TRAVEL, VOLUNTEER CHORES KEEP SIMI VALLEY COUPLE ON THE MOVE.

Byline: Jean Russell Vogel

When Andy met Sally they were taking square dance lessons in Los Angeles, and they have been complementing each other's moves ever since.

Married in 1949, the Andelmans have lived in Simi Valley for 31 years. After their three children, Pete, Bob and Nancy, graduated from Simi Valley High School and Andy retired from the metal shop he had been managing, the Andelmans went into full retirement mode.

During the past 15 years, Andy and Sally have given innumerable hours of volunteer service to a number of local public agencies. After six years of regular work at the local office of Employment Development Department, they are still recognized on the street by former clients.

Andy says that he retired somewhat sooner than planned after a co-worker suffered a fatal heart attack a day before retiring.

``I wanted some time to travel,'' Andy said.

The couple were both willing to live modestly to finance travel after retirement. While Andy was still working, the travel bug bit hard when the two toured parts of Europe during a trip to see their first grandchild, born while their son-in-law was on Air Force duty in Belgium.

While preparing for and in between trips, the Andelmans seemed to be ``. . . on hand anytime, anywhere help was needed,'' said a longtime associate and senior activist. Their artistic talents could be counted on for centerpieces for events of the local chapter of American Association of Retired Persons, in which both have been active. After acquiring travel expertise, they conducted tours for the chapter.

The Andelmans have worked consistently on the AARP election board. In 1992 Andy became a twice-a-week volunteer at the Department of Motor Vehicles when an employee recognized him as a former valued EDD volunteer. (EDD had by then become more mechanized and less dependent on volunteer help.)

Andy determined that in taking pictures for driver's licenses (one of several duties), he would never take a bad picture. Joking with the applicants seemed to bring good results and much appreciation.

Seldom able to resist a need for his skills, Andy has now added one morning a week at Youth Employment Service, a city-sponsored service with volunteer board and volunteers supplementing the small staff. His EDD experience helps in Andy's work entering data into the computer. He expects to help with the agency's Job and Career Fair on April 27 for young workers ages 16 to 22 at MountainGate Plaza.

Their never-failing good spirits suggest that the Andelmans are a fine model for retirement years. They spend time with grandchildren and children, local and distant, and have visited most of the continents on cruises, educational tours, by rail and by plane.

Sally is finding that her ceramics hobby has begun producing income - slated for the travel fund - and the couple keep fit, swimming regularly with other seniors at Rancho Simi Pool.