I'm a career journalist who's written for three major daily newspapers. I now freelance and am excited for the 2011 release of my latest book, Malled: My Unintentional Career in Retail. It's a memoir of selling clothing in a suburban mall. I live with my fiancé in Tarrytown, New York, and was diagnosed with osteoarthritis in my left hip in 2007.

Though bothersome, the condition was largely manageable until early this year, when a bad flare-up caused a lot of pain and has kept me away from some (okay, most) of the activities I love, such as playing softball. Refusing to give up, I'm trying different exercises like water aerobics, and tricks like sleeping with a pillow between my knees, to keep my hip joint limber and stave off stiffness.

When I'm not in the pool or typing away at my computer I'm likely to be getting on a plane - I live to travel and have visited 37 countries - cooking, reading, or scouring antique shops for vintage textiles. Follow me as I test the water (literally!) to see if pool classes can help me better manage my arthritis.

When my doctor told me in 2000 that I had osteoarthritis in my neck, I took the news with a mixture of relief (I now had a name for my discomfort) and concern (will it get worse?). Several years earlier, I had a car accident. Even after months in physical therapy, I was limited in what I could do - like riding roller coasters with my family or jogging with my friends. But I always thought that as my neck healed, I'd be able to get back to those activities. Would having OA slow me down even more? To a degree it has, but I fight it every step of the way, mainly with daily walks. I take some OTC pain relievers when necessary. My goal is to see if strength training will give me any relief and hopefully help me improve my mobility.

When I'm not "pumping iron," I'm researching the latest health news and typing away at my computer - I'm a freelance writer and editor. Currently I'm compiling an A-to-Z guide of home health tips for an upcoming book. For the past few years my husband, Bill, an officer in the army, has been stationed in the Middle East. And now that both of my kids are in college - my daughter is working toward her doctorate in physical therapy and my son is a computer science major - my constant companions are my cat and a number of wild creatures (including the occasional bear) who roam around my rural Pennsylvania home. When my family is home, we like to concoct new recipes in the kitchen - my daughter leans toward desserts, but my son likes to tinker with meats and fish before grilling them. And to relax I like to read mysteries, and I'm a sucker for Hitchcock movies.

At 58, I've been a nurse for more than 30 years, the last 15 specializing in high-risk obstetrics. I also teach nursing part time. You'd think that having OA in my knees and my hands would lead me to rest more in my downtime, but in fact I'm rarely sitting home! When I'm not working, you can find me being active—I walk, cycle, and go kayaking whenever I can.

My husband and I live in Abington, Pennsylvania. We've been married for 38 years and have four children—two sons, two daughters. We're a close family—and growing! My daughter Beth and her husband have two children: Jamie, 8, and Kayla, 6. And our younger son Ted and his wife have 2-year-old Colin and another baby on the way!

We have a shore house in Cape May Point, New Jersey, and often go there with my family. I love being in nature, especially if I can get some good photographs while I'm out there. On any given Sunday, we host family dinner at our house—there can be anywhere from eight to 15 people at the table! I love it; cooking is one of my hobbies, along with reading mysteries and knitting.

Travel is another big passion for me. In the past, I've done volunteer work in Guatemala. But there's so much more that I want to do. That's why I'm committed to recharging my current exercise routine. For several years, I've been walking and riding a stationary bike at the gym. It's helped, but I've definitely hit a plateau. I'd like to try to increase the length and speed of my walks, and mix up my routine with more cross training.

I'm hoping that by focusing on my goals of improved health and flexibility, I'll be able to lose weight and find greater relief of my OA symptoms. And, perhaps, come next year I'll be able to realize my longtime dream of hiking the Grand Canyon.