We are Thom and Dar Hoch. We're both over 50 and have been married for more than 30 years. In the last few of those years, an itch developed. We were tired of the big city, of the congestion and the expense; we were ready for some change and adventure in our lives. Both of our kids are grown, have finished college (yes, with degrees), are gainfully employed, and, more importantly, living on their own. We've lived a low-maintenance, low-cost lifestyle and have been fortunate in that we've been able to save a little money which provides options and flexibility now and for the future. While we're still young enough and healthy enough to bike, hike, kayak, and climb small mountains, we sold our home, bought a motorhome, and are traveling throughout North America seeking that place we'd ultimately like to spend the rest of our lives. We're referring to this adventure as a "sabbatical", as we fully expect to eventually settle down again and get back to some kind of work or business, hopefully in a warmer and less congested environment.
Dar: A Registered Nurse, she's held various positions in hospitals, nursing homes, and clinics. A few years ago she moved her career in a new direction by transitioning from traditional nursing to industrial nursing and occupational health care and safety. This involved working with businesses in industrial plant settings to develop health and safety programs, administer on-going health initiatives, and training employees in first-aid, CPR, and other health-related skills. Later, she developed her own occupational health and safety consulting business. Most recently, she was a safety and health manager with an S&P 200 corporation.
Thom: A Business Manager by profession, he spent over 25 years with Duo-Fast Corporation. You may know Duo-Fast as a leading manufacturer of pneumatic nailing and stapling systems used mostly in home construction as well as some industrial applications. During the course of his career he held a number of positions including sales, marketing, information systems, sales management, corporate staff, and general manager of a sales & service division. In 2006, he took an early retirement option offered by Duo-Fast's current owner, ITW.
Now we're off exploring America.
