Meandering with the Merrills

Nancy Merrill realized soon after meeting her now-husband, Tim, that enjoying the outdoors was going to be integral to their relationship. His family hiked, canoed and camped – activities with which Nancy was less familiar. After passing a “camping test,” she was welcomed into his family with open arms.

The Merrills have since embraced a lifestyle together centered around walking, hiking and outdoor adventures.

Early in their marriage, they spent weeks hiking the Appalachian Trail in the Smoky Mountains and took weekend canoe trips. After their two kids arrived, the family explored the White Mountains in New Hampshire and the Adirondack Mountains in New York.

As they’ve aged, Nancy and Tim stick more to level trails and take “micro walks” but still enjoy the great outdoors whenever possible. They frequent Raccoon Creek State

Park to identify wildflowers and Toms Run Nature Reserve, both near their home at the Masonic Village at Sewickley.

“It’s a fun hobby,” Tim said. “I have a plant app that allows me to take a photo of a plant, and the app identifies it. This helps when we don’t recognize it or remember its name.”

“The number of places in Pittsburgh to walk outdoors is so nice,” Nancy said, “especially during COVID. We’re always thinking, ‘What might we do tomorrow?’”

They also walk on Masonic Village’s campus, combining sidewalks, paths and streets for a mile-plus loop. They’re very impressed with the new wooded trail on the property (see p. 20) and even recommended enhancing the project by identifying the trees and wildflowers along the trail.

“The campus is so well landscaped,” Nancy said. “We have lovely trees, shrubs and plants. And it was designed to be easy to walk.”

They’ve connected with other walkers on campus and exchange ideas on local places to explore, from trails to botanical gardens.

The Merrills have only been at Masonic Village for two years, but Sewickley has been their home for 50 years. They were familiar with the Valley Care Nursing Home, which was purchased by the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania in 1999 and became the Masonic Village at Sewickley.

Nancy is involved with the Sustainable Living Committee, which aims to find ways for the campus to reduce its carbon footprint, and she plays Mahjong. They are both active in their church.

“With all there is to do, there’s no pressure to do any of it,” Tim said. “The longer we’re here, the more we’ll become a part of the community. It’s fun getting to know people.”

A Philosophy of Walking

Jean-Jacques Rousseau was well-known as a philosopher and author, but he was also a walker. Tim shares Rousseau’s sentiments on the seemingly simple concept of walking.

According to Eric Weiner, in his book, The Socrates Express: In Search of Life Lessons from Dead Philosophers, Rousseau, who was an urban nomad, walked often and walked alone. Weiner writes, “Yes, a stroll with a close friend has its pleasures, as do walking clubs, but at its heart walking is a private act. We walk by ourselves and for ourselves. Freedom is walking’s essence. The freedom to depart and return when we wish, to meander, to, as Robert Louis Stevenson put it, ‘follow this way or that, as the freak takes you.’”

“It’s a good time to think,” Nancy said. “It clears your head. Some days I can’t get myself out of the house, but when I do, I feel so much better. You get to know others. Having a walking partner helps you not be lazy.”

Walking with a Purpose

After attending a reunion at Yale University, which included a lecture on architecture, Tim strongly encouraged their daughter, who was attending Yale at

the time, to take a course in architecture. Tim and Nancy then followed her to France for architectural tours of the country’s beautiful churches and buildings.

Once retired, Tim found an ideal way to combine his passions for history, architecture and walking by conducting walking tours of Pittsburgh and, later, Sewickley. A docent for the Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation, he enjoys telling the story of the city’s architecture. He’s given bus tours for Masonic Village residents.

You can view his Sewickley walking tour on YouTube by searching Virtual Walking Tour Sewickley History.

Whether walking to clear their heads or fill their minds with knowledge, the Merrills meander with and without intention. With COVID-19 limiting so many activities, walking remains one of the best and safest outlets, offering something new – for your mind and eyes – around every corner.