It’s getting close to the end. We had a biology discipline meeting today — 9 faculty sitting around a table and over zoom — to discuss teaching load and classes for the 2027-2028 school year. That’s normally an interesting meeting, where we propose new classes and assign faculty to required courses, a lot of compromise and discussion. But guess what? I have nothing to contribute since I’ll be fully retired then.
It was a mix of oh boy, relief, I don’t have to teach that course, and oh no, that’s my course, I’ve been teaching it for 25 years. This peculiar disconnect is going to get worse as this year proceeds.
My husband went through this nearly two years ago.
At first, he seemed lost and visited his old office often.
Then, it turned out that his federal office was one that was going to be downsized severely.
His former colleagues are all either retiring or looking for other jobs, except for the one who will be retained to man the office.
Now, he is very happy that he retired just before those changes were mandated.
He’s a computer engineer, so he has built himself a powerful computer in his home office and busies himself with “experiments”.
Every once in a while, I pull him away from his computer and we travel, or do something fun together.
Retirement is an adjustment. Give it a couple of years for you to feel comfortable.
Have you considered a hobby?
Retirement can be really hard on some (most?) people because your job is such a fundamental part of how you see yourself. It is a well-known risk factor for depression. On the other hand, it is also fucking amazing so I hope you enjoy it for many, many years to come.
@ chigau (違う) : isn’t that what this blog & FTB generally is? And other things like non-deadly (for them) spider hunting..
My retirement came suddenly and earlier than I expected. I didn’t have a chance to help in the planning for the transition, handing off my recurring projects, explain how to run publication packages, with thevgraphics in the proper form, through GPO (Government Publishing). Even where all the frequently used graphics were stored. I dislocated my neck on a Wednesday, saw the specialist Friday, had the nerve test Monday, and was in surgery wednesday. Never went back to work except for paperwork and dropping off id cards, keys and badges.
Enjoy your upcoming retirement, but also try to enjoy winding things down.
StevoR
I was thinking of knitting or making reproduction medieval projectile weapons or
raising backyard livestock, like Mr. Wu’s pigs.
Trepidation is natural.
Evolution literally means ‘unfolding’, and this is your evolutionary trajectory from a working stiff to a retired grampa.
Appreciate it best as you can; the moment will be gone after.
When the day comes, expect the obligatory social event in your honour.
Today was November 5, in England Guy Fawkes day. Nothing like a nice drawing and quartering to celebrate a failed plot to murder the entire English parliament.
If you really miss teaching, just teach to the internet: Record videos where you explain biology.
You won’t miss teaching, we’re going to have a couple of lectures. Win-win.
PZ already has shared some of his videos for us.
PZ already has a hobby, selling popcorn and projecting films. Oh, and all those arachnids and flying spiders and the evil cat.
My dear friend and thesis advisor finally retired in 2018 or so, looking forward to doing research into local geology he’d postponed for years while teaching and managing MS students. Then COVID happened, and the university banned retired faculty from the premises. He maybe lasted a year after that, fiddling in his garden and caring for a beloved, immunocompromised wife. The professor was suddenly relegated to growing tomatoes. I suspect depression contributed to his final illness.
PZ, please keep chasing spiders and running the film projector. We want you around for a long time.