The Loop Newspaper - Tehachapi's Online Community News & Entertainment Guide

In September Richard and Karen Ridgley sold their home in Anaheim and traded the hustle and bustle of the city for the quiet serenity of our mountain community.

He had traveled through the area many times for work. At the time he was teaching commercial driving around the state and he thought this would be a great place to retire someday. They have since had some of their family join them. Karen's mother is in assisted living nearby and her sister and brother-in law are getting settled into a home just down the street.

Karen had been working in real estate as the person who reviews escrow files to make sure everything is included and is absolutely correct before closings. When she discovered she could continue this work from home on the computer, she brought her job with her and it keeps her very busy.

Richard has his own office in a little cottage behind their house next to a bubbling fountain.

Karen said she doesn't have any hobbies other than work but Richard likes to run and bake. He went to culinary school and at one time owned a bakery. He said he has thought about doing that again if the opportunity arises but time will tell.

The Ridgley's have four children, two boys (Dennis and Daniel) and two girls (Kimberly and Kelly) ranging in age from 44 to 51. Karen told me that they have 13 grandchildren and "almost" 8 great grandchildren. Number 8 is on the way. However, the Ridgley's don't have an empty nest. They have four very active small dogs. Sugar is a tiny toy Rat Terrier, Toby is a longhair Chihuahua and Jimmy and Susie are both Lhasa Apso. They all make quite a household.

Heather Woolen and Gary Morales moved to Bear Valley Springs in October from the Sacramento area. Their move was primarily for Gary's work but there was the added benefit of having his aunt and uncle here as well. Heather is a northern California girl but Gary was raised in the Los Angeles area where he still has several relatives there. In fact, that is where they spent Thanksgiving. Gary is a salesman for Vista Gas and has an office in Bakersfield. He takes the bus to and from work from Old Towne which, he says, really saves on gas. He educated me on deregulated gas programs and how Vista can be a competitor of PG&E. It was fascinating. He also told me that his main hobby is exercise and he is looking forward to starting a regular program although it may have to wait a bit until he heals from an auto accident he recently had in Bakersfield.

Most of Heather's family is still in the Sacramento area. She has two children, sixteen year old Aaron and eleven year old Emily. They are currently in school in Sacramento and staying with Heather's parents. She hopes to have them with her soon. In the meantime, she is enjoying being a housewife. They told me that they are planning on hosting a family Christmas here in Tehachapi – weather permitting, of course. Welcome to Tehachapi Heather and Gary.

If you have moved to the Greater Tehachapi Area within the last six months and would like to know more about your new community, call 661-822-8188. We will be happy to make an appointment for a hostess to come by and give you lots of helpful information, some valuable coupons, gifts and much more. Many families and individuals who come to the area are pleasantly surprised with the amount of knowledge they gather about their new home. Publishing your welcome article is completely voluntary and is not a requirement of being welcomed.