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Photos: Stock/St. Albert Gazette
Retirement a gratifying time for those who remain engaged
With very few exceptions, most of us in the field of education eagerly anticipate the day when we retire. Retirement—the act of leaving one’s active working life and ceasing to work.
The prospect of ceasing to work is very appealing. After all the years of lesson preparation, marking assignments, parent-teacher interviews, Christmas concerts, track and field days, etc., many of us are delighted to finally have time to call our own. The time has come to read that bestseller into the early hours of the morning, golf at any time of day, pull a few weeds from the flower bed if we feel so inclined, or sip a beverage as we sit on our deck and watch the school bus drive by.
Number one on many retirees’ list of things to do is travel. The year I retired, we departed on a cross-Canada drive on the first day of school. What a wonderful trip—at our own pace, limited traffic, no need to book hotels in advance, and at one of the most colourful times of the year. For the first time in years, travel was no longer limited to the high-priced regular holiday seasons.
As retirees, we have the freedom to pack up and leave at a moment’s notice when an interesting travel package becomes available at a great price. The entire world awaits us.
When we’re home, if we are missing the connection with our former career, we have several options—tutoring, substitute teaching, teaching part-time, reading and/or scribing exams at a community college, or reading exams for apprenticeship students. Sports-minded teachers are welcomed back to coaching, refereeing or helping with tournaments. Youth groups are always looking for someone with crafting or carpentry skills.
Retirement is a prime time to try out something new. Retired teachers bring a desirable skill set to any business. Consider an experience in a home-based business, whether it be carpentry or selling Tupperware. Many established businesses rely on retired teachers as part-time employees. Elections Canada would struggle to run an election if it were not for retired teachers.
However, not all of us are interested in a new career. We love spending as much time as possible with our grandchildren. Some of us become caregivers for our aging parents or sometimes our partner. We still need contact with other adults. This is the time to join afternoon curling, a bridge club, a book club, a travel club, a coffee group ... the list goes on. Volunteer opportunities abound for those interested in helping others, whether it’s at a museum, school, hospital, charity or the 55+ Seniors’ Games.
There are 18 retired teachers’ branches across the province of Alberta. Most will meet on the first day of school for the To Hell With the Bell breakfast, a social event that celebrates the beginning of the school year without retirees. Throughout the year, retired teachers continue to meet with their former colleagues for other social events such as luncheons, art shows, bridge tournaments, bus trips or a provincial golf tournament. Branches organize workshops and conferences for lifelong learning.
The Alberta Retired Teachers Association (ARTA) supports an engaged lifestyle after retirement through member-centered services, advocacy, communication, wellness and leadership. Retired teachers continue to exhibit leadership on committees and the board of directors.
Retirement is the good life—the ideal time to make the best of one’s own time. Retirees who continually strive towards physical, economic, spiritual, social, emotional and intellectual wellness will indeed make their retirement a very gratifying time.
Marilyn Bossert is the vice-president of the Alberta Retired Teachers’ Association. She retired in 2005 from a 20-plus year career of teaching Language Arts 7 and 9.
