Unlike most baby boomers, I retired early. Nine



months ago, I made the decision to retire. While

my resume may be quite impressive to most people,

to me it reflects my life's work and the paths I

took to arrive at my final destination.

I entered the Department of Education at the age

of 40, received my college degree at the age of

45 (a prerequisite for a school secretary license

was 30 college credits), and continued on for 17

years. In July of 2006, I made an appointment to

see a retirement specialist who works solely with

staff members of the Department of Education.

Knowing full well that my early retirement would

cause a severe reduction in my pension, my mind

was made up. I have come to learn, over the

course of my career, that nothing is worth one's

health, especially not this particular position.

I have also said many times: School secretaries

who work for the Department of Education are

overworked and underpaid, and while the job is

easy - the people who run the system are inept

when it comes to the needs of its staff. The

number of secretaries, teachers, and other staff

members who have left due to life threatening

illnesses are too numerous to count. Many

colleagues of mine died either on the job or soon

after retirement.

This would not be my epitaph.

After meeting with the retirement professional,

the news was bleak. But then I knew it would be.

However, I had more skills than most and my one

desire was to go back to the one thing I loved

most in the world - writing.

On September 1, 2006, I joined the ranks of the

retirees. On November 30, 2006, I received my

first pension check and, while not completely

surprised, was a bit taken back. However,

secretaries' salaries are far below what teachers

earn, and I roughly figured that I would have to

work well past 80 (if I live that long) to accrue

the type of benefits a teacher would make at a

retirement age of 62.

I was not distressed. In fact, I was elated. The

weight of the problems associated with the

Department of Education and its continual

reorganization was lifted from my shoulders. I

could now pursue that which I've always dreamed

of as a second career.

I immediately discovered a window of opportunity

into the writing field. By November, I was

writing article content; and by January I was

fully engaged. Today, I am extremely happy

because not only do I have my health, but I have

the wherewithal to continue to write articulate

pieces of work that are unique and honest.

Today, as I read the newspapers and notice

articles on the Department of Education, I

grimace at the direction they have taken. They

have just implemented a new procedure wherein

they will be paying students and their parents

for attending school, passing all five regents

exams, going to the doctor, and heaven knows what

else.

This is what I escaped from - a system that does

not provide a tried and true method of teaching,

but has incorporated outside businesses who are

now the stewards who decide what course the

educational system will take, regardless of how

it affects the children and the staff. The

teacher's union is no better. Along with the

corporations who have steadily taken over the

education system, the union is just as culpable.

Their main concern is money and power. They have

been as responsible for the decline of the

educational system as anyone else.

But, I digress. This article is about retirement.

While there are pluses and minuses in every

decision we make in life, this is no exception.

Retirement is not the end, but the beginning. It

can re-energize and invigorate you into

accomplishing anything you desire.

It is empowering. You have the unrestricted

ability to make decisions, choices, and plans for

the rest of your life.

I made a choice. I made the right choice for me.

While I fully understand the implications, I am

doing what I love to do and I am equally proud to

have made the journey this far. While I have

never been a person of means, I am doing well. I

take care of my family and myself. I have no

preconceived notions of wealth or fame. I have

lived, and continue to live, a wonderful life.

Having traveled half way around the world in my

youth, I seek no further adventures except that

which I create with words.

No one can predict the future, and I am not going

to try. I take it one day at a time and relish

every moment with a renewed sense of self. I used

to tell secretaries, the job is what you do, not

who you are.

For me, writing is who I am, not what I do.