SOUTH BRONX SCHOOL: Thoughts on Retiring

Monday, May 16, 2022

Thoughts on Retiring

 Retirement is creeping up on me. I'm 58, and I don't want to be like Willie Mays sticking around too long and falling down in the World Series. I'm getting to be an old fart. There are teachers in my school who weren't born yet when I started in 1995. 

My answer to  the question "when will you retire?" has been "not until my son at least graduates college." He graduates in a year. In four years, on time. Part of me wishes he would be on the 13 year plan like myself. 

I keep getting this thought in my mind of a high school math teacher of mine. Hans Frigo invested heavily in stocks to prepare for his retirement. He would never shut up about this. Six months after he retired he was walking his poodle and dropped dead. Good thing he retired. 

It's starting to hit me that soon all I have known for twenty six years will be gone. Not that I am going to miss it and not that I will not not work. Hell, I made it to having the age and the years. I remember when I came back from my suspension in 2015 and I just wanted to get to 2021. And I did, with room to spare. With my mouth I was concerned. So were others. But I did it. I got there.

I need at least a year to decompress from the DOE. My way of decompressing after my 3020a hearings was to hit iHop on Central Ave and just eat pancakes. My fantasy is to live in the Adirondacks and live off the land for a year. Sadly, that is impractical so choice #2 will have to suffice. Live in Corning NY for a year. Sell cars or work at Wal Mart as a greeter. 

But other than that I don't see me having any connection to anything or anyone with the DOE. That is except blogging and staying involved with Solidarity, United for Change or whatever incarnation of the two there is. I am ready for the 2025 election!

There are people I will never see nor speak to again and there are those I will continue the relationships with. Less stress is what I am looking for. It's amazing how my glucose level rises during the week. 

Which brings me to a Billy Joel song that almost everyone in 1982 had quoted in their high school year books. Which reminds me, I want to see Billy Joel again.

Say a word out of line and you find
That the friends you had are gone

Forever, forever
So many faces in and out of my life
Some will last, some will just be now and then

Life is a series of hellos and goodbyes
I'm afraid it's time for goodbye again


9 comments:

Anonymous said...

I got 4 years left and think about retirement almost every day. I will be out of here faster than shit through a goose on the day I turn 55. The funny thing is that I loved working for the DOE up until Bloomberg destroyed everything that was once great in this career. The 2005 contract was also a nail in the coffin for me.

Anonymous said...

Interesting to contrast the newbies coming into the business today who are dealing with much more than the tier 4 people did back in the day.

For one, teachers are vilified every day in the media one way or another. New teachers are faced with the uncertainty of charter schools and vouchers taking over the industry and driving teacher salaries and careers down the drain. Newbie teachers have to deal with the new in schools of not being able to control your own classroom. All the controls that teachers once had are gone. Now the students run the classrooms and schools for that matter.

So for all tier 4 educators out there, be thankful that we were in the system during times that catered to the educators whereas today its a shit show for all to see.

Anonymous said...

Hey brother, I’m not a close reader so I’m not sure if you’re retiring now or next year. Either way I wish you luck. Retirement isn’t something you should just do. Realize that everything that is unresolved in your life either professionally or personally will come to the forefront. Things that happened 20 years ago will seem like yesterday and you may start hunting people like deer. Life in the country is nice when the weather is good but you do not want to be in Corning New York in the winter. Try to find a hobby or some kind of job that has some kind of meaningful substance. All the best to you. You’re old frenemy.

Pete Zucker said...

I lived in Corning in 1986 and very familiar with the winters of the Southern Tier. I love the city. But I am looking at it as just for a year or two. Kinda like a reboot I will need. Frenemy> I have so many :)

@11:27 I am grateful I am tier 4 and gratefuller that I bought into the 25/55.

Anonymous said...

Fuck ‘‘em Pete. Don’t let no master tell you when to retire. That Bronx Boy that only met you once or twice, but I think we think alike.

Anonymous said...

David Suker, now that’s a lad people should talk to about retirement. I heard that jolly fellow got his pension consultation on Friday and if they try to play a Jig or a Reel, things might go whirling like one of those dervishes I’ve heard so much about .

Be kind is always the Golden Rule!

Pete Zucker said...

@6:13 No master is telling me when to retire. We met once or twice? Can't recall. Sorry.

Anonymous said...

Pete. It’s David Suker here. I know we met once at an event held at Giovanni’s on 150th, and I think we met once more at a hiring hall for ATRs, but I could be wrong.

Anonymous said...

Good advice.