Home > Carol Aspengren

Retiree Spotlight

Carol Aspengren

Carol Aspengren’s 40 year postal career started in Minnesota as a part-time relief window clerk. Along the way she carried mail, did ODIS recording and served as an OIC and then a Customer Service Representative at the Duluth MSC. By retirement in 2002, she was Team Leader in the Product Development & Evaluation Group of Employee Development at Headquarters, Washington, DC, ending her career as an Acting PCES Manager of the Product Development & Evaluation Group.

“I’ve met many wonderful people through out my career — many of whom I still keep in touch with, through email and Facebook. It’s wonderful to have friends all across the country — they are like an extended family” she said.

But at Carol’s core is an adventurer’s spirit and retirement has allowed her more time to explore and try new things. “After I retired in 2002, I just wanted to have fun. I felt free of time and work commitments and expressed it by visiting theme parks, riding roller coasters, and taking a Hot Air Balloon ride.” Carol also took a Canadian Rockies Train trip, went to a Rose Bowl Parade in California, and planned a family vacation with her husband Waynne and their two daughters and sons-in-law to Hawaii.

After these initial trips, Carol settled into her retirement in Frederick, MD by getting into exercise, visiting local sites and enjoying weekend get-aways. She volunteered at the Frederick County Historical Society and even worked at a local Pumpkin Farm giving tours to school kids and parking cars for a while. “It was a hoot!” she expressed with a laugh.

In 2005 Carol and Wayne took what they called a ‘Drive around America.’ Highlights were Nashville, TN, and the Grand Ole Opry; Amarillo, TX, home to the Cadillac Ranch; the Sandia Mountains near Alburqueue and Santa Fe, NM; seeing the redwood and sequoia trees in CA, driving along the Pacific Ocean on Highway 1 and touring the Hearst Castle; visiting tulip fields in Oregon and Washington and taking the ferry across to Victoria, British Columbia.

Following that vacation Wayne retired and they moved to Wadena, MN. “Not the expected place to retire, but close to family and old friends and as soon as we got here...grandbabies!” said Carol. “We have enjoyed living closer to family. We built a playhouse, moved in a swing set and are set up for kids. Our two grandchildren keep us young!” Carol serves as official family photographer making photo books and chronicling her grandchildren’s growth and development. She enjoys gardening, reading, and planning family activities in the twin cities and Duluth, MN

Despite domesticity, Carol’s adventures have continued. In 2007, Carol and Wayne spent a month on the road driving through Canada and Alaska. The couple also tries to get away each winter for up to three months and have spent time in Arizona, Texas and Florida, where they golf, swim and she rides horses. During one Arizona trip, she rode a mule down into the Grand Canyon.“It was great, thrilling and scary … right up my alley,” adds Carol. “We also planned a wonderful all inclusive vacation to Cancun and enjoyed seeing the Mayan ruins — took lots of tours and rode horseback along the sandy beaches and even took the horse swimming in the ocean.

When they are not traveling, Carol remains on the go. She has performed in several community theater plays — most recently playing Ethel in "On Golden Pond". Last summer she served as Volunteer Coordinator for Habitat for Humanity, rounding up the workers and building a house in Wadena. She is currently the chairman of All School Reunion Committee and is coordinating her high school graduation’s 50th anniversary. Next year Carol and Wayne will be celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary — which may include a trip to Australia.

She feels fulfilled in retirement and has enjoyed the freedom to explore new adventures. ”I look for experiences — you know crossing things off the bucket list. I’m hoping to work at a National Park some winter and also visit more foreign countries.” Carol often says she feels blessed, “I’ve had an amazing life. I love being home and then as soon as I hear of something interesting, I’m ready to take off and see or experience something new.”

Read other retiree stories