Imminent Retirement
It’s our two-week spring break. First time ever… so we decided to pack the car up and head up to Prince Rupert. My husband and I were born and raised in Prince Rupert. It’s been about 6-years since we revisited the town (with exception to a BCSTA Northwest Branch meeting that I attended last year and toured Charles Hays Secondary School).
We would not normally come up during spring break because it takes about 18-hours to drive up to Prince Rupert from the Sunshine Coast and that would be 4-days of driving. With a 2-week spring break, we seized the opportunity. There was no road construction, no snow, and no RV’s en route. It was certainly a different experience. For example, Cache Creek was not freaking HOT when we stopped to get our DQ treat.
Wow… a whole week in Prince Rupert to spend time with my husband’s family and connect with some of our friends. Here’s my Grad 88 photo from my days in Prince Rupert Senior Secondary (now known as Prince Rupert Middle School). My other former schools I have attended were also repurposed or closed: Booth Memorial Junior Secondary School is now known as Lax Kxeen Elementary School and King Edward Elementary School no longer exists. Prince Rupert has experienced declining enrolment for many years. It’s amazing how things have changed in 28-years.
Just last night, I was reminded that my 30-year reunion is just around the corner and my peers were preparing for retirement. What? My husband and I met up with a couple of our former classmates at The Crest Hotel. We had an awesome dinner… and these guys have not changed a bit. It’s great to connect with these people as if no time has passed, yet it has been years. We even bumped into a few more people at The Crest… Who needs a 30-year reunion? It just happened, 2-years too early.
At the Crest, I had a conversation with one of our friends. We talked about education, our kids, and retirement. What? Retirement? Whoa… that is never on my mind. I feel like I’m just getting started… but he was right. 10 years to 55… 20 years to 65. Wow! We are definitely at the halfway mark. Obviously, he is thinking about retirement as I am reminiscing about my childhood as I return back to my hometown… sightseeing… observing what’s the same and what’s different. I was looking back, not forwards.
Truth. I have not thought too much about retirement. I figured that I would be working in the field of education for a lifetime. I see retired superintendents thriving in the academic world. I see academics who have been doing research in education for years and continue to contribute to the discipline with no imminent retirement date coming anytime soon. That could be me. My friend’s point… JUST GO FOR IT. What ever my dream is… just do it!!! Why not? You have a good 20 years left… so might as well do what you want to do. That was super encouraging.
Retirement is imminent. Admittedly, it is now on my radar. That said, I can’t wait to see what’s next in my pedagogical journey. I love what I have learned so far… as a teacher, school trustee, curriculum developer, workshop facilitator, research assistant, graduate student, education consultant, community futures board member, and mom. I’m ready for the next step. Retirement will have to wait.