INTEREST GROUPS
MARCH 2026
Writing Workshop Offered by Mirehaven Word Sherpas
By Teresa Reinhard
February 17, 2026. Lisa Haneberg and Rebecca Guevara, both published authors and members of the Mirehaven Word Sherpas, taught a writing workshop to eight participants in the Cottonwood Room. They addressed short form writing or prose, including personal story, short story, personal essay, and poetry in the 90-minute session. The Word Sherpas meet twice monthly to provide feedback, guidance, and support to writers and aspiring writers of all levels. This is the second time they have offered a writing workshop to residents who want to sharpen their creative writing skills.
The writing workshop participants had opportunities to practice the various writing styles. Inspiration for writing may come from life experiences, overhearing a conversation, current events, nature, photographs, personal interests, and even dreams. They recommended aspiring writers keep a notebook for jotting down thoughts and experiences. One does not always need to start at the beginning of the story; a hook that introduces a memorable opening can be a powerful way to begin the narrative.
In addition to the hook, other writing terms such as inciting incident, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution, tone, point of view, and setting were covered in their talk and in handouts. The session was a college-level experience for the participants who had a range of previous writing experience. Some indicated they attended the workshop to help them with their writing goals, which ranged from writing a blog, a children’s book, a memoir, to writing poetry.
In addition, the Word Sherpas are hosting a Mirehaven Writers’ Anthology Project which will include short pieces written by residents on the theme of “Retirement, Glorious Retirement.” Submissions may be funny, serious, fiction, nonfiction, sad, happy, helpful, or cautionary. Deadline is March 31, 2026, and all anthology proceeds will benefit the 2026 Mirehaven Gives Back Charity.
Contact Sharman Esarey at sharmanesarey@gmail.com for more information on the Anthology Project or on the Word Sherpas Interest Group, which usually meets second and fourth Monday of each month at 10 am in the Cottonwood Room.
Retirement Concerns Addressed in Supportive Environment
by Paul Tanenbaum
Phil Johnson, Doug MacKay, Gail Kaufman, Peggy Fox-MacKay, Diana Oreck
February13, 2026. If you're thinking about retiring, close to retiring, newly retired, or have been retired for some time, you probably have a multitude of concerns and unanswered questions that are driving you crazy. The Retirement Interest Group is a little gem that can help with answers, provide needed support and alleviate some of the anxiety and frustration regarding retirement. The next meeting will be Friday, March 13 from 10 to 11 a.m. in the Cottonwood Room.
Dan Abrahamson founded the group in March 2024, that coincided with his own retirement. Retirement topics included current and future personal life challenges and changes as well as integration into Mirehaven, Albuquerque, and New Mexico. Dan is stepping down as group leader, with Doug Mackay and Peggy Fox-Mackay taking over as leaders.
The Retirement Interest Group doesn't just provide a place to obtain helpful answers to many different and difficult retirement questions and concerns; it also provides some of the needed support that everyone occasionally needs. I know the group just got one new member, me. Stop by the Cottonwood Room on the second Friday of the month to join the conversation.
Tai Chi Brings Movement, Calm, and Community to Mirehaven
Photography and story by Daniél García
Instructor Demonstrates Tai Chi Form,
February 9, 2026. Each Monday, at 11:20 a.m., at Mirehaven’s Sandia Amenity Center, residents gather with group leaders Chip and Linda Van Wert, as a Tai Chi Interest Group that blends gentle movement, focused attention, and community connection.
Often described as “moving meditation,” Tai Chi invites participants to slow down and move with intention. The measured pace allows body and mind to work together without rush. As sequences become familiar, practitioners remain present, cultivating calm and steady awareness.
The practice emphasizes upright posture and movement from the body’s center. With regular participation, muscles and tendons strengthen, posture improves, and balance becomes more secure. Participants adjust movements to their own abilities, making the class accessible to beginners and experienced members alike.
Practicing together adds another dimension. Shared energy and encouragement support learning in ways that solo practice cannot. Many attendees say they value not only the physical benefits but also the camaraderie within the group.
The Tai Chi Interest Group began more than a year ago, inspired by Mirehaven resident Yixin Zhan, who worked to establish the class in honor of a friend’s wish to bring Tai Chi to the community. Today the group remains welcoming and free to attend.
For those hesitant to try, members offer simple advice: start where you are, be patient with yourself, and give it more than one session. Tai Chi, is worth the time.
Class working in layered practice.
Hops and Wheat Happy Hour
By Teresa Reinhard
Carl Cerco ringing the bell.
February 11, 2026. The Craft Beer Interest Group gathered in the Manzano Room to celebrate hops and wheat via their Beer and Bread event. About 60 residents enjoyed their personal home selected beverage and shared an ample assortment of breads, wraps, cakes, biscuits, veggies, dips and jams. Some of the more adventurous cooks used beer in their bread recipes.
One of the Craft Beer Steering committee members, Carl Cerco, welcomed everyone to partake of brew, substance, and lively conversation. Every 15- or 20-minutes Carl rang a bell to encourage attendees to move to another table to get to know some fresh faces. Ringing the bell added to the liveliness of the event.
The Craft Beer Group meets monthly, alternating between assembling at the Amenity Center to stay close to home, or by visiting a local brewer or arranging for a bus to transport them to non-local breweries. See the monthly calendar or contact Carl Cerco at cercocarl@gmail.com to learn more.
Daniél and Karen Garcia show their club t-shirts
Qigong Practice Offers Calm, Mindful Start to The Day
Photography and story by Daniél García
The class following the Group Leader Jeff White's movements.
“Qigong (chee-gung) is an ancient Chinese practice utilizing mind, breath, and body,” said Jeff White, the interest group leader, “It creates a moving meditation that supports internal harmony, internal peace, and mindfulness.”
White began studying Qigong in 2018, initially as an extension of his martial arts training. Over time, it became a central part of his daily practice. While Qigong is often mistaken for a form of exercise, he notes that this is a common misunderstanding.
“There is both hard and soft Qigong,” he said. “What I teach to the public is a soft practice meant to establish harmony, internal peace, mindfulness, a centered life, and tools for managing stress.”
Practiced consistently, participants often notice subtle but meaningful changes, including improved breathing efficiency, greater ease in the joints, and a growing sense of calm and centeredness. “The benefits build over time,” the instructor said. “It takes some trust in the process, but once established, people feel the results.”
Classes are open to the neighborhood and meet at the Amenity Center on Wednesdays and Thursdays at noon.
Group demonstrating Grounded Awareness pose.
Mirehaven Pickleball Players get their groove on
Photos and Story by Paul Tanenbaum
Annual Mirehaven Pickleball Party
Chairperon and Emcee Linda Babin
January 31, 2026. The Annual Mirehaven Pickleball Interest Group party kicked off Saturday night at the Amenity Center, with over 55 pickleball enthusiasts in attendance. If you’ve never attended one of their parties, you don’t know what you’re missing. There was a feeling of camaraderie that you don’t experience at most large get togethers. Renae Johannssen, a pickleball player, who worked the admissions desk and was the Newcomer Awards winner, put it this way, “I am so excited about having so much fun with all my fellow Pickleballers, and not just on the court, but being with them dancing the night away.” As a party guest you can feel the high spirits as soon as you enter the room. Linda Babin, the chairperson for the event, said “We have this event every year. This interest group is the largest in Mirehaven with 168 members. It’s just nice to get together annually because we are like one big family.”
Tony Teague and Karey Osuna
The Manzano Room was decorated beautifully, with lots of pickleball themed decorations, a perfectly laid out DJ setup, with Lupe Garcia as DJ, and ample room for dancing and, of course, all the delicious food members bought or made and donated. Numerous pickleball awards (too many to list) were presented, along with a Pickleball trivia contest and raffle. One special presentation was given to Tony Teague, Mirehaven’s elite pickleball star, for his featured story in Pickleball Magazine. Karey Osuna, who is one of the first Women’s Pickleball Founders summed up the event, “I've played tennis for over 35 years and have never had as much fun and experienced as many friendships as I do playing pickleball here at Mirehaven.”
When the dancing stopped, the music ceased, and all the attendees started heading toward the door, people were humming, 🎶 “We Are Family.”
Shooting Shotguns Is Good for Seniors!
By Chuck Webster
Residents Al, Chuck, John and Ed. Photo by Frank, ABQ Range Officer
February 5, 2026. Shotgun shooting turns out to be a surprisingly good fit for aging well. It combines light physical activity, sustained mental focus, and regular social connection, without demanding speed, strength, or heroics, which may help explain why, once again, a group of Mirehaven residents found themselves on a clear February morning gathering for coffee, donuts, and conversation at the Albuquerque Shooting Park Range clubhouse, right next to the trap and skeet fields.
Last month, Mirehaven News reported the first tentative attempts by four members of the Shooting Sports Interest Group to strike down 40 mph clay targets. After caffeine and sugar, the four Musket-teers went off to shoot trap, an exercise that quietly demands balance, coordination, timing, and follow-through.
The trap shooters shot almost a bucket of shells!
Small, incremental gains are part of what makes shotgun sports especially well-suited to seniors. Trap shooting rewards smooth movement and mental presence rather than raw strength. Mounting a shotgun, tracking a moving target, and completing a clean follow-through, exercises core muscles, fine motor skills, balance, and hand-eye coordination. These are the abilities most of us hope to preserve.
Just as important is what happens between shots. Breaking clays require sustained attention and decisiveness, pulling the mind fully into the present moment. Many shooters describe it as meditative; there’s little room for rumination when targets are flying. Add coffee beforehand, friendly scorekeeping, and plenty of good-natured ribbing, and the range becomes more than a place to shoot. It becomes a place where skill-building, laughter, learning, and companionship naturally intersect.