It's Been Awhile

June 1, 2024

I have received a few queries as to my blogging status-thanks for checking in Ron. A lot has happened since our last visit. It may be best to give you the Executive Overview, I can fill in the details later if you are interested, just let me know.

• We survived the pandemic

  • I didn’t contract covid for the very first time until Janyuary of this year

  • Yep, received all the vaccines available

• In January of this year I moved from my home of 31 years in San Jose to a different home in Morgan Hill CA

• Housing prices are crazy in CA

• We basically traded one house for the other with the biggest winners being the real estate agents-6% is a lot

• The new place has a main home and a second home which was the original 1920 farmhouse here

• We have about 2 acres and I have to say this is a young man’s property-there is something to do every day in terms of keeping up with the maintenance-glad there are 3 30 somethings living here

• We now have 5 chickens and an extremely sturdy coop-no eggs yet-oops, 4 chicks, Athena just got one

• We have 5 dogs, yep 5

  • 2 Corso’s (male and female to breed)-Achilles and Athena

  • 1 Shepard/Australian Kelpie mix-Thadious or Thad

  • Alexa’s 15 pounder from college that I somehow inherited and is a Poodle/terrier mix by the name of Bearry Mannilow

  • And finally Michael’s 5 pound Malti/Poodle by the name of MicroChippy

• The new digs in Morgan Hill are the Family Compound I dreamed about 20 years

  • Multi-Generational: me and Michael, Alexa and her family, my sister, and Alexa’s brother-in-law

  • Alexa and my sister Tracy help me out with Michael’s care and we still have Ethel coming in 4 and a half days a week

  • We’re in the Coyote Valley which to date has done an excellent job stalling development and preserving the farming community

  • We are about 12 miles south of our SJ home, close to freeways but there’s still a small-town county feel to this location

Many of us are getting to the age where we are seeing our childhood heroes pass along with some of our long and even life-long friends pass. Early this year our CEO of Subeca Don Whitson passed quickly and suddenly. He was always a very private person and was so to the end. Very few people were aware. I met Don in 1989 at Span Instruments. That career change had a significant lifelong impact. There are decision points in all of our lives that forever change our trajectory. You never know if those were the best decisions and (fortunately) I don’t regret a single one. Don’s passing has hit me particularly hard, just like the feeling I still have with the passing of Norm Moyer. I’m becoming more aware of the sand still in the hourglass and want to do my best with each grain remaining.

If you have a LinkedIn account check out Subeca. Or go to www.subeca.com. Don started talking about succession planning years ago. We were lucky enough to hire Patrick Keaney as our new CEO. To date, we like what PK has done. We have generated a lot of buzz with our Simple AMI approach. This was the start of my eighth year with Subeca and with the move I had to take a leave of absence. I honestly don’t think that I will be able to get re-involved with Subeca in any meaningful manner going forward. Despite the extra help, the caregiving needs for Michael are unpredictable and sometimes all-consuming.

My current location in Coyote Valley allows be to hike in the hills, ride on the roads, and cycle off the road too. It’s very peaceful here, not crowded, and not many neighbors although the few I do have are very interesting and friendly. I know more neighbors here in 4 months tan I knew in San Jose in 31 years. Mnew hobby is to take pictures of any illegal duymping along the roads and the personal collection of any debris within about a 1/4 mile of my house. I’ve been averaging 11,664 steps per day this year which translates to 814 miles or 31 Marathons. I am happy to still be able to walk and ride without much discomfort but I can tell you that my running days are OVER.

Good Day from the Coyote Valley. Here are some pics from some of my bike rides. The aerial view is the compound.

Freshly cut hay before bailing

Sod Farm

On the road

Kalana Compound

Long Horns

Abandoned Truck