I am an aging ailurophile with autodidactic tendencies. As I am disabled and living on a fixed income, barter helps improve my quality of life, as well as my two therapy cats', the Feline Glamazon Huntresses.

New to Rutland, but not new to Vermont, I was born and raised in Ohio. I've also lived in Florida, California, North Carolina and Maine. I've traveled to Canada, the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland, England, and India. If you count airports, Turkey and Iceland, too. I've been to 49 out of 50 US states by bus, train, plane, car, and thumb. My undiscovered state is Alaska. Can you tell I love to travel?

If I could go back to college/university, I'd study cultural anthropology. I enjoy learning how other people live and express themselves. I also appreciate learning what boundaries are the norm in a culture, like hugging or not hugging. Learning how to interact gracefully with people from other cultures is one of my continuing life goals.

If my fab felines enjoyed travel, we'd be on the road. I'd like to try living with them in an eco-friendly-as-possible RV. A friend who is a park ranger at Yosemite lives with five cats in her RV retrofitted with solar panels, so I know it can be done! Just now, any sort of RV is beyond my means, but I have hope. Of course, I'd do a travelogue, just like every other person traveling in an RV with cats. I have a good camera and a working Handycam. Does anyone want to sponsor me?

I am an Extension Master Gardener. My horticultural interests include big trees, native plants, restoring habitat, container gardening, community gardening, soil science, Square Foot Gardening, urban gardening, and almost anything to do with horticulture. I have been keeping houseplants (mostly) from dying since the mid-70s, grew up on a farm with a big garden, and have gardened, on and off, since I was about 9 years old.

I know a brilliant professor emeritus who teaches fine art photography. If you'd like to learn from a good teacher who knows how to bring out the best in his students, I can share his contact info.