I mentioned a group the other day that retirement was hard. Here’s the deal. I didn’t plan retiring – and I still have a really cool part time job doing exactly what I like. The bonus is that I can do it anywhere I have good internet access – though that can be a problem traveling.
I didn’t plan retiring, it kind of just happened. I was removed from my classroom because of a classroom management issue. It was supposed to be investigated, but it never was. It had been I would have been cleared.
I decided to go back into the technology space, and did. Quite successfully. Unfortunately Google bought the company out, and afterwards, just didn’t find what I wanted to do full time.
It was okay though because my husband had to have brain surgery and recover from a brain injury. Being between jobs was great, because I had to get him to rehab most of the time. It would have been really hard if I had to work full time. As it was, I was able to increase my part time hours.
Once he recovered and had been back on the job for several months, and I’d gone through the interview process a few times, we decided that my retiring wasn’t a bad thing. I am eligible for full retirement from teaching on December 31, including insurance, so that’s where I am going.
The income is less than half of what I was making as a teacher, but that’s okay too. I don’t have quite the expenses, I put a lot of money in my classroom, especially for robotics.
The question is what do you do with yourself? Especially since I have a pretty good education.
I’ve explored a lot of options – being a volunteer teacher didn’t work out – having someone who hasn’t been in the classroom since high school trying to tell me what to do wasn’t good.
Right now though, I’m in a really good place.
I get to do the very thing I’ve been passionate about for years – teach computer science and web design to talented and gift students – Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth.
I am doing my own version of Extreme Makeup Weight Loss. First, it isn’t extreme. I have memberships at Planet Fitness and Sunstone FIT (which is a Yoga/Exercise studio) and the local pool. I’m doing things at my own pace and feel good.
I’m a patient at Baylor Dental College, which so far is working out. I have appointments in January with the graduate school and with a regular student. Already my mouth is better – they got me to go back to a local dentist change and have a crown fixed which makes my bite better.
I’m currently working on an open source project and I’ve already contributed to it in a small way. It’s one of my favorite programs, and Open Live Writer.
Patiently waiting for the retirement insurance and pay checks.
Oh, and an official retirement party is happening on January 15th, Blue Mesa at Northwest Highway.
Of course, if the absolute right gig would come knocking on the door, I would be all over it. I do enjoy having my own full paycheck. The last job was great – 15 minutes from the house, attached to the local mall.
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