My last working day at the college will be January 6, 2014, and I don't suppose I'll do a whole lot of work to mark the event. Though I will if I must.
First, without a doubt, my sixteen and a half years teaching at BC is/was the best job I ever had. I call it my retirement job, and compared to an administrative position, it surely is/was. I love the students, the learning, the personalities, the other teachers, the life-style, the hospital nurses, and the challenging moments.
The interim associate dean position for the last several months—not so much. My replacement starts tomorrow. I'm delighted. I've learned that I don't have the required backbone or the stiff upper lip anymore. I've grown gentler over the years.
When Jerry Healy and I were chatting at the MWA meeting about my upcoming life changes, he asked, "What would be the perfect job?" When I answered, "Write books." He said, "Retirement means you can pay yourself to do that." He has a point. (Given the slow sales of late, I probably need to pay myself.)
I plan to pay myself to do the following:
1. Write, edit, rewrite, edit some more.
2. Write this blog on a regular basis. Please make comments. (See above—no stiff upper lip anymore.)
3. Cook. Bake. Do all things kitchen. Eat the results.
4. Sew? Maybe. I haven't done that for a while.
5. Read. Read. Read. Read.
6. Volunteer somewhere, doing something fun.
7. Exercise regularly. (See number 3 above.) Not get fat.
8. Take pictures with the cool camera I swiped off Benjamin.
9. Travel with my Stevie.
10. Revive some dormant domestic skills. (I don't plan to fire the maid any time soon, however.)
11. Sleep better and not worry so much.
GEB