From Packing Boxes to Making Memories: Debbie’s Sabbatical Story
At HFA, we believe in giving our team time to recharge, reflect or just catch up on life. Each year, one employee is selected to take a four-week paid sabbatical — and this year, that employee was Debbie Ferris.
In November, when Debbie found out she’d been selected, her plan had been simple: relax, spend time with family and enjoy a week at her seasonal camp on the eastern shore of Lake Ontario. But as life often does, things took an unexpected turn. Debbie and her husband ended up selling their house — and fast. Suddenly, her sabbatical became the perfect opportunity to pack, move and get settled into their new home.
After seven years in their home in Greece, Debbie and her husband were ready for a change. They wanted to be closer to family and live a maintenance-free lifestyle. The new townhouse in Spencerport, in a 55+ community, offered both, along with an easier commute to HFA.
“We were about 30 minutes away from family before,” Debbie said. “Now we’re just 1–2 miles away.” That’s a big deal when your life includes three kids, six grandsons and another grandbaby on the way. Two of their grandsons go to high school just across the street from the new house.
The Big Move
The move went smoothly, minus the heat. “It was 90 degrees that day,” Debbie recalled. “We had three movers, they started around 9 a.m. and by 2:45 p.m., everything was in the new house.” The unpacking began almost immediately, with help from kids and grandkids. One of Debbie’s grandsons went above and beyond by taking empty boxes home to build a fort in his living room, to his parents' dismay.
Every morning during the sabbatical, Debbie and her husband tackled a new room. From hanging curtains to placing artwork, they focused on turning the townhouse into a real home. “I was actually ready to come back to the office shortly after the move,” she joked. “Moving is a lot of work!”
Though it was bittersweet to leave their old home, they don’t miss the ongoing maintenance. “This is just easier. And we’re so much closer to the people who matter most,” said Debbie.
She also gave a big thanks to Jen for helping them throughout the process.
Camp, Candy and Community
In between packing, unpacking and organizing, Debbie and her family spent time at their beloved seasonal camp on the eastern shore of Lake Ontario. With 1,400 permanent campers and plenty of weekend visitors, the camp is an active and close-knit community.
Each August, they host a Halloween event that Debbie’s grandsons look forward to all year. “Everyone decorates, there’s a golf cart parade, crafts and tons of candy,” she said. “The boys came back with Wegmans bags half full.”
Back at the townhouse, everyone is settling in nicely. Debbie, her husband and their 5-year-old black lab, Maggie, have already made new friends — including Stella, another black lab who lives right across the street.
A Sabbatical Well Spent
While Debbie’s sabbatical didn’t go as planned, it turned out to be exactly what she needed: a chance to start fresh, be closer to family and make new memories in a new home. And now that she’s back at HFA? “It feels good to be back in a routine,” she says. “And it’s nice to know I had the time and support to do what needed to be done at home.”
About the High Falls Advisors Sabbatical Program
A few years ago, HFA's management team began offering an employee sabbatical program. Under this program, team members who have completed five years or more of service are eligible for a paid four-week leave, which they can use as they choose. While on sabbatical, employees are encouraged to engage in activities that are meaningful to them, such as traveling, taking a class, volunteering for a nonprofit, spending time with family or pursuing other personal interests. The hope is that after this time off, employees will return to work feeling refreshed and engaged, with new energy and perspectives.