Since retiring a year ago from Colorado Public Radio and the daily grind of reporting the news, I’ve been asked many times if I miss it.

Often the person doing the asking is another journalist who, like I did, proudly identifies with the only profession that has First Amendment protections.

Early on in my career, I couldn’t imagine not being a member of the Fourth Estate.

I relished finding, deciphering, and passing on relevant information to listeners, especially stories that had a direct impact on their lives.

An example is The Marshall Fire in Boulder County on December 30, 2021 in which two people died and more than 1,000 homes were destroyed.

It was our duty to keep abreast of the fast-moving flames that forced hundred of Coloradans to run for their lives.

I will never forget the wave of sadness that washed over me when the first damage assessments came in and I tried not to fall apart on the air, thinking about the misery.

My board operator heard the sorrow in my voice and noticed that I was distraught off the air; prompting him to ask if I was OK.

I was not. But I had to keep calm and carry on.

As to the question of whether I miss reporting the news after more than 45 years in journalism, the answer is a resounding no.

For emphasis, I often add, “You’d have to drag me kicking and screaming back to a newsroom, especially given these crazy times.”

So when inquiring minds want to know how retirement is treating me, I respond with how I’m treating retirement.

Not having to pay close attention to the news frees up a boatload of brain space for writing, photography, and working on my podcast.

I’m also re-stocking my frontal lobe with intriguing stuff I come across while exploring the Denver area.

A recent stroll along Sloans Lake led me to venture into the SloHi (Sloans Lake/Atlantic Highlands) neighborhood where I found a small red brick building nestled between two high-rises.

The adorable structure that grabbed my attention is the former St. Anthony Hospital chapel, left in place after the historic institution relocated to Lakewood in 2013.

However, way-less adorable is the Suncor Energy oil refinery in Commerce City north of Denver. Its pollution woes are well documented.

What’s surprising is how sprawling the complex is. Seeing the 230-acre property brought the emissions controversy to life in a way that talking about it on the radio never did.

Getting back to pleasant surprises, Centennial Gardens next to Elitch Gardens along the Platte River is a serene spot adjacent to busy downtown Denver.

Though the designer was inspired by Louis XIV’s Versailles gardens, it has a Colorado bent.

It’s described by gardenvisit.com as drought tolerant because it maintains native plants that adapt to drier conditions instead of water-guzzling varieties commonly found in formal gardens.

Stumbling upon the Decker Branch of the Denver Public Library was another kick in the head. It proves that not all of the system’s facilities feature nondescript, late 20th-century architecture.

That’s because it was built in 1912 in the Platt Park neighborhood.

The main floor gives off a one-room schoolhouse vibe. It’s a quaint setting with a beamed cathedral ceiling, wooden floors, dark brown bookcases, and cushioned seating in the large window sills.

Perfect for reading if you can score a spot in the limited space.

On the other hand, visitor capacity is not a problem at Wings Over the Rockies located on the site of the former Air Force base in Lowry.

Fans of aviation will marvel at the B-52 bomber perched in front of the air and space museum. The defunct warplane was placed roughly 15 feet off the ground to afford a unique view of its massiveness.

Inside the cavernous hangar are other military and civilian aircraft, flight simulators that the public can use, and exhibits with historical facts.

Who knew that the Air Force Academy was established in 1955 at the Lowry base before it moved to Colorado Springs?

Indeed, exploring metro Denver’s varied neighborhoods is a fun and fabulous way to keep the synapses firing on all cylinders.

It’s one of my favorite things about being retired.

Jo Ann Allen retired recently from Colorado Public Radio in Denver after 47 years of reporting the news. She is the creator and host of the podcast Been There Done That. 

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