Planning for Retirement

I have mentioned to a few people that “Lord willing and the creek don’t rise” as my grandmother would say, I plan to retire in five years. It isn’t set in concrete and I might change my mind, but my current license expires then. I’ll be 67 and Gary will be 73. We’ll both be a little older and slower. We’d like to spend more time together. So I’ve started thinking about it.

What occupies my thoughts is not how I will survive financially, although that has been a consideration for many years. What I think about the most is what I will do with my time when it is no longer spent teaching. You know I am not a soap opera, Dr. Phil, knitting kind of gal. I need to have a plan for a “useful life”. So I am observing and talking with my friends who started retiring about three years ago and I’m learning lessons from them. Some are substituting at their school or different ones nearby. Some are working at other jobs. Some are going to school to learn new things and achieve personal goals.  Some have started businesses. Some are helping their children by caring for their grandchildren. Some are doing more work for their church. Some are doing things put off for years- traveling, crafts, painting. Most are trying to find a balance between generating a modest supplemental income and having a much more flexible schedule than they did while teaching. Sounds good to me!

You know I have some very specific areas of interest: writing, photography, genealogy, gardening. I think I might be able to generate some income from writing or genealogy. I minored in art and would love to take some painting classes. I’d like to improve my photography skills. Tutoring individual students appeals to me. So…some things to think about for the next few years. It might seem early, but time really does fly when you are having fun, or planning ahead for it!! 

Comments

[Jeff]

Aunt Mary,
When Ava, Henry and I visit for Thanksgiving, we would like to have you take some pictures for us. This can be some training for retirement. Any thoughts?

Love, Jeff

[mary]

I don't take pictures of people- not my talent. But I have a good friend who takes WONDERFUL people pictures. Do you want her number?

[Megan]

How wise to plan years in adcance. But how troubling that retirees have to still be working when retired. I am thinking my entire generation will end up needing to work up until we die..... hopefully, its a long time off.

I am looking forward to your blogging the process. You are the most thorough person I know and I am sure I will learn a new way of looking at things.

[Cara Larose]

Planning your retirement early on is good. That way, you’ll have more time decide what you want to do in the future. I like the idea of doing things that you normally can’t do because of your busy working schedule. Improving your photography skills can really help you. If you get good enough, maybe it can even be a source of income for you! And what’s great about that is it wouldn’t feel like work at all!

[Alexander Berger]

Hey Mary,
I just happened to stumble across your blog this evening and was captivated by the warm small town vibe I can feel in your posts (Especially the ones about local happenings obviously)

I think its really cool that you plan on picking up some possibly income producing hobbies in your retirement. As my parents near retirement, I am urging them to do the same.

On my blog I just wrote a post about the self education movement (http://alexanderberger.me/post/30348350726/self-education-alexander-berger) and although the details may be different, I think the principle is the same: If you are passionate about something, you can educate yourself about it, and possibly earn a living from it.

Have a great labor day weekend!