ukulele can do. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lizsumner.substack.com

Carrie Kidd I am a theatre artist in practice. Lots of folks may know me from local theatre productions. I've lived in Keene for close to twenty years now and love it. I was born in New Jersey, but have always been drawn to New England. So Keene is really my home. I played violin as a kid, but like so many of us, I stopped because... well that's a mystery. I love music but don't have any particular talents. My sister began playing the banjo awhile ago and I decided to take up the viola because bluegrass music uses a lot of strings. I wanted to play with her. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lizsumner.substack.com

Restrictions have been imposed to slow the contagion. Some of us are fortunate enough to simply accept the new rules with only mild inconvenience-- or at least we have times during the day when we aren't feeling afraid or angry or sorry for ourselves. In my work as a coach I help people with big responsibilities find time for their own pursuits. Now suddenly many of us have a LOT more time than we expected. What have you always wanted to learn or create or attempt? What's on your Maybe Someday list? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lizsumner.substack.com

Judy Fine With a Master of Music in Composition and a penchant for encouraging others to follow their passion, Judy Fine has been teaching and performing popular music styles for two decades, as a singer, keyboardist and sometimes trombonist. Over the years, she has performed in a variety of musical projects, from an original solo act to groups as big as a ten-piece wedding band. Formerly the owner of the Singers and Musicians Studio, a performance-based pop music school in Keene, NH, Judy now coaches aspiring singers in the Cape Coral, FL area and runs Online with Judy Fine, an online teaching and advice resource for singers. Website: www.OnlineWithJudyFine.com Facebook: @OnlineWithJudyFine (Judy Fine Vocal Coach) Instagram: @OnlineJudyFine YouTube: @OnlineJudyFine This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lizsumner.substack.com

Mary Bennell and Mark White Mary is currently the regional director of a UK framework procurement company for social housing and public construction. Mark is a retired secondary school teacher, art and art history, these days he tries unsuccessfully to do as little as possible. Now in the South West of the UK, from 2013- 16 they lived in Gulu, Northern Uganda working as volunteers with VSO on a big vocational training program, consequently they run a small charity supporting vocational training for the disabled in Gulu, ETC of PWD, and return to the area every year. Mary's CV is long, in the past, she was heavily involved in Woman and Manual Trades, was one of the first trained plumbers in the public sector in London. Certainly the first plumber to claim maternity leave in Hackney, East London and went from there into a range of senior posts in the social housing sector before giving up the obvious career structure and go to Uganda. Mark trained as artist, so formed a lightly successful punk band because that's what you did then. He left the music business as the audiences became more select, there have been a sort of 40 year reunion recently: a short national tour; a festival and even a new album; the audiences remain carefully chosen. He later worked as a carpenter, set builder etc before training as a teacher. He wrote several text books for art teachers and students and paints and draws every day, landscape mostly. Mary and Mark mention several organizations including: VSO (Voluntary Service Overseas) GDPU (Gulu Disabled Persons Union) Gulu Wheelchair Basketball Club This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lizsumner.substack.com

Betsy Burroughs Founder & President of, FocusCatalyst: Innovation Based On The Neuroscience Of Insight. Betsy is also the author of the upcoming book, How To Stop A Bad Habit: Available 2019 Website www.focuscatalsyst.com Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/betsyburroughs TEDx: http://betsyburroughs.net/2013/07/11/tedxlivermore-6813-how-to-get-more-ahas/ Betsy's Before Picture This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lizsumner.substack.com

Susanne Uhl-Vening https://www.couchsurfing.com/ https://belfiore-italia.com/ Born 1952 in Germany, married to my Dutch husband for almost 30 years Lived in Germany and Holland and worked in marketing and sales of fragrances for international companies Hobbies: ceramics, design, literature, traveling, cooking In my leisure time I studied NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming) and made my NLP master coach degree after 2 years: New view of life, new convictions and knowing myself better, great experience! 15 years ago, we pushed the "reset button" in our life and decided to live in Italy. We bought a little hamlet and with the help of a mortgage we had it restored into a small holiday resort, Borgo Belfiore, Renting holiday apartments and yet being 24 hours together and enjoying the Italian way of life. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lizsumner.substack.com

Isabella Celentano teaches singing at Civica Scuola di Musica Paolo Soprani in Castelfidardo, and Zona Musica and Cantieri Musicale in Ancona, Italy. Isabella sings regularly with the Reunion Jazz Band among others. She is the vocal maestra for Fabrijazz, a weeklong summer program for singers and musicians of all ages, presented by Fabrianopromusica.it. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lizsumner.substack.com

Robin Picard is currently living in Keene, NH, enjoying the seasons, her grandchildren and a relatively quiet and uneventful life. As opposed to traveling through cultures and countries with Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) and the Peace Corps, Robin has been focused on traveling through life stages and noting the shifting thoughts and perspectives of aging. From time to time, she remembers her adventures living and traveling in various locations in the US of A, East Africa, Mozambique, Ukraine and other locations on the planet. A recent wonderful event this past Fall, walking the Camino from Porto, Portugal to Santiago, Spain may have rekindled the wander lust that has been dormant. Thoughts these days are of walking the Scottish Highlands, bicycling through New England towns and a motorcycle trip through Nova Scotia (which would be a repeat performance from years past). With so many wonderful places to visit, and options on how to do so, there is much to think about and consider. Until then, simply awaiting the snow, the solstice and another season and year unfolding is the current focus. And, as needed, going to work daily where combining a career in higher education and community organization occupies the remainder of available head space. http://robinpicard.blogspot.com/2015/ Mozambique blog Dress made by Boris's mother Newspaper article about Robin's experiences in Ukraine This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lizsumner.substack.com

Charles Mitchell Charles is an experienced artist and teacher who has taught in specialist art colleges and universities in the UK and overseas. He was Dean of the Faculty of the Arts and Humanities at the University of Cumbria before moving to Italy in 2010. Now semi retired, Charles leads painting workshops all over Italy through http://paintinginitaly.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lizsumner.substack.com

Betsy Burroughs Founder & President of, FocusCatalyst: Innovation Based On The Neuroscience Of Insight. Betsy is also the author of the upcoming book, How To Stop A Bad Habit:Available 2019 Website www.focuscatalsyst.com Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/betsyburroughs TEDx: http://betsyburroughs.net/2013/07/11/tedxlivermore-6813-how-to-get-more-ahas/ Betsy's Tinder ProfileI am looking for a man who's fun, smart, kind, sexy and can show me the places and things likes to do in and around SF and the Bay Area. Curious if you're him? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lizsumner.substack.com

Liz Sumner introduces the next series of the podcast, a little wiser and even more determined. New episodes begin January 7th, 2019. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lizsumner.substack.com

Liz Sumner wraps up the first series of the podcast with some thoughts in conclusion. Now when I get an invitation and I feel that little gasp of "oh wow" I don't cut myself off before I even have a chance to think about it. I say yes and ride that wave like Gidget. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lizsumner.substack.com

Poets Lynn Horsky and Halina Scharf describe how they found inspiring community with other poets by sharing their work. Lynn Horsky Freelance Consultant, offering graphic arts management for design-to-fulfillment services Personal movtivators: nature, mysticism, music, poetry, history, cooking Halina Scharf I was born in London. I have a degree in English Literature. Worked for twelve years in Recruitment. Retrained as a teacher in mid thirties: my profession until retirement. Have lived on and helped manage a livestock smallholding for almost twenty years. Now live in Italy, devouring novels in English. I am married with three sons. 2017 Plein Air Poetry Walk - Old Frog Pond Farm Poetlina on YouTube This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lizsumner.substack.com

Lauryn Franzoni works with individuals, teams and organizations helping them clarify what they want and then how to align their people, plans and practices to achieve those goals. From her roots in business journalism, she brings a finely honed curiosity and open mind to each collaboration. A creative strategist and inspirational leader, Lauryn has recruited, trained and led high-performing creative and business teams for global research, media, and training companies in the US, UK and Europe in such diverse industries as publishing, financial services, energy, health and wellness, social media, education and the performing arts. As a frequent speaker at corporate and industry events, Lauryn is often asked to share her vision for creating sustainable organizations through the engagement of key constituents. She facilitates interactive leadership and management sessions that guide strategic decision-making, and aids teams to execute plans and programs to meet diverse market challenges. Lauryn has created and delivered a range of career-building coaching programs in person and online to senior executives. Great Ballroom Movie Inspiration Shall We Dance: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0358135/ Mad Hot Ballroom https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0438205/ Take the Lead https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0446046/ Fred and Ginger https://vimeo.com/15501374 My favorite dance book! http://becominggingerrogers.com/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lizsumner.substack.com

Kathy Waite and Roberta Shanman both rediscovered their love of horses later in life, and tell any other "mature, terrified novices" how much they love it. Kathy Waite Using her 25 years experience as a Registered Retirement Consultant Kathy helps those within 10 years of retirement make the most of what they have. Instead of being educated by salesmen join her RetireSmart programme, a step by step process to ensure you see real change and progress towards the life you desire. Kathy grew up in England before emigrating with her husband and son to Canada in 2004. They live on an acreage in Saskatchewan but she has clients across the country and around the world. Roberta Shanman Born in New York City in 1948. Family moved to LA when I was 7 & I've lived here ever since. Got my BA and Master of Library Science from UCLA and have been a research librarian for over 40 years - 35+ of those with the RAND Corporation. I am now semi-retired, going in to work a few days a week. My hobbies are birdwatching, music (I play bassoon in a community orchestra & concert band), China painting, and I love to travel. I have always loved animals, and horses were my passion from as far back as I can remember. However, my family always lived in the city far from stables, and besides we couldn't afford riding lessons. I went on a few trail rides in my teens, but nothing more until I decided to take lessons, at the age of 65. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lizsumner.substack.com

Writer, editor, and "book midwife," Siobhan Colgan helps you bring your vision and voice into the world. Siobhan is a writer who writes and edits articles, white papers and books for business owners, entrepreneurs, coaches and creatives. Over the years she has had the privilege to work with both male and female change-makers. But recently she's found herself guided more to support women in these roles. In this capacity, she works as a "book midwife," using her 20 years of experience in communications, journalism and ghostwriting, to create customized programs for women to birth the books that acknowledge their vision and voice in the world. siobhancolgan.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lizsumner.substack.com

World travelers Jennifer Sumner and Barbara Castleton have each explored exotic places and don't let not having a partner who likes to travel slow them down. Jennifer Sumner is a retired teacher and business consultant, a wife, grandma and watercolor painter. She loves to travel internationally and she also travels around the western US in a sprinter RV. When she's not traveling, she applies her appreciation of diversity and multicultural awareness to working for racial justice. Barbara writes: Nothing pleased me so much as when my 6th grade teacher complimented me on a tale of wildest fantasy. It was not the compliment that mattered but rather his "getting it", my teacher's understanding and appreciation for the story itself. That remains my goal, to use experience, inspiration, and words to powerfully communicate an idea or story. Yet, in the manner of a bad pun, my personal self-confidence diminished as my desire to write grew. A BS in Journalism from the University of Oregon led to a short-lived career as a copy-writer, followed by years of getting-by positions in health care. Throughout those same years, I raised an amazing child to young-womanhood and swallowed a great lump of heartache when she left home for school. I was 47, without specific goals or purpose, scrambling to remember who I was and what I wanted in that long ago life before I became a mom. One day, I recalled the Peace Corps, an organization that lets the young, the middle aged, and even the old to "give back." Applying and being accepted into the Education Sector was a magic wand that blew stardust over my future and set a myriad of adventures in motion. barbbytes.wordpress.com https://medium.com/@bcastleton This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lizsumner.substack.com

Anne Huffington didn't start diving or flying until she was in her forties. When I was 40 I miscarried my third baby and was aware that motherhood would not be in my future. I asked myself what I could do now that I could not have done as a mother, and the answer was "learn to scuba dive". That set me on a course of diving all over the world. At a Professional Women's Network event, I found myself in a hot tub with the Jungian Therapist and Author Jean Sinoda Bolin, who asked me what my passion was. I described diving to her – going deep into gathering dark water off the Monterey Coast kelp forests until an underwater world opened up to delight my eyes. She said, "I would guess you are also in deep grief therapy because what is manifesting on the exterior is often what we are pursuing on the interior. As it turned out, I was going through therapy 3x/week – called doing "black hole" work on buried trauma. I thought about those concepts and decided that perhaps we could shape our interiors by what we did in the exterior, and I figured it was time for me to fly! There was a school for budding paraglider pilots down the road from where I lived in Northern CA. I signed up for a class. At first you walk uphill a little ways, then lay out the glider and run down. As the day progressed I got high enough on the hill to find myself in the air while running, and I knew I had found something I loved. It was as if my dreams of flying had turned into reality. I was hooked. I signed up for the package of 10 lessons, and paid about $3,000 for my own paraglider – a yellow and purple Wills Wing I named "Glory". With my Novice designation I began to fly at the Pacifica coast – a place affectionately named "The Dump" – hang-gliders flew to the north at Fort Funston. I carried my paragliding backpack in the trunk of my car and most days during daylight savings time I could be found flying at The Dump. I would change from pantyhose to a flight suit in my car in the parking lot and walk to the launch areas. I progressed to an Intermediate Level (the designation stickers were worn on the helmet) and after some years because the first female President of the Bay Area Paragliding Association. My longest flight was about 5 hours, and as I launched I would inwardly say "C Ya" as I yelled "Clear". It was a thrilling time of life! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lizsumner.substack.com

Award-winning hosts, Kathy Hansen and Louise Haasjes, talk about getting started and running their successful B&Bs. Katharine (Kathy) Hansen is a writer, educator, and a 5-star Airbnb SuperHost. She is author/co-author of 9 books on career and college topics. Kathy lives on a 40-acre farm in Kettle Falls, WA, with dogs, goats, a pony, and chickens. When Kathy isn't teaching online or running her Airbnb business, she enjoys bicycling near the Columbia River and taking nature photographs, and engaging in crafts, such as re-purposed furniture and unusual wall-hangings. She is also very active in the Toastmasters organization. Social media, etc: http://www.hansenwoodlandfarm.com/vacationrentals.html https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/15131838 https://www.homeaway.com/vacation-rental/p4753959 https://glampinghub.com/unitedstatesofamerica/pacificwest/washington/kettlefalls/cabin-kettle-falls-washington/ https://www.hipcamp.com/washington/hansen-woodland-farm/ponderosa-pine-paradise https://www.facebook.com/HansenWoodlandFarm/ https://www.instagram.com/hansenwoodlandfarm/ Louise writes: We gave up our full time jobs in the UK to embark on an exhilarating new chapter: life in the Italian countryside and the restoration of an old abandoned farmhouse. We decided to do most of the work ourselves to really connect with the property, the landscape and the people. We have endured all that the elements and mountains could throw at us in exchange for an amazing, fulfilling experience and a lovely new home and believe that we have created a comfortable, sympathetically renovated home. The outstanding views came free... http://casalemargherita.co.uk/language/en/home/ https://www.instagram.com/italiancountryretreat/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lizsumner.substack.com

Nancy Salwen teaches singing to "non-singers," beginners and anyone who wants to sing more comfortably and expressively. She is the author of the book (and online program), "The Fear of Singing Breakthrough Program: Learn to Sing Even if You Think You Can't Carry a Tune!" She leads singing workshops in Vermont, New York City and California, offers online programs, and teaches lessons in-person and over Skype (or FaceTime). Nancy is a certified Music for People improvisation facilitator and workshop leader. She is also a center director and educator with Music Together®, the renowned early childhood family music and movement program, and teaches early childhood music programs in a variety of schools. In addition, she leads music-based workshops for team building, staff development, and personal growth for businesses and organizations. To learn more about Nancy and what she has to offer, visit www.fearofsinging.com, or email her at [email protected]. You might also enjoy the episode Learn To Sing Jazz with Isabella Celentano. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lizsumner.substack.com

New series premiering in May In this introduction I explain what it's all about. Plus I reveal the origin and demise of my brief yet humble songwriting career. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lizsumner.substack.com