01 March 2011

When she was growing up in the East Bay, Laura Mullen dreamed of a career working with animals. Though she started at U.C. Berkeley in the pre-veterinary track, she quickly discovered that sciences weren’t her strong point. Instead, she pursued a degree in English literature, which eventually led to a career working for several San Francisco ad agencies. But it wasn’t long before life led her back to a job with animals. One day, she took her cat to the vet, a trip that led to her meeting her future husband, John―a veterinarian.

Laura and John married in 1980, purchasing a veterinary practice in Yuba City a few years later. John was the sole veterinarian and Laura was the office manager. They sold the hospital in 2007; Laura retired at that time, after serving as office manager for over 20 years. Today, John remains at the same practice, which has evolved into a 24-hour veterinary hospital. Laura spends her time pursuing her passion of fused glass art, selling her pieces through a gallery, craft shows, and to friends, as well as in the gift shop at Lassen National Park. Her artistic activities are essentially a second career, one that Laura pursues because she loves the work and feels the need to express herself.

John still spends much of his time at the veterinary practice, but he manages to squeeze in time for his favorite hobbies, hunting and fishing, which he has enjoyed since he was a boy growing up on a dairy farm in Wisconsin. Hunting is more than just a sport for him; the couple eats what John harvests, and, as a result, they have to buy very little meat.

While John continues to work full-time as a small animal practitioner, the pair is also busy preparing for retirement. As part of that retirement plan, the couple purchased land in Darby, Montana, a few years ago and have been building a house there. The goal is to finish construction in the near future and then make the new house their half-time home. With its location in the Bitterroot Valley, nestled between the Bitterroot and Sapphire Mountain ranges, Darby is perfectly situated to allow the couple to engage in their favorite outdoor activities, including hiking, backpacking, hunting and fishing.

Meanwhile, Laura keeps herself occupied with her glass art, book clubs, and various volunteer activities. She is a UCCE Master Gardener, assisting farm advisors by providing advice and information for home gardeners. Her duties include answering questions about planting and gardening, as well as editing the Master Gardener newsletter for Yuba and Sutter Counties. She also serves as a volunteer guide for the Middle Mountain Foundation, leading school groups on hikes into the Sutter Buttes.

As John and Laura deal with the shifts that come with embarking on a new stage of life, Laura notes that the most important thing is having a sense of purpose. “If you can keep that in your sights, you’ll have a much easier transition to what they call the ‘second half,’” she says.