A “30” on the 30th

Some personal news: I am retiring, and today was my last day of teaching full-time at St John Fisher College. Finals week lies ahead, but today was my last day of going into the classroom, which seems an appropriate time to share this news.

(Older newsies will recall that the traditional way to end a story was with “ — 30 — .” So today’s date is particularly appropriate.)

Teaching has been a great gig. Interaction with students and colleagues has been immensely gratifying, of course, and having a job that has required me to constantly learn new things has been another huge source of satisfaction. But after doing this work for 20 years, following a 20-year career in newspapers, it’s just time to move on.

What’s next? The answer to that very logical question is that I really don’t know for sure. Certainly, some leisure and travel; Missy is retiring this year also and we have many things we want to do and places we want to visit.

But that’s not all I seek in the next stage of life. I may be done with this segment of my career but I’m not done working; I am just not sure what the next phase will entail. I know that I want to continue writing, and hope to continue with research. How that gets articulated is what’s uncertain for now. I’m hopeful, and reasonably confident, that worthwhile pursuits will emerge.

In a conversation a few months ago, a retired friend who’s gone on to do interesting and important things in her post-career career said something that stuck with me. “You’ll be surprised,” she said, “at the opportunities that will find you.” I am eager to see what they are.