Reinvention on a Dairy Ranch

West Marin County, CA is gorgeous, pastoral and dotted with dairy farms. One of the most prolific and successful was the Giacomini Dairy in Point Reyes owned by Bob and his wife, Dean Giacomini. When Dean died, Bob was looking to retire but didn't want to sell his farm that he had for 54 years. He hoped it could be carried on for another 54, however, the milk business was getting more difficult. Bob had the idea of producing cheese.

He called his four daughters home for a meeting, all of whom had careers scattered throughout Northern California. None of them ever had an interest in dairy farming, however, the cheese idea sparked an interest, in addition to their desire for the farm to continue on.

As Jane Pauley tells the story; "with the support of husbands and brothers-in-law, affectionately known as the "outlaws", all four girls helped Bob reinvent the Giacomini Dairy as they reinvented themselves. They were all 'paid in cheese' for the first five years. It was a financial gamble and a lot of work, but it's paid off." Ms. Pauley relates that she saw a salad garnished with Point Reyes blue cheese on the menu at a fancy New York restaurant.

Point Reyes Cheese won two SOFI awards (often described as the Oscars for food) in New York City. All four of the daughters had busy careers, Jill had a Silicon Valley job, Karen was a stay at home mom, Diane had a 20 year career as a banker and Lynn was in the wine industry. Now all four have happily reinvented themselves as awarding winning cheesemakers.

There is another reinvention taking place as retirement age approaches and generally, that is around age 66-67, depending on your year of birth. However, many folks are continuing to work because they truly enjoy it. Others are planning on retiring as soon as they are able. As Marc Middleton writes in Growing Bolder: "There's certainly nothing wrong with - and much that is beneficial about - ending a career, slowing down, relaxing, reflecting and re-prioritizing. But doing so should't lead to the end of a productive, engaging and meaningful life. Retirement isn't the beginning of the end. It's the beginning of what's next. And, once again, you get to choose what's next. " And I say - how exciting to add a new chapter!

xo