After Retirement, Westaway's Find A New 'American Dream'

For many people retirement can be filled with uncertainty and doubt.  Financial concerns, boredom and even loneliness are all worries when stepping away from the workforce.

While many people look forward to the freedom that comes along with retirement, others find themselves without purpose and motivation.

Let’s face it, today’s economy is frightening for everyone, and it is especially scary for people who have given up their main income and now rely on their savings, pension, social security etc. 

For Sgt. Bob Westaway, retirement in 2009 meant saying goodbye to a 32-year police career in the Tewksbury Police Department. A DARE Officer who spent endless amounts of time working with Tewksbury’s youth, Westaway had always been an active member of the local community.

Due to an injury, Westaway’s wife, Kathy, had retired from her career at The Tewksbury Country Club several years previously and it was time for the two to begin a whole new chapter in their lives.  

It was on a family road trip to Florida that, ironically, that the plans for their future began to unfold.  While vacationing they came across a solar lamp and, completely unexpectedly, the groundwork was laid for their current business "Solarfun2010."

Inspired by the solar lamp that they had seen, Kathy and Bob began building and creating their own unique solar lamp creations in 2010. In September, they decided to make 23 lamps and sell them at the campground in New Hampshire where they were summer residents.  The results were amazing. 

“I left for coffee,” explained Bob. "By the time I had returned we had sold all 23 lamps.”  Even more amazing was that, along with the lamps they had sold, The Westaways, also had received more than fifty advance orders.

Since that day in September 2010, The Westaway’s career as crafters has taken on a life of its own.  Almost immediately they realized that their business would need a name and their design would need a copyright.

The name was an easy one. "Solarfun2010" represents the type of light, the year the business began and, as Bob mentioned, “the word fun because Kathy and I really are having a blast.” In March they were able to copyright their design and the rest is, as they say, history.

Today, the Westaways' business has become a family affair.

“Everybody does something,” joked Kathy. "The kids enjoy going to and helping out at the shows. Of course we don’t make that much money so they usually get paid with dinner.”

Don’t let the fact that Solarfun2010 is a “Mom and Pop” business fool you into thinking that it isn’t a growing venture.  These days, The Westaways feature a whole line of designs and themes and, at the same time, are more than willing to take and create custom orders.  They have shipped their creations all over the country and, recently, even made a special lamp that went home to Australia with a customer. 

“I work in my shop all day, while Kathy is upstairs waiting to decorate the lamps," said Bob.

Bob and Kathy have become regulars at local craft fairs and cannot believe how much enjoyment the business has brought them.

“I love getting up, coming downstairs and working in my shop” said Bob. “We have had a chance to meet so many nice people through the business.”

Kathy couldn’t agree more.

“We have made so many friends since we started,” added Kathy. "Craft fair people are the nicest, most down to earth people you could ever meet.”

If you are looking for some after Thanksgiving shopping head to the Castleberry Fair  on Nov. 25-27 at The Shiners Auditorium in Wilmington to see Solarfun2010’s creations. 

You can also visit Solarfun2010.com or you can find them on the Solarfun2010 Facebook page.