Nancy Baltimore Miles (2022)

I spent most of my life in the Hamden Public School system.  I graduated HHS twice.  Once in 1969.  The second time when I left teaching in 2010.  I think the system was happy to see me graduate both times!
 
After selling our CT home, my husband, Lee, and I did the accelerated bucket list for a few years.  We saw so many countries, have wonderful friends in Australia and visited many National Parks.
 
Lee wanted to retire to Delray Beach, Florida.  Florida is a great place to explore the world from.  3 major airports and 2 ports.  Other than that, I don’t care for it.
 
I am transitioning to becoming a year-round resident on Block Island.  Love the island, not sure about wintering there.  I have a very small house out there.   I’ll find out next year!
 
As I think about circling the sun almost 71 times, I wonder where the time went.
 
Wishing all of you good health and happiness.
Nancy Baltimore Miles

​Nancy Baltimore Miles​ (before 2022)

​I started kindergarten when I was 4 1/2 at Helen Street School. 5th grade was at Dunbar. Sleeping Giant Jr High then good old HHS. 4 years of college at the University of Hartford. I continued taking classes at Southern, Quinnipiac and Central before getting a 6th year at Wesleyan. In 1973, started teaching in Hamden. After spending 8 years teaching 8th grade, I graduated to High School. It took me a really long time to graduate from HHS the second time. I spent most of my life terrorizing the Hamden Public School system. I retired after 36 1/2 years. I entered teaching at the best of times and left as things were really going downhill.

I loved living in CT. My husband and I spent our working years in Rocky Hill. We have one son who lives in Colorado. He is married and loving Colorado.

We did all the fun things you can do in New England. I had to teach my husband, who grew up in Manhattan and went to high school in Palo Alto, skiing, camping, biking, mowing a lawn, shoveling snow...

We started boating. It’s a process. First boat was 18ft. He would go diving at night for lobsters. At 2am he would come home yelling boil the water. We laughed eating lobster in the middle of the night. I slept another hour then went to school. Then we moved to a 26 ft boat, then a 36 ft boat. The destination was always Block Island.

We finally sold the boat and bought a small house on Block Island. We sold our house in Rocky Hill and moved to Delray Beach, FL. He likes it here. I’m happier in New England.

In Nov 09, my husband was diagnosed with a high grade prostate cancer. After radiation ended we started traveling. Met a lovely couple from Australia on a cruise. They said come visit. What an amazing country! My first day driving from Sydney to Brisbane was thrilling for me, terrifying for the people who drive on the wrong side of the road. I’m sure there were a lot of Aussies on Xanax after my first day on the road.

Everywhere you looked it was amazing. Just when you thought you saw the most beautiful scenery you turn a corner. I improved driving on the straight roads. Forget the round-a-bouts. That’s where I learned there is a hand gesture that is universal. I got to the rotary and was the first car. I didn’t have anyone to follow and didn’t know which way to go.

We traveled all over the world. Ocean cruises, a river cruise through Germany. I loved Seattle to Alaska. After teaching about glaciers, I was thrilled to see one. We drove around the US. Yellowstone is unreal and even though I understand the geology of Niagara Falls, I stood there watching the water wondering why it didn’t run out, Looked for diamonds at Crater of Diamonds State Park. Didn’t find any but it was 100 degrees and no shade. I was thrilled just to be there. If I get back there, I’m going to rent a 3 year old. They are low to the ground and pick up everything.

For years we had the best of both worlds. Block Island, travel, winter in Florida. Unfortunately, my husband’s medical issues have left him homebound for the last 3 years.

I wasn’t able to go to our 50th reunion. He’s not traveling these days. I did go to my husband’s 40th and 45th in Palo Alto. I made some very special friends. I think reunions, no matter if it is yours or your spouse, lend themselves to making new friends. I figured almost half the people there were spouses. They were in my position. While I missed going to ours, I was glad I was able to experience the fun of a reunion.

I enjoyed reading what others posted on this site. Places they moved to, experiences in their lives and what they are doing these days.

While I live day to day, I can’t help but wonder what is going to be around the corner as time passes and hopefully we can get back to Block Island.

Thank you to Bud and the others who take the time to keep this site up and running and helping us stay in touch.

Take care.
Nancy🦋