e often view the new year as a chance to reinvent ourselves , but change , even if it ’ s for the better , can be daunting , especially as we get older . If you ’ re on the fence about making a change in your life , these stories from others in the community might give you the inspiration you need .

Onward and Upward

At age seventy , a time when most of her peers are settling down in retirement communities or moving closer to their kids , Nikki Carpendale decided to move from Morgan Hill to Portland , Oregon all on her own .

For the past thirty years , Nikki Carpendale enjoyed being a part of the Morgan Hill community . It was a good place to raise her son and give him a sense of stability . After her son went to college and she retired , she found a sense of belonging in the city ’ s Tai Chi , voting rights , and racial justice groups .

As time went on , however , things started to unravel . The teacher for her Tai Chi group moved away and the group fell apart . Carpendale ’ s other groups began to follow suit . On top of that , her best friend developed dementia and had to move close to her son in Sacramento . As an outspoken activist , Carpendale also didn ’ t feel safe amidst escalating political tensions , and she was warned by her sheriff friend that speaking up might result in her getting shot .

Rather than wallow over how her world was contracting , Carpendale took it as a sign to move on . She thought a lot about what she wanted the end of her life to look like . “ I just made a list of all the things I wanted ,” she said , “ I wanted to be somewhere more politically active and somewhat more liberal . I wanted somewhere where there would be Tai Chi classes . I also wanted somewhere where there would be cultural things like ballet and the symphony that I could get to without having to drive , because I can ’ t see well at night anymore .”

14 WINTER 2024 gmhTODAY Magazine : Go . Make history ... gmhtoday . com