What we do in Sitka, Bob & Sheryl Ginn, Sitka, Alaska

What do we do here?

That's another fair question. We do a lot.

Genealogy. With the information and people available through the Internet, both of us have found clues to important information about our ancestors. We also take advantage of the availability of the Family History Library in the local LDS (Mormon) church. In 1996 we traveled to the island of Öland off southern Sweden to visit the place where Sheryl's grandfather was born and spent his first dozen years. In 1998 we returned, then visited a cousin of hers, on her grandmother's side, in Hamburg, Germany. More visits are hoped for, but not yet on the schedule. We have made numerous trips to Iowa to visit Sheryl's cousins and do research on both our lines. During October 2002, Bob's research in Webster City on his Dale line led to later contact with two cousins living there.

Quilting. Until Sheryl began spending much of her time on genealogy, she would be working on one or several quilts at any given time. Nowadays she limits herself pretty much to one quilt at a time, and recently those have been only for grandchildren.

SSMF. During three weeks each June, Sitka is treated to chamber music played by world-renowned musicians during the Sitka Summer Music Festival. Bob was a board member for a dozen years and, since April 2001, the webmaster.

Art. Sheryl studies the art of the Northwest Coast Indians and has completed several excellent works in that style. We both take occasional painting classes at the community college.

UMC. We attend the United Methodist Church of Sitka, where we are on the bell choir.

Fishing and boating. Barrier islands and Sitka Sound provide plenty of protected and semi-protected waters from which we catch king, coho, pink and red salmon, Pacific halibut, ling cod, "red snapper" (actually yelloweye rockfish) and others. St Lazaria Island is a bird sanctuary where we like to have lunch while drifting in a cove, listening to and watching the birds. Puffins are especially interesting, but all are fun to watch. Humpback whales frequent the area and are seen almost every time we go out in the summer. Sea otters are frequently seen, floating on their backs, eating or resting. We have a 19' Sea Ranger by Arima, a good boat for these waters.

Homebrewing. Bob likes to experiment with different brews, but recently has been finding it hard to make time to brew a new batch. He hopes to correct this problem soon. His favorite so far is a spruce beer, using the new growth from Sitka spruce trees for flavor and aroma, the same way hops are used.

Woodworking. When he has a chance and when he can clear enough space in the garage, Bob makes sawdust. His most satisfying projects have been cradle boats for grandchildren. These boats become "toy boxes" after their duty as a cradle has ended (see the picture). Since Danika already has a cradle boat in her family, she got a doll house. Robby's family also has a cradle boat, so he will have to wait until inspiration strikes again. Abigail's cradle boat could still be a cradle, but is currently storing quilts.

Travel. Well, since it's "travel," we don't do it here, but it's something we do often. With daughters and grandkids near Seattle, Brad and Dina in Poulsbo, west of Seattle, Brian in southern California, Sheryl's cousins in Germany, Louisiana, El Paso, Iowa and elsewhere, good friends in Sweden, Bob's ancestral roots in Maine and Iowa and cousins in Oregon, we spend upwards of four months each year "outside." In September 2001 we bought a "Class B" motorhome, a self-contained van camper by Pleasure-Way. It suits our travel style perfectly and feels right at home parked at a county courthouse or a library for genealogy research. We have more trips in mind than there is time for.