BS: bbc retired today (3 June 2011)

Subject: BS: bbc retired today
From: bbc
Date: 03 Jun 11 - 09:21 PM

Hi, folks,

I have reached a major transition in my life. Today, at 58 years old & after 18 years as a public school teacher/librarian, I retired. It was not a particularly happy decision, since I hadn't attained the age & service years to maximize my pension, but, after trying to do the job of two people for the past two years, it was time. Ironically, after I filed for retirement, I discovered they planned to eliminate my position at the end of the year, anyway. My district will be going to one librarian next year for grades K-12. Oh, well. On the bright side, I just sold my first photo, to be used in a birdwatching book from Rodale this summer. In addition to taking pictures, I'm considering the feasibility of becoming a photo researcher. Could be happy times ahead! After 20 years of someone else setting my schedule, it should be fun to figure it out on my own!

best,

Barbara

Subject: RE: BS: bbc retired today
From: GUEST,number 6
Date: 03 Jun 11 - 09:56 PM

Congrats on your retirement Barbara !

and

Congrats on your photo sale !

and

persevere on that consideration of yours ... knowing of your photos I'm more than sure you'll make a go at it. ... ;-)

biLL

Subject: RE: BS: bbc retired today
From: YorkshireYankee
Date: 03 Jun 11 - 09:57 PM

Congrats to you -- for your courage in leaving the familiar unhappiness for the unknown, but potentially happy new situation.
Hope it all goes well for you; your excellent attitude should help!

Subject: RE: BS: bbc retired today
From: katlaughing
Date: 03 Jun 11 - 10:34 PM

Wonderful news on your photo sale and congrats on retirement and looking forward to so much to do. Photo researcher sounds really interesting!

kat

Subject: RE: BS: bbc retired today
From: Rapparee
Date: 03 Jun 11 - 10:46 PM

Yeah, we don't no steenkin' liberrians no more!

Congrats on retirement, and may you enjoy it for many years.

Rapparee, MS in LIS.

Subject: RE: BS: bbc retired today
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 04 Jun 11 - 03:08 AM

Congratulations. Enjoy your retirement.

Subject: RE: BS: bbc retired today
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 04 Jun 11 - 03:58 AM

ditto

sandra (4 & a bit years retired)

Subject: RE: BS: bbc retired today
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 04 Jun 11 - 05:46 AM

Best wishes. I was "offered" early retirement at the same age but they were so glad to get shot of me I got a good financial package! Retirement is the best job I ever had. The pay's not great but the hours are wonderful!

RtS
(35 years in university libraries, 9 years in retirement)

Subject: RE: BS: bbc retired today
From: autolycus
Date: 04 Jun 11 - 06:02 AM

Retirement's terrific.

Achieved that last summer. Free to make my own day.

My sister calls it being a 'time millionaire'. Depending on character, it can take varying amounts of time to get the hang of this revolutionary new situation.

Anyone who has any combination of having curiosity, likes books, music, films, plays, pictures, people, places, writing, composing a symphony, learning languages, filling in missing parts of one's knowledge/understanding [never mind the radio 'n' telly] won't have enough hours in the day.

Ivor

Subject: RE: BS: bbc retired today
From: gnu
Date: 04 Jun 11 - 06:22 AM

'time millionaire'... I like that one.

Congrats and enjoy!

Subject: RE: BS: bbc retired today
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 04 Jun 11 - 07:17 AM

Congratulations, Barbara! I am so happy for you. And to sell a photo to Rodale- that's no small accomplishment! Hooray for you!

A word of warning, however, about retirement. As you know, I did a similar "early-early retirement" although for different reasons. The advice my mother gave me turned out to be true: when you retire, you miss the vacations!

Hunt and I are officially self-employed now and have started our own small business. We actually have to schedule days off, now, because many's the time we look back over our calendar and realize we haven't taken a break in 10 days, 2 weeks or longer!

I look forward to seeing you at Old Songs- now, savor the sweet days of summer, knowing you don't have to squeeze every last drop with the start of school always looming on the horizon. And oh, that first day of school when you can linger in bed, listening to the school bus go by!

Subject: RE: BS: bbc retired today
From: Micca
Date: 04 Jun 11 - 07:43 AM

Congratulations, Barbara, I solved the Transition(from work to retired) Blues by a complete change of scene and pace the day after I retired, I went to the USA to the Getaway and spent 3 weeks in New England visiting friends, it was a lot easier to NOT go back to work when I got home!! and Well Done on selling a bird pic. I am impressed!

Subject: RE: BS: bbc retired today
From: Will Fly
Date: 04 Jun 11 - 08:12 AM

Retired for nearly two years now, after 47 years in broadcasting and university libraries. It's great - enjoy your time!

Subject: RE: BS: bbc retired today
From: Charley Noble
Date: 04 Jun 11 - 08:51 AM

Barbara-

Congratulations and good luck on your creative pursuits.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: bbc retired today
From: Janie
Date: 04 Jun 11 - 10:01 AM

Congratulations!

Subject: RE: BS: bbc retired today
From: bbc
Date: 05 Jun 11 - 07:40 PM

Thanks so much for your good wishes, folks! I've played all weekend, but that's not so unusual. What will really clue me in that I'm retired is that, tomorow morning, I won't have to get up to an alarm! For the record, the photo I sold was not so much because it was great, but because it was rare--a Bullock's Oriole in New York state in the winter. They, usually, live west of Indiana & winter in Mexico & Guatemala. This one, evidently, got disoriented after a snowstorm & ended up on my deck! Here's a link to the bird's story (Rodale wanted the first picture I took of Bob, the day he arrived) & to the book, available for preorder on Amazon:

Bob the Bullock's Oriole

Rodale Birding Book

best,

Barbara

Subject: RE: BS: bbc retired today
From: wysiwyg
Date: 05 Jun 11 - 10:46 PM

Congratu-mixed-blessings-lations

Hey, take some time, like our kids did when they ended 6 years of Navy Nuke life. It will be awhile before you decompress, to know what you really want to commit yourself to next.

Sleep well!!!

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: bbc retired today
From: Joe Offer
Date: 06 Jun 11 - 01:34 AM

Good luck, Barbara. I'm sure you'll find lots of wonderful things to do with retirement.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: BS: bbc retired today
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 06 Jun 11 - 03:57 AM

love the pics & story of Bob

Subject: RE: BS: bbc retired today
From: ragdall
Date: 06 Jun 11 - 08:46 AM

Barbara,
Congratulations on your retirement and the photo sale!

I wonder how long it will take education decision makers to realize (again) the value of school libraries?

rags

Subject: RE: BS: bbc retired today
From: bbc
Date: 06 Jun 11 - 10:19 AM

Wonder how long (if ever) it will take them to realize the importance of teachers. Education is going, increasingly, to the business model--get the most bang for the buck, work your employees till they burn out. The only problem (& pardon me if I sound melodramatic) is that the product, in this case, is the future of our world. Sorry to rant, but I've built up quite a bit of bitterness in the past few years. Most of the teachers I know are doing the best they know how, but an ever-increasing percentage of students are not willing/able to meet us part-way. Even so, all the accountability is on the teachers, not on parents or students.

Barbara

Subject: RE: BS: bbc retired today
From: YorkshireYankee
Date: 06 Jun 11 - 11:31 AM

Followed the first link -- what wonderful photos!
Well done you -- for the thoughtful nurturing as well as the great pix.

Subject: RE: BS: bbc retired today
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 06 Jun 11 - 11:36 PM

I've already written wishes about retirement. I just saw the photos and read what you've written. Beautiful!

Subject: RE: BS: bbc retired today
From: Naemanson
Date: 07 Jun 11 - 01:03 AM

Congratulations for both reaching my ripe old age and for having the good sense to retire. May your camera and music carry you in joy forever.

Subject: RE: BS: bbc retired today
From: DougR
Date: 07 Jun 11 - 01:03 AM

Congratulations, Barb, on your retirement, and the sale of your first picture! Happy retirement!

DougR

Subject: RE: BS: bbc retired today
From: KT
Date: 07 Jun 11 - 02:34 AM

Congrats, Barbara! Enjoy!!!!!

Subject: RE: BS: bbc retired today
From: bbc
Date: 07 Jun 11 - 06:03 AM

Gee, folks. I'm not here all that regularly, anymore, but it's nice to know that I still have friends. Thanks for your good wishes & sweet comments on my photos. I've been taking photos for almost 5 years now & sure enjoy it. It will be even more fun if I can get a bit of money from it!

best,

Barbara

Subject: RE: BS: bbc retired today
From: fat B****rd
Date: 07 Jun 11 - 02:53 PM

All the very best, Barbara. What RTS said. Crap pay, great hours.
Charlie

Subject: RE: BS: bbc retired today
From: Allen in Oz
Date: 08 Jun 11 - 04:03 AM

Good on you Barbara

You will find that you do not have enough time in the day to do all the things that you want to do ( photography etc)

A whole new world awaits you !

Allen in Australia

Subject: RE: BS: bbc retired today
From: bbc
Date: 08 Jun 11 - 08:55 AM

Boy, it is really great to see the names of old friends here! Thanks so much for your good wishes! Today, I managed to stay in bed till 7:15 am. Usually, I'm awake by 4:30-5 am. Ah, the life of a lady of leisure!

Barbara

Subject: RE: BS: bbc retired today
From: Rapparee
Date: 08 Jun 11 - 09:51 AM

See, you get on the road (now that you have time) and visit all of those Mudcatters you've always wanted to meet. You'll have a lot to discuss so take your time -- three or four weeks at each place isn't too much and all you need to buy is gas for the car!

I myself live in a small 8 x 12 foot cabin at the end of a footpath near an old mineshaft halfway up a mountain in Idaho about ten or twelve miles from the nearest road. Water is hauled from the creek two miles away when it isn't snowing and we have kill and butcher whatever we eat. The outhouse is pretty old and some of the floorboards crack every now and then, but feel free to visit any time. Be careful of grizzly bears and mountain lions (cougars) when you come.

Subject: RE: BS: bbc retired today
From: bbc
Date: 08 Jun 11 - 02:23 PM

Ah, not a bad idea, Rap. I have already considered a trip westward, to visit friends I haven't seen in ages (I live in New York state). Others have taken the Mudcat trail. I might consider. Thanks for the invite! True about the cabin & outhouse--really? Where do you keep your computer?

Barbara

Subject: RE: BS: bbc retired today
From: GUEST,Rapparee
Date: 08 Jun 11 - 07:29 PM

I break into rich folks houses and use theirs.

Subject: RE: BS: bbc retired today
From: Don(Wyziwyg)T
Date: 08 Jun 11 - 08:01 PM

I thought all the Cougars were living in LA and preying on handsome young men.

Welcome to the retiree club Barbara. If you're anything like me, you'll soon be wondering how you ever found time to work.

Don T.

Subject: RE: BS: bbc retired today
From: Barbara Shaw
Date: 09 Jun 11 - 11:53 AM

Best wishes to you Barbara. I've loved retirement and have gotten involved in so many creative pursuits that I can't believe how lucky I am to be retired. Frank has taken a bit of adjustment, and took a part-time job to give his day some structure, although he's getting over that!

It took me a year to get used to my new status, so give yourself plenty of time. Nowadays, I can't imagine how I fit a full-time job into my day. Good luck and congratulations on walking away from a situation that didn't suit you!

Subject: RE: BS: bbc retired today
From: bbc
Date: 24 Jun 11 - 06:22 AM

Thanks for your thoughts & good wishes, folks. Today marks the official last day of school & my beginning to the summer. As usual, I'll be celebrating at the Old Songs Festival in Albany, NY. Hope to see several of you there. I'll be the one smiling broadly & looking more relaxed than I have in years!

best,

Barbara

Subject: RE: BS: bbc retired today
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 24 Jun 11 - 08:24 AM

today is the first day of the best of your life!

sandra (4yrs 4 mths into the best of her life, even tho feeling poorly)

Subject: RE: BS: bbc retired today
From: olddude
Date: 24 Jun 11 - 09:15 AM

wonderful, God Bless you ... enjoy your freedom my friend ..
and have lots of fun

Subject: RE: BS: bbc retired today
From: Ebbie
Date: 24 Jun 11 - 02:32 PM

"I myself live in a small 8 x 12 foot cabin at the end of a footpath near an old mineshaft halfway up a mountain in Idaho about ten or twelve miles from the nearest road. Water is hauled from the creek two miles away when it isn't snowing and we have kill and butcher whatever we eat. The outhouse is pretty old and some of the floorboards crack every now and then, but feel free to visit any time. Be careful of grizzly bears and mountain lions (cougars) when you come." Rapparee

Sorry, ol' Rap, but I first read that as: "The NUThouse is pretty old".

Subject: RE: BS: bbc retired today
From: I don't know
Date: 24 Jun 11 - 04:46 PM

Good luck for the future, take some time out to relax and enjoy yourself.

Subject: RE: BS: bbc retired today (3 June 2011)
From: fat B****rd
Date: 25 Jun 11 - 04:38 PM

Stay with it and be happy, bbc.

Subject: RE: BS: bbc retired today (3 June 2011)
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 25 Jun 11 - 08:43 PM

Just now saw this thread. Congratulations not only on retiring, but in having such good timing for it. Alas, suddenly librarians are becoming luxury items in too many school districts. These districts have fools running them.

SRS