Intermission - Winter Break

 

searched for the source, but can only find various unattributed uses

For a while that was my argument - it is too late to start. I did the math. It would take 3 or more years to get the doctoral degree, no guarantee of a tenure-track position immediately afterward, so tack on another couple of years, 5 years before applying for tenure, a 2 year process before earning tenure...a solid 12 years from starting the doctoral degree to getting tenure, theoretically the final goal.

That means there is no way I am getting tenure before I am 60, which sounds so incredibly far away, and also pretty close to retirement age.

So, let's give another time cushion and say I am comfortable tenured at age 62. This is the same year I could start receiving my Social Security benefits, so I would be at the level of employment which is the goal in academia in the same year I could first retire.

That sounds pretty weird.

Now, I have colleagues who do not retire until well into their 80s, so I could go 20 years or so as a tenured professor. 

I don't know, though, if that is what I want.

I have to give this some serious thought - at what age do I want to retire? What do I want to do when I retire? 

Right now, a friend of mine is traipsing the globe, exploring all sorts of wondrous places as he goes on cruise after cruise in his retirement. I get to live vicariously through his travels as he posts pictures of glaciers, mountains, deserts, ancient ruins, quaint villages. In retirement I could go to all the places I have wished to visit over the years, see all the architecture I have studied.

Once, I had a retirement dream of opening my own little coffee shop. It would be unique in one, distinct aspect. I would have a library of books available for customers to peruse - and annotate. Annotation would be encouraged, with pencils and pens at each table. As you sat in my cafe and read, you would see not only the words of the author, but the thoughts of other readers.

With no work responsibilities and my children grown and off on their own life adventures, I could dedicate my time to a charity, something I deeply believe in.

In all of these dreams, of course, there is my husband along with me, and his thoughts and interests to consider. The travel idea would definitely be one we could joyously share. I can't see him working in my coffee shop - he doesn't even drink coffee - but the annotated books might appeal to him. Working together for a charity is something I can see.

This all relies on my body holding up and allowing enjoyment in retirement. What will the chronic pain do between now and then? I'd love to think it will go away, that either it will fade on its own or doctors will find a solution. I dreamed the other night that I got a job offer in another country, with an enticement that this country had a successful surgery for my chronic pain.

Not bad, huh? Just a dream, though. It is only speculation - all of it is. Planning ahead relies on so many variables.

So why not plan for the best case scenario, the dream that everything will go my way?

I'll keep my fingers crossed.