Yeah. So anyway, okay. So yeah. So tell me, let’s, let’s start with, tell me how you’re feeling about this retirement thing.
You know, I was thinking I was going to anticipate it and now I’m more, I don’t know if I’m what like to think about it because I don’t know if I can live on my return. I don’t know what I’m going to do with my time. I’m used to being busy all the time. I liked the structure. I’d get up. I have a certain routine go to school.
I have a certain routine and I’m having a lot of free time and already noticing I’d been off school for a week and two days. And I’m like, okay, what am I going to do today? So that, that dread of not being. And a bit that big one is the finances that, you know, God’s always provided. So I don’t read that up as much.
It’s just that, and I know when I have a lot of free time, I eat a snack or nibble, like do things I know I’m not supposed to do. And obviously I need to lose some weight so that isn’t going to help. So facing all of that, you know, it’s just kind of what. I don’t know that I’m ready to do this return, that things I don’t know.
But at the same time, what leads you to even think about it at this point then too? Well, because most of the people I hang around with are retired and so they want to go do things that, oh, women, you can’t because you’re working or, or know when are you off so we can do this. And, you know, it’s just, it would be fun.
But I also know that if I retired. I won’t have the money to do those things. So it’s kind of a catch 22. And you know, I’d like to do some traveling and you know, other than going back east to see family, not that I don’t mind seeing family I’ve done those routes many, many times, so I don’t see something different, different.
So you want to explore some new places? Exactly. Exactly. You can’t always get it done. The three months of summer for one thing it’s hot. And I don’t know. It’s just and then I had either people coming or things to do or anyway, so it’s kind of like you’re stuck in between a rock and a hard place, and you really want to make this change so you can spend more time with friends and run more flexibility.
But at the same time, we’re just not sure if you’d really want to give up the stability, the security funding and some of those. And I know once I retire, I still sub and that’s the nice side I can pick and choose the days I work. But on the other hand, they’re always going to need a it. And so, you know, would I be able to supplement my income enough?
My siblings, I don’t know. It’s just kind of a catch 22. I’m not really sure. Have you thought about other things that you would enjoy doing that would also provide some additional. Like the 17, that’s all, I’ve already been on your mind, right. Things that you could do in retirement that would allow you some flexibility.
I don’t know what they be. I guess it’d be a little lady at Walmart, but I just don’t fit the category.
but no, I, I really can’t, you know, I just don’t I work with kids and that’s pretty much my skill level. I don’t know what else would be. I’m definitely not candidate for, you know, going into somebody’s home and doing metal care, stay with an older person or that type of stuff. It’s just not my day. I don’t want to house clean, clean my own house.
So I’m seeing somebody else’s so yeah, I don’t know what other options would be, but you’re really good with people. You’re really good with kids. Strong in the community. That’s obviously we’ve known each other for many years, but you definitely are a leader within the community to have you, have you thought about ways that you could kind of help out within the community?
Well, I could help out at the library, so news and I already worked at the church and other does, other than those two things, I can’t really. I think of what else, you know, in the community I can do. I’m excited about them getting a theater done. I would love to get involved with anything, do what they do with that.
That would be fun. Yeah. So that’s a possibility down the road too. But I have no desire to get involved with main street associates and definitely not city council or anything like that. It’s just not my bag, but. Has is the library. Is that something that would also add to not only the stability of your day-to-day and all that, but does it add some financial secure?
I don’t know if it would or not because they already have a sub down there, so I used to do that, but yeah, but now they already have somebody down there so that wouldn’t no, the only thing I get to give that Venus wasn’t at the grocery stores. I’ve done that, you know, it wouldn’t be the first time I’ve done it.
It is a possibility, but just not high on your list, but it wouldn’t be a way to meet people and visit with people and stuff. But yeah, so as I hadn’t thought about it, but possibly thought it change possibility. What would it be? You’ve spent quite a bit of time thinking about this. It sounds like what, what would be your best case scenario?
I had a magic lawn. I can solve everything. What was your best case scenario? V Hmm. I guess I have enough money to retire and do things, you know, have money to do things I’d like to do. Find a rich guy
to support me in the lifestyle to which I would like to become a guest on
that since I’m not actively looking at. Yeah. Yeah. But what was the question deal situation? Towards that retirement, or would you continue towards working just to have that purpose and stability? That’s a good question. You know, I, I know I’m working at least one more year and then beyond that, I don’t know.
I just don’t know. I like what I do, and I’m still healthy enough to do all the stairs at the middle school. And so you know, I think why would I quit? But at the end of the day, You’re tired, really tired. And I don’t know, you know, I just, I’ve always thought that I would put at the end of this next year because it’s, Chloe’s for shear there.
And I promised her I would work that year. And then I’m thinking, why did I, you know, with that as a cut off point, probably age would be the reason, you know, I’ll be sad, 70 be so. I don’t know yet, but yet you feel so much younger that you’re like, yeah. So why bother? Right. And then in the back of my thing, well, you know, younger person, they could keep them longer.
They could do more. And I thought, no, this is, this is. The cell, this is my progress. This is my stability. Right. And I’m dependable. I, I rarely get sick. I don’t have kids that I have to take off for Sunday school, you know? So you know, there’s something to be said for that too. That’s a pretty way to stay connected with the kids, but also people in general and as a people person again, right.
Either it’s an easy way to be involved. Yeah. They liked the fact that I’m the mature. Kids look at me as grandma. And so I get sometimes a little more respect than the younger ones too, but it’s, it’s about it’s hard sometimes to work in the school system because of the disrespect and the bad language. And you know, our hands are tied in a lot of areas. So far, I haven’t been put in jail for it. I haven’t done anything bad, but goodness. But, and they have tied me to a chair yet, so. Okay. You’re still on the good I’m still in the good.
Yeah. Yeah. But, but it is getting tougher. So I don’t know. And sometimes some days where you feel more tired and you go, maybe this is something I should be thinking about. But on the days that you feel fairly good and you keep on doing this well, and the fact too, in the winter, wasn’t the schools on the hill.
Yeah. And going, you know, that fear of sliding or, you know, something like that, slipping on the ice for a walk in the building, you know, as you get older, your break easier. So that’s the other thing, but you know, we have except for every once in a while we have. That’s really not a super big issue, but it is something different about, well, do you think if, if the financial piece was all taken care of for you, where do you think you, you lean towards as far as, and we are not retiring?
I think I have retired if I, if I felt I could live on it and like I would, I would be more available for the grandkids, especially the Walla Walla ones. I could get back a little more often to see the one side. And without having to take days off from work or whatever. And yeah, I don’t know. I think I would lean more toward it.
Just the only thing would be filling my time. Yeah. I don’t know once you’re off and maybe you can find that time to, to fill in stuff. So. Well, you’ve also already just listed quite a few things that you’d like to spend your time doing and spending more time with the grandkids in there to support them and everything too.
Yeah. And all the kids are in the place in the fall and he fun to be part of that. And it’s just too hard now getting off work and having to get up early the next month. So ultimately, you know, you’re hoping to find out a little bit more piece surrounding your financial security, so you can spend your time doing the things that you ultimately really want to do.
Right? Because as everyone, you know, wants to spend their time, they want to spend them, all the things that they enjoyed in versus, you know, the things that you don’t have to do, you have to do so. So when you take a moment and slow down a little bit and think about this. What would it feel like to be in that situation?
So if you imagine a year from now five years from now, whatever that time period looks like, what would it feel like to have that financial security and be able to retire and do the things that you want to do? Freedom. I know getting up in the morning and going, wow. I have a whole day to do what I want to do.
And to be there to support the family. Yeah, exactly. Or, you know, just decide to take off and go see somebody. I can just do it
and to be there with your friends and to subdue some of the funds, the daytime things that people get to do that I don’t get to do. And you know, I just am too tired to work. I can do. Yeah. You know, so financial freedom, what would it, what would it be like, like now, now imagine like you’re able to actually do that and live out.
What would that be like on a daily basis to do that? He came like a permanent summer vacation, I guess, with nothing scheduled that I have to do. Yeah. I don’t know what you mean, you know, like what does a day look like? Get up, walk, come back home and figure out what we, so maybe clean house work in my yard when it’s not mentored and read visit the friends.
Maybe do a little bit better about John without going into this. Any older people hold on. It’s rapidly approaching,
but I don’t know. My, one of the big fears too is boredom. You know, I’d find like, even just of course, I think when you’re off for the summer, you know, you have a limited amount of time off and you think, okay, well, you know, I’m only off this amount of time. I just did nothing. I think if I were to have that freedom I would have to structure my days somewhat so that I don’t have fall into that boardroom trap.
And you know yourself so well that that’s automatically in the forefront of your mind going, this is, this is something that’s important that I’m going to have to do. Right. And there is a lot of worth. Self-worth and working with the kids, you know, you’re doing something you’re a productive member of society or contributing.
And then when you quit that you have to, I have to figure out a way to find my self worth in something else. You know, I’ve talked to people who don’t have that and, you know, I don’t feel like I, you know, and I there’s something to that, you know, what can I contribute to problems? So, so when you think about the desire to make sure that you’re contributing to the community and to your family and all that stuff, what, what do you, what does that look like for you?
What, in what ways do you think you could contribute if you had more free time to those around you?
You know, one of the things I thought about is I have a lot of, I like to. Like the real complicated ones. And I get to take my scraps and my quote and w to pregnancy care center, things like that, you know, you’re still contributing and your health bank, that’s another effect that can help you down the pregnancy care center or Christian aid center, or some of these other worthwhile things that are volunteer as opposed to pay.
If I so chose. You know, something like that. Do you, do
I play in an orchestra? Do that until probably dropped, but yeah, but those were all great ways to still contribute to that local community. So even though you might be giving up or changing, you know, being school, we’re still able to give back, but they just in different ways. And do you think, you know, one thing that you’ve kind of talked about today is a lot, a lot of different things that you’d like to spend your time doing, spending with family, giving back to the community, more sowing, breathing taking care of yard of the house, all those types of things.
What do you think you get bored very often? Or do you think you’d fill your time pretty after. Well, let’s put it this way. I look at my house, I think, okay, I need to do this. And then I’m bored, but I’m too lazy to go up and do what I need to do. Does that make sense?
it’s not that I don’t ask stuff to do a set. Do I choose to do it, you know, and, and wanting to spend your time on the things that are fulfilling to you, not the things that need to get done. I know I could go. So I do. So I always have fun once I start getting myself to start doing it. So I don’t know, but that’s something that you also talked about, making sure that you have some sort of schedule, right.
Kind of help exactly. Help yourself, make sure that you get where you want to be with this, having the old days, but also being fulfilled and enjoying them rather than just kind of waiting and being more. Yeah. So I want to circle back to part of it is the conversation about the financial security and stuff.
So on a scale of one to 10, 10 being really confident, one being not as confident, what is your confidence level that you’d find some ways to still have that financial security, but still be able to get to that life of enjoying your time and you know, that freedom. Spend time with friends and be there for your family, all that stuff.
What is your competence that you’ll be able to find some solutions to get there
maybe three to five,
you know, but I also know that God always applies. It’s the right time. So but is there, is that fear. Yeah. But you look back at your life and you realize all the moments that even though you’ve had that fear you’ve moved forward with any God is providing for you. Exactly. The big one is, you know, Terry and having to learn to live at night at home, you didn’t have life insurance.
And so, you know, that’s why back to work, which in and of itself was a good thing. Sitting at home would not have been a good option. Yeah. So so that was a good thing, but in the long run, that’s a tougher thing because I have to work longer. And so
when you said, you know, somewhere between a three or a five and let’s say maybe a three. Okay. So what do you think, what would. What’s one thing maybe you could do to increase your confidence in that from a three to 3.5.
I don’t know. I’ve thought about going and taking the test to be a teacher. So there’s a test and education so she can get together. You can’t teach in the class, but you could substitute us teaching, which that income would be a whole lot greater. And so it’s just getting myself motivated enough to do some checking into that, seeing if that’s what I want to pursue.
And then there’s also that fear of one gig and that, cause I think I could pass it because if it’s practical knowledge that I haven’t had the training to teach classroom my bar, I think I could. So there’s a little bit of fear that actually flunk it. Yeah. Embarrassing. So I would say to you also know, I mean, you can, you are a smart person.
I mean, you’ve had a lot of life experience. You’ve gone through some really tough times. You’ve gone through some really great times, you know, you’ve raised some great kids. Get involved in the community. You’ve no matter what you figured it out and you got into the places that you wanted to get to. So even with that little fear kind of nagging behind you, ultimately, you know, that if that’s something that you really want to do, you’ll get through it.
Yeah, that’s true. Yeah. And honestly, again, this isn’t about me, but I know you you’re smart. You’re
There was no concern there, you know? Yeah. But sometimes it’s finding that confidence within ourselves just to move forward, despite the fear and not letting that wait to stand on because we know where we want to go. We know we want to be over here, but that, that bridge of fear that separates us.
Sometimes we just have to take the courage to take the first step. That’s true. And as you think about the future, and as you think about all the things that you want to get to the ability to be closer to family and the ability to be with friends, the ability to have a little bit more freedom in your day, but structure that you choose, you know, ultimately only you can decide the value of what that brings to you.
And what about it’s worth taking that step forward on that bridge there there’s, you know, so the fear of change again, There’s always serious, starting a new job. Fair, giving it up too. And to know that if I choose to quit, I would probably never be rehired again because of my age, you know? So there’s that too, but
it’s hard to make changes no matter exactly. Exactly. And so you’re just strategically trying to figure out, is this the right time? Is it worth making it a few more years? Is it, you know? Right. Yeah. I don’t want to retire then he over. Yeah. But you also want to make sure that you enjoy your company. Right?
Exactly. And I was really fortunate in that. I really didn’t have to go back to work until after Terry died. So I get to stay home and take care of. So I kind of sorta had my retirement when the kids were low. Yeah. Yeah. But so the, now is the time to really think about return for me and then enjoy the time how you want to spend it.
Right. Right. Because no matter anyone’s age, we all just in general only have so much time on these are. And so now it’s just figuring out how much of a priority it is for you to start taking those steps. It doesn’t mean you have to necessarily retire tomorrow or that to take those steps, to start thinking about how you want to spend your time and how you want to still have that supplemental income to get where you want to go.
Cause you’ve already talked about some solutions, including getting that teaching sub and being able to work at the one stuff or working at the library or. I’m helping you out in the church a little bit more. There’s a few ways that you’ve already gathered the tools to figure out how to support yourself.
And it’s just deciding whether you want to take that first step. Yeah. You don’t want to think about actually stuff I hadn’t thought about before. So, so direct things on it, but let me just ask you this. Where, where what’s your next steps from here? What are your thoughts take you at this point? Well, definitely pursuing the idea of getting my teaching license.
I need to go down and talk to the secretary law. She’s still here. I mean, still at the, I think they put the end of June and don’t come back until August. So I need to do some checking into that. I think that would be my first step and also. When would, I need to let them know when I want to retire and start looking at some options on maybe downsizing my house.
So I’m putting my house on the market and getting something smaller that was easy-peasy to meet and not cost as much.
So those are some options. It’s the same thing. Help. This has helped me think more about the lines of GTL can I do and how could I make it? Okay. Because again, ultimately, Cindy, you had a really successful life. You literally, you know, had some really tough times that you still figured out how to come out on top and, and, you know, you have faith in yourself and in God that he’s going to provide it, regardless of the decisions that you made.
And you’re in the driver’s seat. You you’ll know the right time in the right place. And when it’s it’s time to deal it, but ultimately you’re in control of what you want your future to look like. That’s true. True. When you make that decision, making it before dementia. Yeah, exactly. None of them want to be proactive.
What exactly. Exactly. Yeah. Well, thank you for actually has helped me think about some options and maybe get on the sick and start pursuing some of it, looking in to see what I can do, because as you keep looking for the idea of that freedom and spending your high, how you want to spend it, that seems so exciting.
How could you not take a couple steps forward? Right. So true. At least look into it. You never know. Can I happen what God’s going to provide, but exactly. At least you’re moving towards a life that you want to live. Right. It’s true. It’s true. Well, this is fun. I didn’t know what to expect.
