“In some Spanish speaking countries senior citizens are described as being in “la tercera edad” or, literally, living in ‘the third age’ of one’s life.  And, frequently, retired persons are called “jubilados”.  It could be said with confidence that few people in our community have lived ‘the third age’ with more jubilation than Marty Coleman.

At 82 years young she can be found one week hiking through the Sierra Nevadas, the next swimming with sea turtles in Maui, soon followed by another screening of the long running film series Conscientious Projector, to plowing through another Bill McKibben book, to providing an educational adventure through her front yard garden to 1st graders from Mayfield School, to convening another significant meeting with the Sustainable World folks from All Saints Church, to attending a protest at a local gun show, to observing a City Council meeting where the Patriot Act is discussed, to touring the world or with several of her 7 grandchildren after they graduated from high school, to building a bench on her parking strip so that her neighbors have a place to rest and rejuvenate on their walks, to being a mother/grandmother/great-grandmother to an adoring family, all the while finding time and energy to be an extraordinary chef and superb gardener.

Retirement as a “jubilada” like Marty certainly looks extremely attractive!  Who knew that “la tercera edad” could be filled with such joy and wonder and love of life.  As an inspiration to all around her, she has remained deeply connected to her family, friends, community and nature since the first Po1 was published.”

Rock Creek Lake, Sierra Nevada, California