THE BUSINESS OF AGING
Page 20 • January 2013
Retiring Second Career
Coast River Business Journal
to a
by Sara Meyer
our post-retirement activities. From 1977 to 2008, Chuck and I owned the Compleat Photographer, a retail camera and picture framing business. We did it all – photographic supplies and repairs, developing photos, picture framing. Our business meant far more to
R
etirement is certainly not another word for “nothing else for me to do.” I’ve taken some of my favorite bits of my and my husband’s past “real” job and made them a centerpiece for
Sara Meyer once owned the Compleat Photographer with her husband, Chuck. After retirement, her career turned into her hobby and Sara’s Old Photos was born. Photo by Felicia Struve.
us than simply providing a source of income. We raised a wonderful family, employed marvelous people, and became involved with a community that blossomed with the creative arts and pride of place. We like to think that our store was a pioneer, that it was welcomed and supported by people who wanted friendly, knowledgeable and creative service. Part of this customer interaction became a historical photographic collection. We provided a corner in our shop where people could look through albums of photographs from Cannon Beach north to the Long Beach Peninsula, with a focus on Astoria. These photographs also showed various aspects of coastal occupations, such as logging, fishing, canneries, bridge and jetty building, and military life. Our collection was built over the years as people brought in photos to share, we purchased the collections of others and retiring photographers shared their images with us. These pictures helped people gain a greater sense of place. We’ve sold hundreds of photographs from the collection. Even today, they can be seen in homes and businesses. We began digitizing and cataloguing the images in the hope that future generations will be able to access and enjoy them. When Compleat Photographer closed, there were still hundreds of negatives and pictures that needed
transferring and that provided me a post-retirement purpose. Our new business is Sara’s Old Photos. People still bring me their pictures because they want to share history. Sales from Sara’s Old Photos are far from meeting our expenses, but the satisfaction is priceless and the work is important for our community. I enjoy the visits of old and new customers, and sharing the pictures and their history with groups. Maybe someday I’ll retire again! (Sara’s Old Photos is in the historic Spexarth Building, Suite 202, 818 Commercial St. The store is open Wednesdays or by appointment by calling 503-325-7969. Meyer also has a booth in Phog Bounders Antiques at Ninth Avenue and Marine Drive.)