Frank Reed – A Retired Renaissance Man

photos & story by Rachel Seidensticker

California had lost its flair, and

retirement is as good an excuse as any to seek all the outdoor hobbies that Plains, Mont. has to offer.

After 18 years of service at the California Department of Corrections, Frank Reed and his wife packed up the motor home and set out to tour the U.S. He and Claudia wanted a quieter lifestyle in a place that offered more outdoor activities; once they hit Montana they knew they didn't want to leave. After exploring areas in Western Montana they journeyed through Plains, set up the motor home and bought a house on a quiet half-acre within a month.

The Reeds make it their mission to enjoy all that Montana offers: hunting, fishing and camping. When they aren't away appreciating the great outdoors, they are at home raising their chickens, harvesting their garden and tending to many projects, surrounded by their animals. Reed's hobbies nurture his love for the outdoors. When the weather gets colder, he is tying flies for fishing, fixing the fletching for his arrows or canning goods from his garden.

Reed also spends time on the computer sharing his knowledge of the outdoors on his blog HootOwlCafe.com. He blogs about all that he has enjoyed and learned, including how to make a rose garden, trout recipes for freshly caught fish and how to raise sheep. His website exhibits his extensive knowledge and love for the outdoors.

Although relatively new to Plains, the Reeds call it home. Frank and Claudia demonstrate that in Montana, retirement doesn't mean you have to stop living. It is only just beginning.