A Gift
Every day is a gift. Though it’s oh so sad to see the summer end, autumn beauty soon takes over the senses, and we find it will, in fact, be all right. We trade one set of activities for another, we begin to think about the holidays, and life goes on, as it should. And, of course, we have a terrific issue to help kick off this new season!

Looking Back. Looking Ahead
We acknowledge the change of seasons at Empty Nest by both looking back and looking ahead. “Sailing II” seeks to inspire you not only to take up sailing—cruising, not racing, this time—so you can plan for next spring and summer, but also, through the eyes of yours truly, to say good bye to summer. In another “looking back" piece, author Marian Bellus reminisces about her childhood and times in Levittown, Pennsylvania,” in a new department called Generations.

As we look ahead, fall and winter provide a backdrop to plan one’s empty-nesting relocation. Ellen Britz Gerber, a writer new to Empty Nest who is also a realtor, gives her take on the empty nester’s pilgrimage to the city. Her feature, “Moving On: Urban Nesters Head Downtown,” explores the influx of middle-agers to New York City, Raleigh (North Carolina), and Chicago and discusses the draws of those cities for the adult crowd. This winter, Empty Nest will welcome Ellen’s regular column “Moving On,” in which she’ll continue to explore U.S. cities and bring their appeal to Empty Nest readers.

How To
In the same vein, relocating empty nesters often need help with their move—deciding what to keep and what to toss, decorating their new digs, and even planning to “age in place.” Our report includes an interview with interior designer Adele Fine, who specializes in helping empty-nesters do just that. In our Body column, veteran Empty Nest author Liz Milner reviews Roizen and Oz’s YOU Staying Young: The Owner's Manual for Extending Your Warranty, a must-read for those wanting quantity and quality of life as they age.

But, many—we’re talking about moms here—are just getting used to the idea of an empty nest and attempting to reenter the work force after years spent raising children. This issue’s Culture department reviews a fascinating Philadelphia magazine interview of six suburban housewives who left high-powered jobs to raise their families and now face decisions as their children need them less—in essence, a blueprint for reentry into an outside career.

Different Strokes
The empty-nesting experience is not the same for everyone. With that in mind, we talk to the parents of a special needs child as she approaches adulthood and learn the issues the couple faces as their “special adult” seeks independence. And, last but not least, professional writer and jazz and sports enthusiast (and columnist) Chris Slawecki shares some of his zany life and empty-nesting experiences in this issue’s interview, “Real People Empty Nesting.” In Chris’s story, we see the value of the connections between our past and our future. Perfect reading for our segue into fall—from summer to winter.

Enjoy the issue!