Sequim resident Roger Mull calls his own journey a “Circuitous Route to Sequim.” After living and working for 20-plus years on the coast of South Carolina, Mull changed gears (and careers), moving to Montana and, by July 2012, to Sequim.
He now works five months of the year during tax season as an enrolled agent with a tax software provider, fielding calls from customers worldwide who seek to resolve tax questions and/or software navigation issues. “It is a mental challenge and hectic at times but thoroughly enjoyable,” Mull says. “This is done from my home office in Sequim, Washington. Who woulda thunk it!”
Here’s a quick snapshot of his odyssey:
“I grew up in north Georgia near the city of Rome. During college and graduate school I had the opportunity to spend five summers working with the U.S. Forest Service in the Northwest — the last three as a smokejumper, parachuting to suppress remote forest fires throughout Montana, Idaho, Washington and Oregon. It was an incredible experience which gave me a unique opportunity to see much of the region firsthand and to develop a strong attraction to it.
After college I intended to return to the area permanently, but due to personal and career decisions eventually landed on the coast of South Carolina.
The lure of the Northwest, however, was always embedded in my psyche. Finally, in 2007, I was able to relocate and moved to Missoula, Mont., a great town. After five years there, I decided that the summer heat and winter cold (like 10 below at times), the snow and ice of Montana did not suit me and, being a sailor at heart, I wanted to be near blue water.
Through a process of elimination I decided to move to Sequim in July of 2012. The decision was influenced by the awesome relocation package sent to me by the Sequim-Dungeness Valley Chamber of Commerce.
While in Missoula, I began a second career as an enrolled agent/tax advisor. I now work five months of the year during tax season as an enrolled agent with a major tax software provider.
Fortunately tax season occurs during the months which are ‘less-than-perfect’ for outdoor activities. During the offseason, time has to be devoted to continuing education, formal for required credit hours and informal for expanded knowledge.
There is still ample time for personal reading, mostly history, and for enjoying the many amenities the Sequim area has to offer, from county and city parks (Dungeness, Dungeness Landing, Cline Spit, Robin Hill Farm, Port Williams, Salt Creek, Carrie Blake — especially if you have a dog — are all treasures) to John Wayne Marina, Washington state parks and Olympic National Park and the Olympic Discovery Trail.
The area is a bicycling paradise. I was able to log 1,300 miles, all within about 10 miles of Sequim, on my bicycle in 2013 and lost 30 pounds in the process. I have a couple of pounds to go and am well on track to exceed the 2013 mileage this year.
Summer, especially August, on or near Puget Sound, is glorious.
The city of Sequim has a small-town atmosphere, not too big and not too small.
Sequim, Washington – not a bad decision!”
Everyone has a story and now they have a place to tell it. Verbatim is a first-person column that introduces you to your neighbors as they relate in their own words some of the difficult, humorous, moving or just plain fun moments in their lives. It’s all part of the Gazette’s commitment as your community newspaper. If you have a story for Verbatim, contact editor Michael Dashiell at editor@sequimgazette.com.
