How WANDERful it is!

9 months into this adventure and Lucy and I are having a blast!

         In my former career as a middle school teacher, I tried to start every morning with a relatively firm grasp of whatever science topic my students and I were exploring that day. It was my job to teach and their job to learn, although by the final bell each afternoon I think I learned just as much new information as my young scientists. In this new career of mine, as a retail shop owner, I am humbled to find myself always the student, always on the receiving end of learning new skills, always gaining more knowledge, and overjoyed if I get even a little opportunity to share what I pick up with folks who WANDER into my shop. I never imagined there were so many facets to retail- from the ordering of gear and apparel, to designing the store and keeping the appearance always fresh, bookkeeping, involvement in the greater Langley merchant circle, and most especially, getting to know my customers and what Whidbey Island wanderers are looking for in their outdoor equipment and clothing.

         Not only is opening an outdoor gear shop providing me with a ton of new learning, Lucy is also figuring out a whole lot of things, too. Smart pooch that she is, it did not take her long at all to figure out how to grab the attention of almost everyone who wandered through the doors of our shop. Thank goodness, Keith Fallows and Scott Jennings of Red Barn Millworks designed a checkout counter with plenty of viewing and petting areas for Lucy. She even knows the sound of the FedEx and UPS trucks and gets ever so excited when they pull up in front of Wander on Whidbey with packages for me and treats for her. Oh, and on our daily afternoon walks around Langley, she practically drags me into Whidbey Island Bank and the Post Office where cookies are waiting for her behind the counter. Who says you cannot teach an old dog new tricks!

         I am so excited to carry equipment and apparel from companies that I have used over the years for all my adventures- I can attest to the durability and effectiveness of so many of the products that line the shelves and decorate the racks of Wander on Whidbey. Sierra Designs tents have traveled with me to Alaska, Australia, New Zealand, and most recently, to the Antarctic Dry Valleys. My closet is full of Royal Robbins, Outdoor Research, Ibex, and KAVU clothing. My garage is home to way too many well-used pieces of camping and backpacking gear from MSR, Therm-a-rest, Osprey, and Black Diamond. At the shop, it is so much fun to share stories with other wanderers and listen to them raving about how much they love their equipment.

         Check back often for postings from myself and from Jack Bruemmer, my “whipping boy” here in the shop. Jack, a former middle school scientist of mine, is now interning at Wander on Whidbey every school day through the rest of the year and, hopefully, on into the summer, too.

We welcome you to WANDER in soon!

Sarah & Lucy