Norma Mayfield had a good view of the checkout stands at Fred Meyer from the bench in front of the kid's play area. When I sat down next her, I introduced myself as publisher of the local paper.

Norma is a statuesque beauty with a great smile. But she seemed wary of this stranger trying to draw her out. She was chatting amiably with a man on her right.

I asked if I could take her picture but she politely declined.

Eventually, the man who I assumed was her husband left and another man appeared and sat down with her. The newcomer was Allison Mayfield, her husband.

I learned they moved from Irvine, California about 18 months ago to Judson Park in Des Moines, one of the area's finest retirement centers.

I told them I spent 30 days there this summer recovering from a broken hip. That's what old people do; they tell each other about their ailments.

The Mayfields didn't seem too interested in my hip so I changed the subject.

"What are you going to do to keep busy," I asked, "because you have to keep busy!"

Mr. Mayfield didn't respond. He was once a farmer and maybe he was just tired of 'keeping busy.'

Norma said she walks the hallways on various floors at Judson Park for her daily exercise. She would like her husband to do some exercise, too.

She grumbled about the rainy climate, after living 30 years in the sunny California sun. They moved to the area because they have a daughter who lives in Redondo.

Norma had been in Seattle only once before, on a trip to Canada. I assured her that, in time, she would grow webbed feet like the rest of us.

They like Judson Park. They just don't like the weather. I told them they'd get used to it.

I've been here 70 of my 90 years and I found that keeping busy helps take your mind off the sometimes gloomy weather. So, I interview people on the bench at Fred Meyer.

When the sun comes out in Seattle, it is like a gift and it is hard to beat as a place to live. We are blessed with extraordinary natural beauty in the Northwest and it is a constant joy and wonder to me.

I hope the Mayfields get out and look around and learn to enjoy what we have. Welcome to Seattle, Norma and Allison Mayfield.