6 Ways To Thrive In Retirement

After years answering the school bell, you've earned the chance to set your own schedule. Now what? NEA-Retired members discuss how to make the most of retirement.

By John O'Neil

Just last year, Oregon member Ruth Robinson was still rising at the crack of dawn to teach family and consumer sciences at Sam Barlow High School outside of Portland. Now the newly retired Robinson runs errands during the day, walks and lifts weights, travels when it's cheap, reads a blue streak, participates in sports car rallies with her husband, and follows the stock market. Best of all, "I'm finding out how good it feels when I'm not sleep-deprived," she jokes.

Patsy Robertson, another recent retiree, now has the time to increase her political involvement, a long-time interest. Since primaries are the second week of September, she usually couldn't help out much because it was the beginning of the school year, she says. This year, "I'll do phone banks, help with petitions, do the mailings--the grunt work of the campaign." Somehow, Robertson also finds the time to serve on a local environmental commission and a school board watchdog group, and she is co-president of her local chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma, an international women's society.

Robinson and Robertson represent a new breed of retirees: committed to being active, whether in their pleasure time or their volunteer work in politics or socially oriented causes. They're rapidly becoming the norm, say experts on aging. With life expectancies lengthening, today's retirees will spend more time than previous generations in retirement. That's led to a shift in the entire focus of retirement, from a time for "winding down and "taking it easy" to a period of personal renewal--what author and retirement expert Ken Dychtwald calls "a second act."

That's not to say the transition is an easy one. Nearly every retiree feels some pangs when their colleagues return to school in the fall. Whether dealing with the drop in income or the loss of camaraderie, retirees face a big adjustment. So we asked NEA-Retired members for their tips on how to thrive in retirement. Here's what you told us:

(Re)Discover Your Passion

What's life without a little (okay, a lot of) zip? Members making the most of retirement find ways to stoke that inner fire. It may be as simple as taking a painting class at a local college, joining a hobby club, or practicing genealogy.

Robertson, a former English teacher and school librarian gets her charge from local politics and environmental causes. The delegate to the 1980 Democratic National Convention already had the bug for political activism, but retirement has intensified it. In the past year, she's been named recording secretary to the Reform Caucus of the New York State Democratic Party (started by Eleanor Roosevelt, she proudly notes) and helped establish a regional chapter of the Working Families Party.

Meanwhile, she's continued to serve on the Rochester Environmental Commission and recently became the city's representative to an environmental management collaborative of municipal and planning boards. "I've tried to do as much as I can, because I really believe that people who live in a community need to support and give back to it," says Robertson. "What's important to me is that I believe that I can help make a difference in the way government operates."

Marie Thomas, who spent her career teaching elementary school in Michigan but now lives in Celebration, Florida, had to do some soul searching. She flirted with a real estate career, but soon realized that it couldn't bring her the satisfaction she wanted. With the classroom still beckoning, she began reading the original writings of famed Italian educator Maria Montessori--and got hooked. The next step was taking a regional training institute offered nearby, and this fall, she'll be back in the classroom bringing a Montessori-style curriculum to kindergartners at Deerwood Elementary in Osceola County.

"Once you've retired, you've got the plaque and the service award," Thomas says. "I've now had the time and the space to say, 'How could I have done it better? What can I do now to make things turn around for the next generation?' That's the search that I've been on."

Plan, Plan, Plan

For years, the school bell's helped structure your day. What will provide the structure in retirement?

"A lot of teachers have fears about what they're going to do in retirement; how they're going to spend their time," says Massachusetts Teachers Association-Retired member Mary Gilmore, who counsels Massachusetts members about retirement planning. Without a plan, educators struggle to find their role. "The retirees I worry about most are the ones who wake up every morning and say, 'what am I going to do today?'"

You'll need a plan, in part, because you're sure to have a lot of demands on your time. "I found that once everyone knew I was retired, everyone asks you to do something," says Robertson. "If you say yes to everything right away, you may find yourself committed to things that aren't exactly what you want. You need to match your personal needs with what you decide to do."

With your days much more flexible than before, it's time to take stock of what interests you and find ways to get them on your to-do list. Have you always been interested in writing? Schedule in some time at the library to research book publishers or visit with editors at the local newspaper to find out what's involved. Do you miss the regular contact with young people? Investigate ways you can serve as a mentor, a tutor, or coach. Have you always wanted to start your own business? Look into how to draw up a business plan, and use your network of friends and colleagues to find retirees who have successfully managed their own business.

Take an inventory of the things you really enjoy doing, and why they make you happy. Talk to other retirees who have capitalized on their interests and turned them into a regular hobby or part-time work. Good resources for this kind of brainstorming are available on the web. For example, the web site www.2young2retire.com is full of ideas on exciting jobs and roles to take on in retirement, and you can draw inspiration from the personal stories of many other retirees posted there. (The site is operated by Marika and Howard Stone, authors of Too Young to Retire: An Off-the-Road Map to the Rest of Your Life.) Go to www.notyetretired.com, and you'll find numerous resources on finding post-retirement work and starting your own business.

Know Your Finances

Brainstorming is great, of course, but obviously your pension, investments, and checkbook balance have something to say about your options in retirement. Ignore your financial bottom line, and you may spend most of your energy trying to make sure the bills are paid. With the downturn in the investment markets and the rising costs on everything from property taxes to prescription drugs, it's especially critical that every senior become more knowledgeable about what income they can count on, and what expenses will wind up on the ledger sheet.

Your spending patterns in retirement are probably going to change; for example, you may spend less on clothing or transportation but more on health insurance premiums and vacations. For that reason, Vermont member Jay Kaplan advises keeping very careful track of your spending for at least one year, to establish a baseline of costs and begin to distinguish between essential and optional expenses.

On the income side, you'll need to find out what you can expect from your public educators' pension (including cost-of-living provisions), Social Security (if applicable), and returns on other investments you may have. You should also work up a statement of your net worth, which includes your various bank accounts and assets such as your home.

Then comes the tricky part--crunching the numbers! If all this seems like a mathematical nightmare, don't fret--you're not alone. NEA Member Benefits offers sage advice on retirement finances at www.neamb.com/lifeplan/retresctr/. On this site, you'll find worksheets that help you calculate your net worth and budget, as well as specific guidance on such issues as annuities, options such as reverse mortgages, and more.

Many local and state associations also provide advice; for example, by sponsoring workshops on financial issues in retirement. Your Association also provides regular information about changes in your state's pension system or health insurance payments that may affect you. In the long run, it may be helpful to get a personal consultation from a financial pro. The Certified Planner Board of Standards (www.cfp-board.org) has great tips on what to consider when working with a financial planner.

Stay Connected

Financial matters are only part of the retirement transition, however. When Nebraska member Dennis Beaver prepared for his retirement in 2000, he felt comfortable about his financial forecast. What jarred him, he says, was the loss of the sense of camaraderie he gained from working as part of a school staff dedicated to public education's mission. Even now, "I definitely have withdrawal from the classroom," he admits. "I wasn't prepared for what it was like being out of the loop. The biggest thing for me is that I miss my old colleagues." Once retired, "You become an island out there."

Gilmore works with many members who find that social network through volunteering. After all, she says, "volunteering is working together with a common mission," which is often what retired educators miss most about leaving the classroom. "They want to feel part of that team again." The social connections can come from something as simple as participating in your local Read Across America campaign to building houses for Habitat for Humanity or even joining the Peace Corps. Great places to start if you're seeking an outlet for your talents are Senior Corps (www.seniorcorps.org) and the National Mentoring Partnership (www.mentoring.org).

Expanding your social circle doesn't have to be all work, either. Oregon's Robinson takes part in the "Blue Stocking Book Club," a monthly book club organized by teachers at her former school. The group, which includes both current and retired teachers, has read everything from classics like Victor Hugo's Les Miserables to Beryl Markham's West Into the Night, the story of an early aviatrix who crossed the Atlantic alone before Amelia Earhart. "The book club offers the closest thing to the camaraderie that we had at school," says Robinson. "It's been a real help in the transition to a life where I see many fewer people every day. I'm careful to plan our vacations around the meetings so I don't miss one!"

Of course, remaining active with your local and state Association is a great way to combine service with socializing. Many of those who volunteer to support governance, put out newsletters, and recruit new members say the best benefit is the chance to meet new folks who extend their social perimeter. (For a look at how some Georgia retirees are building a stronger Association, see "Giving Back--and Gaining Members")

Find Cheap Travel

Who can resist a bargain? By taking advantage of senior rates and flexible scheduling, retired members are enjoying trips all over the globe. Washington member Jean Savidge says to be sure to keep track of last-minute deals and specials offered by hotels and airlines. Using the Web is convenient (see page "Computers" for some good Web sites), but if you don't want to keep track on your own, she advises, ask a travel agent to track specials for you. Several years ago, Savidge took advantage of an airline carrier's new route to the Far East to score an incredible deal of a week's trip to Bangkok, Thailand, and stay at a five star hotel for only $785 per person.

Elderhostel, a nonprofit organization aimed at those 55 and older, has earned a great reputation for value. The programs are all-inclusive (accommodations, meals, and such incidentals as medical or insurance coverage), and build in lots of learning opportunities, which appeals to many public education retirees. Barbara Matteson, NEA-Retired vice president, has been on three Elderhostel trips: one in Newfoundland, one in Hawaii, and one hiking excursion in the Grand Canyon. She especially likes the educational components and the chance to meet interesting people, she says. Another plus: Elderhostel now offers special intergenerational tours designed for seniors and the grandkids. Offerings this summer included a whitewater trip on the Colorado River and a tour and study of Native American art. (For more information, contact Elderhostel at 877-426-8056 or www.elderhostel.org.)

Also, don't forget to check with your local and state Retired organizations about travel opportunities. Some of them negotiate special group travel rates, and you'll enjoy the company of your fellow retired educators in addition to saving a few dollars.

Slow Down and Relax!

It's common to hear retired members remark, "I don't know how I ever found the time to work!" Amidst travel, volunteering, housework, errands, and time visiting the grandkids, it's easy to feel your schedule getting a little out of control.

Take time to enjoy the freedom that retirement offers, advises Robertson. It's especially important for those just entering retirement not to become over-scheduled. "I would not jump into things right away," she says. "You need to take four or five months to see how your days shape up--what time you're getting up in the morning, what time you want to go shopping or to the movies. You need to see how the normal everyday things change" before filling up your calendar exclusively with activities and obligations.

Robinson logs some quiet hours gardening and embroidering, and she loves to curl up with a good book. "It's a great feeling to occasionally decide to do nothing of significance on a given day and not feel guilt as if I should be striving, working, or producing," she says. Mixing structured activities with time for just relaxing, our retirement advisors say, will leave you refreshed and better equipped to tackle your next challenge.

--Additional reporting by Tamara Zakim

Do you have tips on how to thrive in retirement?
We'd love to hear them. Contact This Active Life, NEA Communications, 1201 16th St., N.W., Suite 710, Washington, DC 20036. Or e-mail joneil@nea.org.

Giving Back--and Gaining Members

Retired members have proven instrumental in the steady growth of the Organization of DeKalb (Georgia) Educators (ODE). In just six years, ODE has surged from 500 to 3,100 members--with retired members playing key roles.

ODE launched a comprehensive growth plan in 1993, and retired members have found ample ways to get involved, whether by networking, raising donations, being politically active, or assisting with the association's news publication, says David Schutten, the local president. "Across the board, we try to include retired members in all different aspects of the organization because we definitely benefit from their help and effort," he explains.

Retirees Helen Zappia, Gail Reed and Vivian Reese have contributed to one of the ODE's most effective building tools: discussion forums brought to the teachers in their various schools across the county.

The women provide continental breakfasts in teachers' lounges, attend faculty meetings and host luncheons in efforts to educate teachers about membership opportunities and benefits.

"Teachers come in and say, 'I've been thinking about joining, I just don't have the time.' When they see us, they know us, they trust us and they realize it must be a good thing," says Reese, who retired in December 2000 after 34 years of teaching gifted education at Bouie Elementary. "I tell them, 'Membership is your insurance. You can't drive a car without insurance, so why be in a professional organization without a support system?' Especially in today's times, teachers just know they need that support to back them up."

Reed, who taught at Gretchen Park Elementary for 32 years before retiring in June 2000, decided to get involved because she's experienced first-hand the rewards of being a Georgia Association of Educators member. "I've always been a member, and one day one of my students got hurt in the classroom. When her parents threatened to sue, GAE came right in to help. They had top lawyers and not a penny came out of my pocket. When I retired, I wanted to find a way to give back."

The idea of "giving back" is something that Reese identifies with as well. "It's a great way of getting involved. You're home every day but you don't want to sit home. You don't want to teach again but you want to stay involved in the educational process. I've stayed busy and I feel like I'm doing something meaningful."

Thanks to the enthusiastic efforts of retirees like Reese, Reed and Zappia, relationships within the community are flourishing. "It's great to work with members who've recently retired because they understand the teachers and the school systems," admits Schutten. "I just couldn't do it by without them."

--Tamara Zakim