The Woman Who Invited Two Strangers to Stay for Wine
Sometimes the most memorable afternoons begin with an apology.
My husband and I were helping friends explore lake houses one afternoon. Like many lake communities, ours is filled with second homes that often sit empty during the week. Unfortunately, we made an assumption.
The House Looked Vacant…
Curiosity got the better of us, and before long we found ourselves wandering around a property that wasn't ours. And, YES, loudly discussing the features of the house that our friends might enjoy!
A few minutes later, a woman stepped outside.
"What are you doing?" she asked.
We apologized immediately, embarrassed that we'd mistaken her home for a vacant listing.
Then something happened that I never expected.
She smiled.
And holding a glass of wine, she asked,
"Would you like to join me?"
That simple invitation turned an embarrassing moment into one of my favorite afternoons since retiring.
Her name was Luann. She and her husband own one of the most beautiful properties on the Colorado arm of Lake LBJ.
From the back of their home, a gentle path leads to a two-story boat dock overlooking water that seems to stretch forever. Beyond the shoreline sits protected Texas ranchland held in conservation, ensuring the view will remain untouched for generations. As the sun began to set, the sky transformed into shades of gold, coral, and lavender. It was one of those evenings that makes you forget to check your phone.
As we admired the view, we asked the obvious question.
"How can you possibly leave this?"
She smiled again.
She told us about her three children. One had recently moved to North Carolina, and although they didn't yet know exactly where life would take them after selling the lake house, they had spent their lives embracing new adventures. New cities. New careers. New beginnings. Leaving Lake LBJ would be difficult but they had learned that sometimes the next adventure is waiting just beyond the one you already love.
Then our conversation took an unexpected turn.
Luann quietly shared that she considers herself an introvert. Inviting us to sit and share a glass of wine wasn't something that came naturally to her. It was something she had been intentionally practicing.
She wanted to become…
More open
More welcoming
More willing to say “yes”
I don't know if Luann realized what she was teaching me that evening.
For years, I believed community was something that just arrived on your calendar.
Client Meetings
Lunches
Team Gatherings
But retirement changes that…
As we drove home that evening, I realized I hadn’t simply met a lovely woman with a beautiful lake house. I’d met someone who reminded me that the life I hope to build doesn't happen by accident after retirement. It grows because someone is willing to take the first step. Sometimes that first step is as simple as extending an invitation. This week, I hope I'm the person who says, "Would you like to join me?"
From the Deck
Gay