Adift

[Teacher Terry]

I didn’t enter the work force for a career until my late 30’s due to having kids young, working shitty jobs, etc. I retired from the state at 58 due to rules,!bureucracy. For the past 6 years I have my dream job teaching a online college class with no boss for great pay. It’s over in a month due to hiring full time staff. The volunteering I tried sucked and teaching somewhere else pays horrible and you get micro managed. I am lost.

[Simplemind]

It's tough when you lose a sweet deal. I was making great money and lots of time off but a new manager was changing all the rules. I could have fought it but I just didn't have the battle in me so I retired with a reduced pension at 55. I do have two volunteer jobs that I really like and they are polar opposites as far as client interaction. I work just as much as I want and can take off for travel without having to ask permission or worrying about staffing levels. I'm happy I found my niche because that was a worry for me when I retired. I knew I had to have something to put my teeth into.

[Teacher Terry]

Also what are your 2 volunteer jobs?

[Chicken lady]

TT,

i’m sorry. I know how hard it would be to have my job taken. Is the money an issue, or are you in a position where you can do as you wish, paid or not? (I’m not clear, because you talk about volunteering, but also sight poor pay)

what were your three favorite things about this job?

[rosarugosa]

I'm sorry too, TT. I had read some info last year about opportunities for teaching English classes online to students in Asia. Here is a link I had saved. I forget where I got the info, but it was from a source I considered reliable; it wasn't a "get rich working from home" ad or anything like that. It didn't seem like it was something I wanted to pursue, but it might be for you, or at least worth taking a look at. Good luck in finding something you enjoy.

https://t.vipkid.com.cn/?refersourceid=e01&refereeId=8564857

[razz]

That is an unfortunate development as teaching an online course that you like is a real joy. Volunteering requires one to leave the comfort of one's home and cost of transport, never mind the politics of it all.
I do volunteer with Big Brothers and Big Sisters mentoring a child onsite at a school for an hour each week. I have been with the little guy from Sr Kindergarten to Gr 4 and watched a very hyperactive child develop into a delightful very smart being. Very little politics.

[iris lilies]

I am sorry you are Adrift. I don’t have an answer about Developing a life outside of work if there is not already seeds planted in your brain of stuff you’d like to do.


But I do encourage people to think about hobby groups rather than the highly exalted thing most people think of in “volunteering.” My world as everyone knows revolves around plants, so I work in hobby groups that focus on ornamental plants. I have a dozen jobs for various organizations and could take on a dozen more if I wanted—the need is immense.

I think you—the generic you—have to define your core interest or interests and work from there.

The dog rescue world for instance—if You don’t want to actually foster dogs there are many jobs that help out foster groups such as Planning and working at their fundraising events, administrative work doing record keeping, inspecting potential foster homes and reporting findings, etc.I do think it is a trick though to find foster groups that are not batshit crazy.

[catherine]

So sorry to hear about this loss in your life, Terry. You seem to have many interests and are engaged in life, so hopefully, you'll be able to use this vacuum to expand something else: volunteering in social organizations, tutoring, pet volunteerism as IL suggested.

Hey, how about setting up a YouTube or seminars on decluttering! There is a guy in my area who started an organizing business for senior citizens a year ago and he's been amazingly successful.

[Float On]

I'm feeling very adrift too... or stuck. Yep, I'm stuck. I've given 15 years to my church... part-time. I get vacation and sick days but there isn't retirement or health benefits. Now I'm 52 and feeling my age when I apply to jobs. I'd never gone through not being offered a position until I started looking 2 years ago. Now I can't seem to get an offer for anything that is full-time/benefits package.

[Teacher Terry]

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. CL, we don’t have to have the money but we used it for travel versus our savings. The online courses I have found only pay 3k/semester and tell you how many times you have to contact students, etc. I taught one class a semester including summer for 22k and my class was capped at 39 students and summer 20 students. I have volunteered with a dog rescue group and got frustrated but I probably just need to find a different one. My husband won’t foster because he gets to attached. Catherine, I like the decluttering/organizer idea and maybe I can start a business doing that. FO, sorry you are having trouble finding a full time job. At 65 I won’t be looking for one:))

[Gardnr]

I am lost. I'm sorry you're feeling lost. These words come from sister-retired at 64 and a dear friend who retired more recently:

for the first 6 months don't plan 'stuff' or focus on what. Each morning do what you feel at the moment. Then at 6 months, start considering: 1) things to learn, 2) things to see, 3) places to go-near or far

Best of luck in your transition.

[iris lilies]

I went through a kinda lost year, the second year of retirement.

During the first year we were pretty busy playing catchup on lots of stuff and also, I didnt want to make many more committments than I had already made. But in that second year I did a fair number of volunteer jobs and took the necessary courses for being a flower show judge but still had a lot of down time which
I spent playing computer games. Ack!

By the third year of retirement I was getting more involved with national garden club and had more jobs to do with local clubs. By the fourth year I took on a big state wide responsibility which is very very interesting but as I complain about in another thread oh my God I have to attend the annual conference (and attend at least two meeting! Blech!) and a fall meeting, all taking place across my state.

This is all a lot of blather above. What is important to consider, for me anyway, is the TYPE of volunteer activity.

I am finding is that I need a combination of long-term commitments that come with periodic tasks and I also need one time commitments. I like both, the familiarity of the ongoing, and the newness (the learning aspect) of the one-time. For the Ongoing commitment I feel satisfaction because I learn more about the job and I do it better each time. For the one time jobs, the collaborative activity with others can be interesting.

[Teacher Terry]

Thanks Gard, those are things I did when I retired from my full time job. This is just about 10 hours/ week. Some weeks more or less.

[Teacher Terry]

IL, thanks for the tips. I also realized I shouldn’t commit to anything until I see how my wrist heals and what I can physically do. It’s been 7 weeks and far from healed. I am grateful I didn’t shatter mine like my sister did. A year later and she has limited use of her fingers even with PT.

[Simplemind]

TT the first volunteer position I started training for in the last 6 months of my employment with the Police Department. It is with a trauma response team that gets called out by police/fire to work with survivors of trauma. It can be just about anything as far as trauma goes but most often a death is involved. I wanted it to keep a toe in and still see all the people I had been working with. I also wanted it as a more hands on way to actually work with people and assist them in an appreciable way. It is challenging and not for everyone. You do see things you can't un see and many have a hard time with that so turn over is constant. It pushes me outside of my comfort zone as far as driving. We are expected to get to a scene within 20 minutes (not always possible) and it has taught me the ins and outs of the metro area as well as being called to remote areas on the mountain (lost hikers) and to our state parks (drownings). I recently took on an additional position of being an after call debriefer. I follow up with the volunteers that have gone out on calls to make sure they are OK and afford them an opportunity to talk about what they experienced. I could talk about it until your ears fall off so I'll stop there.
The second one is for Meals on Wheels. I started it because after my husband had his stroke and lost his job he needed something outside of the house. I thought it would be good for him to learn addresses, remember order and names. I started with the intention getting him going and then leaving him to it. Unfortunately I found I loved it and we have now been doing it together for 6 years. We love our clients and they have become like family. I actually see them more often than my family. We like to do extra things for them as several are now friends beyond MOW. We have a huge garden so we grow veggies for our folks to supplement their groceries. That gives me an even bigger bang for my buck with my gardening obsession. We used to grow for the food bank but now give a lot away to our MOW peeps.
With the first job people can get really bonded to you and we are only allowed one follow up phone call after the event. I often wonder/worry about how they have survived and gone on but often never know. On the second job people get really bonded and you are encouraged to spend that time and develop relationships so it balances out the effects of the former.
In almost every job I've had since HS I was made a supervisor or manager within a short time. It often meant that I was then mostly working with employees instead of the public/clients/customers. I've found so much more satisfaction doing this than I did at my desk stomping out employee fires all day.

[Gardnr]

TT, With your teaching and writing skills I wonder if you have relatively close access to a program such as this in my community:

We have a shelter that takes in women/children from abusive situations. They are housed, fed, provided counseling and when they ready, they are prepared to go back into the community. Help setting up a home, interviewing for and getting a job.

Could your skill sets help these women prepare for a new beginning? Application help, interviewing roll play, resume' writing......

[Teacher Terry]

Gard, yes what you mentioned is similar to what I did for the state. I have offered before and even offered to do some vocational testing for free since I had the tests. I was told by 2 places you can volunteer if you do what we tell you to and it was unskilled stuff. A friend of mine had a similar experience with a different place. SM, MOW sounds interesting. Your first volunteer job is not for me at all. So wonderful that you can do that hard work.

[Gardnr]

I was told by 2 places you can volunteer if you do what we tell you to and it was unskilled stuff.

Well that stinks. so hard to believe organizations do not want to utilize all of the talent amongst those willing to volunteer. I'm so sorry. i will be interested to see what happens when I retire and offer to volunteer.......many of you are making me consider that I might be better off working 2-3 shifts a month to use my skills rather than assume I'll be utilized well as a volunteer...........

[Simplemind]

TT, I can't begin to tell you how rewarding it is. Some people don't have family, some have family that could give a $%%^. For many we are the only people they are seeing and it is the only food they are eating. I haven't run into a one that is "cheating the system". They are so dear to us. Most have a cat or a dog so we make sure to do special things for them. Their pets mean everything to them and they are so touched to have them acknowledged. It is just little things really but to them it means so much. I started a magazine swap with them so I just keep the magazines going from house to house until they all have read them. Last winter we had some bad weather and we were running behind trying to be very careful. Several called in looking for us, not because they were mad that their food was late but because they were so worried something had happened to us trying to get to them. Oh man...… I was in tears when one threw open the door, grabbed me and started crying.

[mschrisgo2]

I, also, feel adrift. This time last spring I was teaching reading in an afterschool program and loving every minute. This year there is no funding, so there is no program.

I have looked for other tutoring opportunities and came up empty-handed. I went to the library and offered to do a preschool reading time. They said they don't have budget, I said I would do it for free. They said they don't have budget to clean up after the kids who would come- like, clean the carpet. Who puts carpet in a public library, anyway??

This is my second school year post retirement. Last year I played a lot of catch-up. This had been a really long winter and I really need something to do.

The animal shelter is looking for people to clean cages. I really am not supposed to be doing that kind of work, which I imagine is either mopping, or hauling firehose and spraying- as I have a torn rotator cuff.

I'm at the legal limit of 3 dogs where I live, so fostering is out. [I took back a dog I placed last year. She has bad knees, and fell in love with my guys, and it's taken 7 months for her to trust people again. I can't move her again, it's just not fair to her. She is 9 years old, she is staying here.]

I do want to quilt, but I haven't figured out how to do that in our small < 400 sq ft space, since I have 1 dog who delights in getting into things. She is forever grabbing papers off my desk. Grabbing scissors or pins could be lethal. I guess I could crate her while I work, then put everything away after each session...

I read 17 novels this winter and have passed those books on. (the unread novels I kept when I cleaned out my bookshelves)

I spent a lot of hours on geneology. I located all of my mom's first cousins that are still living, and put her in touch with those who were willing. Discovered my father had a huge extended family- that I don't think he even knew about. I have hundreds of 3rd and 4th cousins on my dad's side. But I'm kind of done with all that, at least for now.

I was on the board at church for 5 years. That commitment ended last December.

*** I need something that requires me to get out of the house a couple of days a week, to do something useful with some of my skills, that maybe also allows me to learn something new.

I have played way too many Words with Friends and Cookie Jam games.

[sweetana3]

So much depends on the size of the city. We have numerous food pantries looking for help and two huge food distribution centers. One has a volunteer crew of around 60+. If you enjoy the elderly, various forms of nursing homes need volunteers for companionship and such. Go to admin and talk to the higher up staff at the homes and schools regarding mentoring. Here in Indiana, we have CASA who a individuals assigned to children at risk to help them thru the process. They get loads of training. https://casaforchildren.org/

Meals on Wheels is a very valuable organization too.

Note: many organizations are not as welcoming to volunteers because it takes a lot of time from staff to manage programs with volunteers (even one volunteer).

[Gardnr]

I, also, feel adrift. This time last spring I was teaching reading in an afterschool program and loving every minute. This year there is no funding, so there is no program.

I do want to quilt, but I haven't figured out how to do that in our small < 400 sq ft space, since I have 1 dog who delights in getting into things. She is forever grabbing papers off my desk. Grabbing scissors or pins could be lethal. I guess I could crate her while I work, then put everything away after each session...


I LOVE LOVE LOVE to quilt. If I weren't setup all the time though, I would get nothing done. With my stuff setup, I can sew just 5 or 10m and get forward progress.

Do you have a small table you can dedicate to your sewing machine being setup? If yes, consider this; https://www.sewsteady.com/product/large-deluxe-18-x-24/

Your sharps can live in the little drawer when you step away. Use a lidded box for your current project. Can be an art sachel type if you want to spend that, or a shoebox from the dollar store.

I don't have this one with a drawer. But i do tuck my sharps under the table when I step away. i have cats not dogs. I have to ALWAYS keep thread hidden from 1 cat-she likes to chew it and her had to go have major surgery once because she ate so much of it-I was nearly hysterical when we figured this out.

It is an investment piece for sure. But I do LOVE my Sew Steady table. It will last forever.

Best of luck finding your way through the years ahead.

[iris lilies]

...Many organizations are not as welcoming to volunteers because it takes a lot of time from staff to manage programs with volunteers….

At my last job there was a period where every department was required to use volunteers. Yet, the work they do could not be work that was performed by regular staff so that was tricky to set up and took a fair amount of my management time.

I rejoiced secretly in two events during our “every department must use volunteers” phase:

Our IT manager stated flat out “when I can get a volunteer who comes to work 5 days a week, 8=5, I will create a job for him/her.” So,he refused to participate in the volunteer game.yay, him! I did not have that courage.

My department volunteer who was convinced she knew better than I about how to run aspects of my department took her all-knowing self to our CEO and told him she knew better than he did about several things. That was a hilarious moment and the outcome saw her fired on the spot as she stood in front of his desk. All of this went down without me complaining at all, being the good dooby I was. Enjoyed that too much, I admit! And frankly I didnt even mind this bossy volunteer because she wasnt a bad worker, just bossy. Incompetence I hate, but bossiness I can deal with.

Soon after our Administration’s emphasis on volunteers sunk into oblivion. Volunteers are great in certain departments and for certain jobs but they are not appropriate for all jobs.

Much of the purpose of supporting volunteers is about public relations and growing community buy-in to the organization.

[Lainey]

TT,
one idea: I had a friend who volunteered to teach basic finance and money management to older Girl Scouts. The Scouts earned a badge for it, and she got the satisfaction of introducing some of these concepts to teens on the verge of getting their first jobs.

I also wonder if it's not a good thing to be adrift for a while - let this fallow period be a good time to let your thoughts wander. I bet it would result in seeing some new ideas bubble up.

[iris lilies]

TT,
one idea: I had a friend who volunteered to teach basic finance and money management to older Girl Scouts. The Scouts earned a badge for it, and she got the satisfaction of introducing some of these concepts to teens on the verge of getting their first jobs.

I also wonder if it's not a good thing to be adrift for a while - let this fallow period be a good time to let your thoughts wander. I bet it would result in seeing some new ideas bubble up.
I think that’s a good idea about Relaxing to let thoughts wander. May lead to a new very interesting phase of life.

[Teacher Terry]

MSchris, I am sorry you are going through the same thing. I can’t do anything until my wrist heal and I am glad it’s summer. I have to be careful what type of volunteer work I do because I have back/neck injuries and can’t bend, stoop and lift a lot. I know about casa being a social worker but it would be too much like a past job. For awhile I did office work for the humane society but that’s mind numbing tasks like just data entry and bothered my neck if I did it for too long.

[SteveinMN]

Some of the same thoughts have been running through my head.

With the closing of my photography business last year and DW seriously considering retirement (maybe as soon as the end of this year), it's occurred to me that we did a pretty good job of planning for retirement financially, but really didn't think through what our days would look like once DW no longer spent 50+ hours each week in an office and I no longer needed to be the househusband. Too many hours to fill to just putter around (at least for us).

Answers have come slowly. Certainly DW will want some time to unwind from her job. She's mentioned maybe consulting in her field, but that may depend on doing more traveling around the state than she wants to do. I haven't minded keeping house and being the on-call for the family but I think those hours could go into a more significant achievement -- though I don't know what that is at the moment. Then there is the wild card of having several years between retirement and Full Retirement Age (we're working with a financial planner on that and trying to see what health care/insurance will look like over the next five years or so). Fortunately both of us are reasonably healthy and we should be okay financially without "eating our seed corn" until much later in life.

I wish I had better advice to impart, TT. I'll admit I'm in a different position for not losing a well-paying gig I really enjoyed. But maybe it helps to know that you are far from alone in this.

[pinkytoe]

There is quite a bit of banter about this topic on the City Data Retirement forum. Lots of advice about money out there but not about how challenging it can be to structure one's time without paid work and maintain a sense of purpose. I have difficulty sometimes with a sense of "guilt" for lack of a better word as we are trained up to feel our value lies in work. Puttering which I actually enjoy is not highly valued.

[Tammy]

I’ve grandmothered 4 foster kids over the years, with one of them adopting into our family. I think about volunteering at the crisis nursery, through which all 4 of them passed on their journey to a forever home, as a retirement goal which would bring purpose to my life.

I taught psychiatric nursing clinical for 3 semesters a few years back when I had time. That was also a lot of fun, as compared with the responsibilities of a full time job. It paid about $40 an hour and took just a few hours of unpaid prep time for each clinical group.

But I think I do need to take the first 3-6 months after retirement and do nothing at all. To see what I really want when I’m apart from the fray and able to reflect.

[nswef]

It took me a full year after teaching 31 years to wind down and find my pace. Now 16 years later I try NOT to guilt myself that I don't do enough. My days are full enough, my time is pretty much my own. I've discovered I like writing and am doing picture books now....success? Not with money, but with joy abounding. I am lucky to be healthy, have a healthy husband, we enjoy each other's company and also do things individually. Terry, I think taking time to figure it out and try some things only when you are ready is a sensible plan.

[Teacher Terry]

So yesterday I had some great news! They have not rewritten my course for the fall and it’s a requirement for social workers. Unless it’s taught people won’t graduate on time. So they asked if I would teach it one last time. It’s a easy 8k and I love doing it. Obviously they weren’t able to hire 3 full time people in time. So happy!

[razz]

Very good, TT!

[iris lilies]

This is good news indeed, TT.

[rosarugosa]

Glad to hear it, TT!

[Gardnr]

Congrats TT:cool:

[Rachel]

That's good news, TT. So good to be in a position of teaching a *required* course.

[Teacher Terry]

I have a good news update! Friday I received a email survey from the university asking if I was willing to teach master's classes and if so to select the ones I would teach. Today I get a request asking me to teach one of the selected courses in Spring. Then I go into my personal account at the university and they have me scheduled to teach in the Fall 2020 my regular course and it's in the catalog unchanged. So much for re-writing it I guess. Anyways I am one happy camper:))

[rosarugosa]

That is great news, Terry!

[Tybee]

That is fantastic news, TT!

[Simplemind]

Great news!!

[happystuff]

Congrats, TT!

[mschrisgo2]

Congrats, TT!

(I stumbled into teaching homeschooled kids, so I’m happy too!)

[Teacher Terry]

Chrisgo, that’s great news!

[catherine]

So happy for you, TT!