Category Archives: changes after retirement

Where do they send the bodies?

Posted on August 2, 2012 by stillalife

Who gets the cat if we die before he does? Why am I leaving money in my will to a theater that produces outdated plays for outdated people? Why are the deceased still on my list of inheritors? And would … Continue reading →

Posted in changes after retirement, personal reflections, travel | Tagged | 6 Comments

Living in the Third Age

Posted on June 25, 2012 by stillalife

For me, yesterday’s tour of gardens on Vashon Island went beyond views of beautiful plants, homes, and garden art; it also brought the flowering of new insights. Two of the three of us who traveled to Vashon together have been … Continue reading →

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Timeless or less time?

Posted on March 17, 2012 by stillalife

Within the last 12 months I’ve had friends diagnosed with cancer (the latest being the man who has cut my hair for more than 30 years), one die from cancer, and, thankfully, two successfully treated for cancer.  I expect that … Continue reading →

Posted in aging, changes after retirement, personal reflections | Tagged , | 3 Comments

Getting lost as a tour guide, while seeing your hometown through others’ eyes

Posted on December 12, 2011 by stillalife

Familiar sights often look better to us when we take out-of-town guests to see them.  The enthusiasm of others makes us appreciate our hometowns more.  This happened to me today, when my co-teacher and I invited our adult Talk Time … Continue reading →

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We only want comments from the living

Posted on September 24, 2011 by stillalife

“Never say ‘no comment’ when talking to reporters.”  When I started my career I heard this mantra from every school PR professional I met.  The first thing to understand is that no one is ever tempted to say, “No comment,” … Continue reading →

Posted in changes after retirement, humor | Tagged | 2 Comments

Don’t lose face and don’t take off your clothes in church

Posted on September 18, 2011 by stillalife

“Never lose face,” was the motto a friend and I adopted years ago.  The pressure to live by such a stuffy guiding principle came after we presented a workshop on an icy winter night in a forest retreat center housed … Continue reading →

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Reflecting on the past year

Posted on June 22, 2011 by stillalife

The local public schools are closed for the summer, and since that’s where I spent much of my career, I’m reminded that it’s been about a year since I retired.  Lately, I’ve been reflecting on my first year away from … Continue reading →

Posted in changes after retirement, humor, letting go of work, luxury of time, no escape from goals, personal reflections | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

In transition or in sane?

Posted on June 3, 2011 by stillalife

Earlier this week, as she was beginning to knead my arms, the massage therapist said, “Yes, you are definitely still in transition,” meaning transition from work to retirement.  I forgot to ask her how she knew.  Was it the state of … Continue reading →

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Cobwebs are not Halloween decorations

Posted on April 26, 2011 by stillalife

Who is responsible for doing the household chores? This is not a small question at any stage of life.  I had a conversation this week with my Iranian email friend Saeide about the pro’s and con’s of having a roommate.  Saiede … Continue reading →

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Traveling in reverse

Posted on March 30, 2011 by stillalife

A friend told me that her mother just retired from her long-time job as a prison guard and didn’t know what to do with herself.  She hadn’t wanted to retire, but apparently had reached mandatory retirement age.  Luckily I never … Continue reading →

Posted in changes after retirement, friends and family, inspiration, luxury of time | Tagged , , | 1 Comment