13th Annual
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Best Places to Retire
Northwest Prime Time
SERVING THE PUGET SOUND REGION SINCE 1986
Celebrating Life After 50
www.NorthwestPrimeTime.com
VOL. 14
FREE
July/Augus t 2014
NO. 6 JULY/AUGUST 2014
Nick Bond Reflects on Best Places to Retire in Washington Washington State’s own climatologist talks weather, microclimates and more
“I
’m a California boy, and grew up in Sacramento,” says Nick Bond, Washington State Climatologist. “I moved to Seattle for graduate school and to make climate my life’s work.”
He hasn’t looked back since and fishermen can take. now considers Washington his lifelong With his PhD home. in Atmospheric “In part, what I do now is because Sciences and an of a big drought that occurred in undergraduate California. It had a profound impact degree in physics, on me when I was in my early 20s. Nick is quite the I was struck by how unusual the scientific guy, Nick Bond, Washington State Climatologist, talks about his life and work, and shares some unique weather was—it motivated me to study but one who can atmospheric science in grad school at explain climate and perspectives on "Best Places to Retire" the University of Washington.” weather in everyday doing it and it’s a good way for the somehow he still finds time for other Before moving to Seattle, Nick terms. In addition to his work as state public to know about the connections activities. “I enjoy gardening even researched climate at the state college climatologist, Nick is an employee between weather, climate and other though the state of my yard might not in Sacramento and noticed that a lot at a UW research unit for studying parts of our environment. I’m especially justify it! And I definitely like cooking of climate textbooks were written by atmosphere and ocean (JISAO), but interested in talking about those and consider it a hobby.” He also professors at the UW, so he decided to much of his time is spent collaborating connections.” confesses to being something of a sports apply there. “I had heard vaguely good with scientists at the National Oceanic Nick spends only about a quarter and fitness nut. “I’m almost obsessive things about Seattle,” says Nick of that and Atmospheric Administration at of his time at the state climate office, about getting a lot of exercise,” time before Seattle but considers it a very important part he admits. “At age 60, I still play became the worldof his overall work. “The climate office basketball. And I ride my bike to work.” class city it is today. is a resource for both the public and He describes himself as an inveterate Without knowing state agencies,” he says. “It provides any bicycle rider—rain or shine, year-round. much about the interested parties with past, present and In the summer he enters a few sprint area, he took a future climate data.” triathlons, where contestants swim, leap of faith and When Nick first started his career, bike and run. “The races are an excuse moved. he spent a fair amount of time on to train and it’s kind of fun, especially It is clear when research aircraft taking measurements when you finish.” talking to our in storms. “Last October I had a chance Retirement is still a few years away, state climatologist to do some more field research in an but Nick plans to stay in the Northwest that he is very aircraft flying out of Fairbanks, Alaska, when he retires. “There is no question enthusiastic over the ice edge studying the arctic about that,” he says. “I like Seattle… about his job. ice pack. It is very interesting, taking but who knows; there are other parts “From the start measurements that no one has ever of the state that certainly have their Nick Bond can often be found at events educating the public about climate and weather I was interested taken before. There is definitely an charms. Right now I love Seattle and in storms and a element of discovery. have no plans to move anytime soon...” lot of my early work had to do with their campus near Seattle’s Magnuson “All along throughout my career especially since he may stay connected the structures of those storms over the Park. He also teaches a laboratory I’ve been interested in local weather to the state climate office (located ocean,” explains Nick. “I did research class each year at the UW on weather and climate... Before that drought in on campus at the UW) even after he on how storms are modified when they analysis and forecasting. “It is the last California, I didn’t think about the retires. “Continuing that work on a come into land and have mountains class for undergraduate seniors,” says weather too much. I think about it all 10 to 20 percent basis would keep me in the way; sometimes the winds slow Nick. “It basically tries to pull the the time now. Just ask my wife!” out of trouble. I wouldn’t be surprised down but sometimes they actually students’ ‘book learnin’ together, how Nick met his wife while in graduate if instead of making a sudden break in speed up!” Now his research focuses to put their theoretical knowledge school in Seattle. They married in 1985 retirement I wind down gradually. And on how climate and ocean conditions to practical application.” He enjoys and have two adult children. “So we I hope to stay active playing in the dirt affect marine ecosystems, work that has interacting with students, plus, he adds, are empty nesters with no grandkids in the garden, and with my pots and clear implications for the Northwest. “They are a fresh audience for my stale last time I looked,” reports Nick. His pans, cooking-up stuff my wife doesn’t “Around here, for example, salmon jokes – new victims!” 24-year-old daughter is an actuary always want to eat. Although I travel runs seem to be very strongly related His busy schedule is rounded out living in Phoenix; his son is 27 and quite a bit as part of my job and get to to what the weather and climate are on committees and public speaking works in politics, splitting time between go to interesting and enjoyable places, doing…” Favorable conditions mean (including talks at retirement Seattle and Olympia. I’m sure we’ll do a little more traveling high survival rates for salmon. Other communities). And he offers a weekly Nick loves his work and puts in far when the time comes.” times survival is low which affects how radio talk Fridays on KUOW 94.9FM more than 40 hours each week (“My continued on page 18 many salmon sport or commercial at a few minutes before 1pm. “I enjoy wife will back me up on that”), but