For many people, retirement means looking back at past events and accomplishments. But for Michael and Nancy Davis of Weatherford, Texas, it's a time to look forward ... to the next generation.
"We realized it was time to think about the people who will come after us, and that means the children," Michael said. "They are our future; they are the ones who will take our place when we're gone."
The Davises had received a direct mail piece from Texas Children's Hospital and were impressed-so impressed, in fact, that they have generously included the hospital in their estate planning. Texas Children's will ultimately receive a portion of the proceeds from the sale of their home and acreage.
"We moved out to the country in 2006 after spending more than 40 years in Seattle," Michael said. "We used to wake up to boom boxes and traffic on the street, but now we wake up to the sound of a rooster in our neighbor's yard. We want this land and the house to go to good use, and that's why we chose the hospital."
A native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Michael moved to Seattle at the age of three. Outside of his service to the army, which took him to Korea and Fort Hood, Texas, he remained in Washington. Meanwhile, Nancy originally hailed from Peoria, Illinois, but moved to Seattle, where she met her future husband.
After spending 30 years with a telecommunications company, the Davises opted to spend their retirement in Texas. While Nancy had never visited the Lone Star State, Michael sold her on the friendly people and proximity to big cities. Weatherford is located near Fort Worth and offers both country living and nearby downtowns.
While neither Michael nor Nancy has been to the hospital, they plan to visit Houston one day and perhaps see the place where their donation will be put to use.
"It's on our bucket list," Michael said.
Today, Michael spends his time gardening and caring for his land, while Nancy indulges her passion for wine collecting. When not travelling to California to visit Napa Valley and the central coast, they can be found at home in Weatherford. It's there that they look forward to the future, instead of reliving the past.