More Transition Thoughts From the Retiree’s Perspective
Feb 24 2010
At my last entry I whined a bit about feeling “lost” after retirement. Thanks to my wonderful AF friends, I had replies that confirmed this was not at all unusual. My amazing husband also gives me unending support. So I am now feeling that it’s OK to take some time for myself. One thing that’s been great is going to the gym at the Air Force Academy every day. Wow, I never had time to do that while on active duty. I even get a personalized strength-training lesson with the exercise physiologist from the HAWC. She was explaining the machine to work on the “latissimus dorsi”, and the other retiree with me happily shouted, “Oh, you mean the bra overhang.” We had a good laugh, and I wondered why the girl in her 20’s didn’t get it.
I’ve also taken the time to go to daily mass. (It’s Lent after all.) When I was active duty I barely had time to run in for ashes on Ash Wednesday. I feel so lucky and blessed to have this time to devote to my spiritual growth, and improve my physical health as well.
Mostly I am embracing the importance of being home with my children. I love picking them up from school and hearing all about their day. I have signed up for PTO activities and started volunteering in the lunchroom. (Now that’s a great way to spy on your 7th grader, much to his dismay!) I even have dinner cooked for Tom when he comes home from work. After all, that was HIS job for 12 years. As soon as we move in to our house, I might even have warm cookies waiting for the kids.
Now how is that for transitioning?
Sounds about perfect to me!
MC, Sounds great! So nice to see you last week–hope we can get together often. Paula
Enjoy you deserve this time you worked hard. I will call you soon!
Great article in the March 2010 Military Officer magazine.
However, on page 68 is a GLARING ERROR, which is understandable since Tom Wahl, the writer, is not a military retiree.
In the next to last section of his article, under SET YOURSELF UP, Tom uses the unfortunate, inaccurate phrase plan to take advantage … through your PENSION.
As most retirees know, we receive RETIRED PAY, with only a few lowest income veterans receiving a “pension.” No, our RETIRED PAY is CURRENT EARNED PAY for REDUCED SERVICES, as the GAO and so many before me have noted.
Just a tiny correction, but please, don’t call my earned retirement income a PENSION when I am still under the UCMJ and available for recall to active duty, as many have been called over the decades.
Tom, your article should be read by all. Even those few who DO draw Veterans Administration pensions.
Not many retirees in that bunch. Keep up the blogging especially for those who don’t have the luxury of travel. RV’ing is the ****’s, and that means good!
Thanks for the service of your spouse, AND FOR YOURS as a military family member. It ain’t all tea and crumpets, nor is it all fuel oil and covering slit trenches.
By the way, RV’ers, let’s leave our sites and visited spots cleaner than we found them, and enter and leave as quietly as is reasonable, given our many CATS and CUMMINS, PowerStokes, Asian and European diesels. Love them ONANS! Go CATS (from Tucson, AZ).
Be kind to each other, ya heah!