July 2023 | Page 12

12 THE CHARBONNEAU VILLAGER July 2023

Solo Sisters

By CANDY FERGUSON

So many ways to have fun

When I retired from my job in San Diego , I was so happy that I had made the decision to move to Oregon . I had lived in the same neighborhood for 27 years and had very few single friends to “ play ” with . Once I was living in Charbonneau , I joined what was then Charbonneau Singles and slowly began meeting people , and suddenly I was

FERGUSON going out to dinner and movies , watching plays at Keller Auditorium , enjoying lazy summer evenings listening to music at the Butteville General Store and going for long walks in the shade on French Prairie . And I was usually doing these things with one or more new friends .

Here in Charbonneau , there are so many ways to have fun ! One of the important goals of Solo Sisters is to help our members meet people with common interests . In order to expedite that , we recently asked our members to submit lists of activities they enjoyed . Deanna Morgan , our membership guru , then put together a directory with contact and activity information and sent it out to our membership .

We are anxious to hear if anyone “ hooks up .” It was fun to learn what the favorite activities were of the 30-plus that were submitted to us . The top three were : dining out , walking and travel ( both foreign and domestic ). Gardening , theater / concerts and going to the movies also were popular . The rest only held interest for one-to-three people and some of those included camping , bocce ball and fishing . Maybe the camper and fisherwoman would have fun together !

A few years ago , I tried to get Solo Sisters interested in participating in volunteering their time , working at various charities in the area . Food banks , Boys & Girls Aid and Family Promise were all looking for volunteers , but then along came COVID-19 and that ended that endeavor . One of these days , I must revisit this subject . Volunteering has been an important part of my life since high school , and I ’ m sure there are Solo Sisters who would like to join me in this important activity .

We continue to enjoy our monthly gatherings and have about 50 paid members . Pre-COVID , we would usually go to a happy hour at a local restaurant every month , with perhaps two-to-three events held in the clubhouse . Now , we find ourselves staying here in Charbonneau and enjoying a variety of evening activities and only go to two-to-three happy hours a year . If you are a single woman living in our community , and you would like to meet some fun , delightful and active women like yourself , please contact Deanna Morgan at deannamorgan @ gmail . com , and she will be happy to invite you to our next event .

Arbor Glen gathering was a success

Last summer Charbonneau resident Dave Pump decided it would be a good idea to have a neighborhood social gathering . Friends in another neighborhood had been doing a weekly gathering . It looked like fun . They were his inspiration .

The Arbor Glen gathering was an immediate success . The neighborhood includes the Court and the Loop . We gathered every Tuesday afternoon . The only thing interrupting the get together was rain or 90-plus degree heat . It is Oregon after all !

Fast forward to 2023 . In mid-May the neighborhood gathering resumed . Once again there was an immediate positive response . At the end of May

the social hour gathering expanded to include a potluck . One set of neighbors , Kim and Sue Maguire , were leaving for Arizona to be close to a newborn grandson . Jake and Dianne McMichael , having sold their home , were moving into the Maguire ’ s .

Twenty-six neighbors put on an amazing spread . There were salads , meat dishes , fruit dishes , appetizers and fantastic desserts . No one went away hungry ! As the gathering was breaking up , one neighbor said ‘’ Let ’ s do this again ! How about Fourth of July ?’’ Now there ’ s a really good idea !

Good food , fun conversations , great neighbors . It doesn ’ t get any better !

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