When Joan Morse and Dean Hachamovitch first moved to Clyde Hill, the twins were still in high chairs and their eldest was just starting pre-K. Fast forward two decades, and their Clyde Hill household has changed in the most beautiful ways. Their oldest, Rebecca, is now finishing her PhD in Classics at the University of St Andrews in Scotland; Hannah is thriving as a graphic designer in Chicago; and Ben is happily managing a climbing gym in the Bay Area. The kids have officially “launched,” and yes, the house is quieter, but far from boring. 

Instead of slowing down, Joan and Dean are stepping into what comes next with the same curiosity and drive that has shaped their entire adult lives. Joan’s career began in advertising, then pivoted to tech after she earned her MBA from Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management. She spent several years in marketing at Microsoft before stepping away from corporate life to raise their three kids and give back to the broader community. Her service included board work with Fred Hutch, Jewish Family Services, Seattle Country Day School, and Thrive Networks, bringing strategic planning, fundraising, and communications experience to every board served. 

From the beginning, Joan has been a storyteller. Now she tells those stories through light and shadow, lens and instinct. Her love of photography began in high school, where she learned to develop and print her own images. She served as photo editor of the yearbook, held a solo show at her local library, and interned with an advertising photographer before life shifted toward degrees, deadlines, and diapers. 

But in 2013, she picked up a camera again, returning to an activity that had always brought her happiness. That joyful pursuit is now her passion, and her livelihood. She’s living the adage: “Do what you love, and you’ll never work a day in your life.” Today, Joan is an award-winning street photographer whose work has appeared in global publications like Vanity Fair. Her extraordinary images have been exhibited around the world—from New York to Seattle to France, Spain, and Malaysia. Her 2024 solo show at The Rainier Club in Seattle was a celebration not just of technique, but of perspective; one that’s been shaped by years of observing people, guiding teams, raising children, and rebuilding identity in this next chapter of life. “My happy place is where photography and travel meet,” she says. “Having a camera requires me to slow down, pay attention, and truly connect with the culture and people around me.” 

Dean, for his part, went from Harvard math major to Microsoft exec, leading product teams on Office and Windows over the course of his 24-year tenure. His legacy includes patents, leadership roles (he left as Corporate VP and Chief Data Scientist), and the invention of something nearly every keyboard user relies on, and one of my personal favorites: autocorrect. Dean, however, downplays the résumé: “I went to a four-year college, got a job, and met a girl.” 

After leaving Microsoft, he stayed close to early-stage tech through friends in venture capital. But it was a neighbor in Clyde Hill’s Mercia neighborhood who suggested a different kind of venture: public office. In 2021, Dean ran for city council. He won. And just like that, he was building community of another kind. “As a small city, Clyde Hill faces the same kinds of challenges as a start-up,” Dean explains. “Who is the customer? What is the feedback loop? How do you make sure your communication is clear and consistent?” So, he knocks on doors, reads all the municipal codes, spots bugs in the system (his words), and seeks out opportunities for growth and change. He even writes a newsletter to fill the local information gap and bring more transparency to city government. Commander Hanson of the Clyde Hill Police Department notes: “Dean listens. He takes the time to understand the issue, asks questions, and pushes for clarity. That’s rare, and it matters.” 

While the house may be quieter these days, it’s far from still. Joan’s camera bags are often packed, and Dean is deep in council business or decoding city zoning language. But there’s also a little more time for walking dogs (Indie, a golden retriever, and Chloe, a rescue and new addition), care for their aging parents, travel, and perhaps best of all, to be a bit self-reflective; something always in short supply when actively parenting. What’s clear is that this chapter of life isn’t about slowing down. It’s about realigning, rebuilding, reinventing. 

The transition from full-time parenting to “what’s next” isn’t always easy, but Joan and Dean lean into it with open hearts and a sense of purpose. Their new normal is a wonderful promise that fulfillment doesn’t have to retire with your kids’ lunchboxes. For Joan and Dean, it means carrying forward the best parts of life, creativity and curiosity, and applying them in new and joyful ways. Whether through a city council vote or a perfectly framed photograph, Joan and Dean remind us: there’s no expiration date on reinvention. And sometimes, the best way to fill an empty nest is… a migration to something new.