Don Fink, Editor
Bonnie Fink, Photo Editor
We're retired air traffic controllers from the Oakland Air Route Traffic Control Center in Fremont, California. After retiring (2000 for Bonnie and 2001 for Don), we moved to New Mexico and built a home on our property near the small town of Angel Fire; a ski town in the southern tip of the Rocky Mountains.
We have always been interested in photography as a serious hobby, and after retiring, we began showing our work in a photo gallery in Taos, New Mexico. We also like to write, so we spent time working for the local paper and two local magazines as writers and photographers.
After moving to New Mexico, we both found ourselves involved in the local volunteer fire department, and spent much of our time working for the department, and not so much time writing and making images.
Not long ago, we both remembered that the reason we retired from perfectly fine paying jobs was to travel about the country, taking pictures and writing a few lines once in awhile telling the story. So.. The house went up for sale, and we've been in our 5th wheel full timing it since then.
The magazine was born out of the idea that we wanted to share our experiences with others. Living out of the trailer makes fine art photography very difficult on a regular basis, so we decided to create this magazine.
Denise Zirkle
Contributing Author
I have worked in the air freight business for 24+ years and currently work full-time for DHL in Anchorage AK for the past year after having worked for Airborne/DHL in Dayton and Piqua, OH since 1984. Our journey to Anchorage began in March 2007 when my husband, Ken, and I were talking on a Sunday afternoon about his upcoming retirement in a few years and where we might want to relocate after having lived in OH all our lives. Our son and his family had lived in Anchorage AK for the past 6 years and when I found out on Monday that there was a full-time opening at DHL I immediately contacted our son and he asked me if we would consider moving to Alaska if they bought their first home with an in-law quarters. I told him about the job at DHL and he insisted I apply for it. I applied on Tuesday, was hired on Wednesday and our son and his wife found their home on Friday of the same week in March. I arrived April 16, 2007 and left my husband in OH to tie up loose ends, sell the house, have an auction and get the motor home ready for the drive to AK at the end of the summer.
The day he and our son left for the 4700 mile journey to Eagle River, AK was the day our realtor brought over a cash deal for our home in OH. Our son had been in Mississippi that summer for National Guard tech school and since he had driven the Alcan Highway 4 times it was a blessing that he was able to help his father drive the motor home pulling a flatbed trailer with our Buick on it to Alaska.
Photography has been my passion for the past 28 years and in the past 6 years or so in OH I started a part-time photography business doing weddings, seniors, families, anniversaries and working as a photographer for a local newspaper. Since my arrival in Alaska my cameras have become my best friends as there is always wildlife and breath-taking scenery to photograph. I hope to be able to share my love of Alaska and wildlife with the readers of this magazine through my writings and photographs.
Denise Zirkle
www.heritagemakers.com/205797
http://ic.longaberger.com/esuite/home/denisezirkle
Jim Bounds
Contributing Author
Jim Bounds operates a facility in Orlando, Florida, that specializes in repairing and fully restoring vintage RVs and trailers. For more information and lots more pictures about this intriguing process, visit Jim's business site, Cooperative Motor Works, or call Jim at: 407-857-5777
Travis and Sharon Rymer
Contributing Authors
Residents of Fort Myers, Florida since 1960, Travis and Sharon Rymer are interested in RV travel, hunting, fishing, writing, photgraphy and entertaining friends.
Travis has a Business Degree and graduated from the University of West Florida. He also has a Florida Real Estate Broker's License.Sharon graduated from Mount Sinai Nurses College and worked in the medical profession for over 30 years. She also has a Florida Real Estate license. Before retiring, Sharon was employed by a publishing company as a Customer Service Representative and assistant to the Editor.
Both retired in 2006 and travel in their motorcoach 5-6 months each year
extensively throughout north America for much of the year. They are regular contributors with special interests in preparing gourmet dishes on the road. Visit their web site at: www.silverfoxseasonings.com for a complete selection of seasonings dedicated to this kind of great cooking.
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