I guess it was thirty years ago when I made the decision to become a nurse and chose the field of operating room nursing, knowing it would be both physically and emotionally challenges. But most important, I also felt it would be rewarding personally and give me the solid income I would need as a single parent.

Recently, I turned sixty, and saw retirement approaching. This meant that the time constraints and financial responsibilities of raising a family were behind me, my children now grown and busy
with their own lives. I realized that this was now a time to give back to myself some of the things I had put on hold all these years...The big question was, what would I change now that I was approaching this new phase in life?

A Time for Self Expression

In searching for answers, I knew that it was now time for me to look to the future as a time to do something personally satisfying, a time for self expression you might say. This was not the situation with my nursing job.  Although it offered much to be desired, the field of nursing did not place self expression high on the list of professional requirements.  In fact, an operating room nurse is valued much more for following policies and procedures, the ability to juggle a hectic day’s work, and the willingness put in the long hours when needed.

To help me decide what I might like to do, I spent a considerable amount of time thinking about those things I liked most about my present work as an operating room nurse--friendships, challenges, being part of a community, and, of course, a comfortable income. These elements I knew would have to remain a piece of my future plan. Then I thought about what brings me happiness--helping people, time outdoors, beauty, nature...and a touch of freedom. This soul searching took a little time, but was easier than you might imagine. Once I started, the pieces just came together, and it wasn’t too long before I remembered a dream I had put on hold some ten years earlier, at a time in my life when it was not realistic to make such a move.  With the soul searching, however, the possibilities opened up and I started asking, “Why not open a small and unique back yard bird shop that caters to backyard bird enthusiasts like myself?” The more I entertained this possibility, the more real it became. 

This back yard venture I knew would fit my criteria on several levels — I could enjoy a camaraderie with nearby shop owners, promoting and selling a product not only that I love, but one that would also bring joy to many peoples’ lives. It could be stimulating and challenging and, hopefully, generate some income over time.

Planning and Research

Finances being a huge part of opening a business, even a small one like my little bird store, money was certainly a concern. Up to this point I had worked very hard to achieve financial security and did not want to lose that.

But, I no longer had the responsibility for raising three children, who were now quite well established in their own careers. I could now spend some time evaluating my past accomplishments and the list was a satisfying one — raising a family, taking care of a home, all the wonderful family celebrations I managed to organize, and all the while working some 40 to 50 hours a week. With all of this behind me, I felt I had the necessary emotional strength, determination and physical energy to believe in and process my ability to succeed, so I said, “I can do this.” Furthermore, to make this plan work for me with minimal stress on my budget, it needed to have a safety net. I would start with smaller steps at first, keeping my day job at the hospital on a part time basis, and hiring Jason, my future son in law, to staff the store for its first season:This I called my “test year,” to be re-evaluated within a year.

So that was my plan to help me launch my little business. With this new store, I also knew I needed to educate myself in retail, not an easy task in today’s economy, and something I knew nothing about. So, I read everything I could about the retail business, spent time talking to other owners, learning about the territory and the competition. To further my business education, I enrolled in a couple of SCORE workshops.  Overall, I wouldn’t say the career shift was easy, as the challenge of making it work was growing in momentum and the vision itself became a reality.

The First Season

On 6/1/2007, the doors to City Birds opened. What an incredible feeling!  My proud family was there to hand out water bottles displaying my new store’s logo to the first 200 customers who visited City Birds; As I reflect on this event, I can say with assurance that it means everything to have shared this milestone with my family.  Time passed, City Birds flew, and the first season’s venture was anything but “easy.” I saw many long hours spent in the shop and many unforeseen “challenges.” But all in all, the experience was a positive one as this first season brought an incredible sense of personal accomplishment. What that in turn brought was an increasing belief in myself and my ability to succeed--just what I needed to carry me through those tough days ahead.

Now, the continual growing of this little business takes much of my energy.  To sustain our day to day operations, I have enrolled in classes to aid me with some comparatively “sad” bookkeeping skills needing to be more carefully managed.  At present, however, my plan is to remain a seasonal business, and as such I am looking forward to spring and the re-opening of City Birds, this time a larger store with more space and more windows to display an array of colorful inventory — By anyone’s standards, our first season has proven a success story, and I still can’t get past the amount of joy it brings to have this little dream come true!!!

Season Two for City Birds

2008 promises to be a great family year for us, with the coming of my first grandchild in February as well as a destination wedding to Jamaica for my youngest daughter Jessica and my son in law Jason.  This new year also marks the second year for City Birds and my retirement, which is approaching soon. After this I plan to work at our community hospital, where I have worked for over 25 years, keeping my “safety net” in place a while longer.  I should mention also that my co-workers there have also been extremely supportive of my new venture. I consider myself very fortunate to know they are there for me.

Some of the challenges at CIty Birds this year include developing a website and doing my own bookkeeping.  In fact, I am at a point of facing situations I couldn’t begin to imagine handling when I first opened the doors of my own business. At the end of each day, however, I am grateful for this life experience that teaches me more about who I am and about how much more I have been able to contribute to my family and community as I pursue my personal dreams.  And that, my baby boomer friends, is the best feeling of all.

City Birds
Kennebunkport, Maine

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