Patricia and Jim Holloway

Pets, Purpose & Life After Retirement

Age 72 · Retired nurse and contractor couple, lifelong animal lovers

Patricia grew up on a farm in Kentucky and Jim was raised in suburban Chicago — two people who had no business falling in love, but did, 47 years ago in a hospital cafeteria. Pat was a registered nurse for 33 years; Jim ran his own contracting business for 30. When they both retired within six months of each other, they suddenly had to figure out who they were outside of work. The answer, as it turned out, was dog people. Specifically, senior dog people — animals passed over at shelters because everyone wants a puppy. They've now fostered over a dozen older dogs and adopted three permanently. They write together, finish each other's sentences, and disagree cheerfully about almost everything except animals, which they agree on completely.