About

Happily Retired, Fully Inspired, Real Talk, & Everyday Joy and Joann Rechtine

Welcome!

I’m Joann Rechtine, and this blog is the result of being recently retired and finally having the time to write, reflect, and share all the things that have been rattling around in my head.

If you’re also figuring out the adventure that comes after "the end" of the working story, pull up a chair. You’re in the right place.

I live in Western North Carolina and feel incredibly lucky to be surrounded by the beautiful outdoors I love to explore. At home, my world revolves around family and the joyful chaos created by our dogs. We're always planning our next travel adventure, near or far!

This space is dedicated to navigating this beautiful, sometimes bizarre, season of life. As someone who is moving through menopause while managing celiac disease and other autoimmune things, I know the journey can be complex. Here, I tackle mostly fun and sometimes serious topics with honesty and a much-needed tongue-in-cheek attitude.

I am creating this blog purely for my enjoyment and to connect with others by sharing helpful hints and what I am genuinely feeling at any given time. I have no idea where this writing journey will take me, but I'm happy to investigate and be along for the ride.

What You'll Find Here:

Gluten-Free Kitchen Experiments: Managing my dietary needs means I’m always attempting and sometimes celebrating my latest gluten-free adventures in the kitchen.

Travel and Hiking Adventures: Tales from the trail (especially in the mountains) and the road, as we explore the world.

Real Talk: Candid discussions on products, healthcare navigation, and moving through life changes like menopause with both grace and grit.

A smiling woman with gray hair, glasses, and earrings outdoors with green trees and blue sky in the background.
Logo with the name "Joann Rechnine" written in elegant script font.
Snow-capped mountains under a partly cloudy sky with a few scattered clouds, in a landscape view with trees in the foreground.
Two dogs grazing in a grassy field at sunset with pink and purple sky and trees in the background.
Colorful sunset over mountain range with dark forest in foreground, vibrant orange, pink, purple, and blue sky with clouds.
Woman wearing sunglasses smiling as she pets a brown goat on a farm, with a gravel pathway, green grass, trees, and a red barn.

Retirement isn’t the end of the story, it’s the start of something beautifully unscheduled.

My Professional Story

If you’re wondering why I still have so much passion for learning and education as a retired person, look no further than my two professional careers. I have a lot of letters after my name, representing a deep commitment to science, health, and ethical training: Joann Rechtine, CSAT, CPDT-KA, FDM, MS, MPH, RN.

Dog Behavior Specialist

My most recent career involved over 20 years in the dog training industry. I specialized as a Certified Separation Anxiety Trainer (CSAT), helping many dogs recover and allowing their guardians to finally get their lives back.

My credentials also include being certified through the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CPDT-KA), a certified Family Dog Mediator (FDM), and a Fear Free Certified Trainer. Initially, I received formal education from world-renowned trainer Turid Rugaas’ International Dog Training Program, making me one of just twelve US-based dog trainers to have earned an International Certification in Dog Behavior. I am a keen student of animal behavior, committed to ethical methods.

Healthcare & Education Leadership

Before my work with dogs, I had an extensive career in the medical field. As a Registered Nurse (RN) and an Adult Nurse Practitioner, I handled everything from patient care and management to running continuing education programs for medical professionals.

In both fields, I excelled as a Leader in Education, organizing events from 1-hour seminars to multiple-day international conferences. I love to see people have that “aha moment” when big concepts and hard work finally come together—whether I was teaching fellow medical professionals, dog trainers, or pet owners.