Hi, so I've been a non-posting member for two years, but I lurked on the site for even longer than that. Although I've never posted, I feel like I know many of you.
You see, I've just never had anything to contribute. I've never owned an RV. I have tent and hammock camped; I frequently hike and kayak. In my youth, I spent summers at Girl Scout camps. But I have never spent the night in an RV; I've only been in those found on RV dealer lots and at shows. But this is what I want in my future.
I am a high school science teacher. I teach great kids, and I adore each and every one. But its time for someone else to take the 70 hour work weeks. For someone else to ALWAYS have something else they SHOULD have done. For someone else to explain to parents that learning is more important than grades; and I really am making them more prepared for their next "thing" in life.
So my partner (reluctantly) and I (enthusiastically) are moving down this path. If the Social Security Administration ever replies to the form I sent in and paid for in JULY, I hope to buy out my last partial year (I had cancer 10 years ago and missed quite a bit of school that year) and retire at the end of this school year. Worst case scenario, I'll have to work one more year; with the students I get, it would not be the end of the world.
At any rate, when the house sells (not on the market yet), we will buy a used class A and full time. I hope to volunteer in places where I can still teach, without the grading part.
I am beginning the purging of stuff and trying to convince my partner that we'll be ok. Complicating factors are her 75 year old father, and my 88 year old mother.
Sean said
01:49 AM Oct 29, 2013
Hi Laura, we lurked for awhile too before jumping in. I'm glad we finally did though, great bunch of helpful people here. Good luck with your plans, I hope they all work out for you!
bjoyce said
02:52 AM Oct 29, 2013
Scary is good, it keeps you realistic. Good luck and I hope to see you on the road.
GENECOP said
03:34 AM Oct 29, 2013
Welcome to the Forum....see you both on the road....
Bill and Jodee said
02:27 PM Oct 29, 2013
Welcome and thanks for jumping in. Most of all, thanks for your years of teaching - it is the most noble of professions IMHO! And no, I was/am not a teacher .
Good luck with all your plans - they will all come together and both of of you will be fine. Keep us posted (now that you've jumped in there's no looking back !!
Jodee
WestWardHo said
05:29 PM Oct 29, 2013
Welcome! I was scared too, hubby not so much. Agree with Jodee about teachers! Just a thought if you wish to continue to teach, there are a lot of online schools needing instructors.
Hope to meet you someday down the road.
Sherry
el Rojo and Pam said
06:29 PM Oct 30, 2013
Welcome Laura! Hope it comes to pass sooner than later.
Red
LMonty said
12:15 AM Oct 31, 2013
Thank you all for your kind words of encouragement! I was having a really bad day when I wrote that, but it still stands that I hope I can retire at the end of this school year. The incentive today was a parent that did not understand that Garrison Keiler is making a joke when he says "all of the children are above average." On the other hand, I wanted to cry today when a student told me she would have me for TWO classes next year (AP Biology and Honors Genetics) and she knew it was going to be hard, but it was the only way she would achieve her goal of being a large animal Vet. I know she will be fine, but I really hate to miss watching them grow into such amazing young people!
When I fulltime, I really believe I can have a life AND continue to make a small difference in the lives of youngsters. I can help with interpretive programs at state and national parks and wildlife refuges... I think I can make this work!
Thanks again!
Terry and Jo said
02:00 AM Oct 31, 2013
Welcome, Laura. You will find this a place for a lot of good information, and the occasional advice for making things easier and better. Glad to have you as part of the family.
Now, having mentioned "advice," you might use a larger font size so your comments are easier for some of us older folks to read.
Terry
heyduke said
03:09 PM Nov 2, 2013
just to let you know when my wife and i retired we had never owned an RV, we bought our first one a month before we hit the road as Fulltimers, our very first night in our RV was the day after we retired and had hit the road after selling all our stuff... you can do it! we did...
Hi, so I've been a non-posting member for two years, but I lurked on the site for even longer than that. Although I've never posted, I feel like I know many of you.
You see, I've just never had anything to contribute. I've never owned an RV. I have tent and hammock camped; I frequently hike and kayak. In my youth, I spent summers at Girl Scout camps. But I have never spent the night in an RV; I've only been in those found on RV dealer lots and at shows. But this is what I want in my future.
I am a high school science teacher. I teach great kids, and I adore each and every one. But its time for someone else to take the 70 hour work weeks. For someone else to ALWAYS have something else they SHOULD have done. For someone else to explain to parents that learning is more important than grades; and I really am making them more prepared for their next "thing" in life.
So my partner (reluctantly) and I (enthusiastically) are moving down this path. If the Social Security Administration ever replies to the form I sent in and paid for in JULY, I hope to buy out my last partial year (I had cancer 10 years ago and missed quite a bit of school that year) and retire at the end of this school year. Worst case scenario, I'll have to work one more year; with the students I get, it would not be the end of the world.
At any rate, when the house sells (not on the market yet), we will buy a used class A and full time. I hope to volunteer in places where I can still teach, without the grading part.
I am beginning the purging of stuff and trying to convince my partner that we'll be ok. Complicating factors are her 75 year old father, and my 88 year old mother.
Good luck with all your plans - they will all come together and both of of you will be fine. Keep us posted (now that you've jumped in there's no looking back
Jodee
Hope to meet you someday down the road.
Sherry
Red
Thank you all for your kind words of encouragement! I was having a really bad day when I wrote that, but it still stands that I hope I can retire at the end of this school year. The incentive today was a parent that did not understand that Garrison Keiler is making a joke when he says "all of the children are above average." On the other hand, I wanted to cry today when a student told me she would have me for TWO classes next year (AP Biology and Honors Genetics) and she knew it was going to be hard, but it was the only way she would achieve her goal of being a large animal Vet. I know she will be fine, but I really hate to miss watching them grow into such amazing young people!
When I fulltime, I really believe I can have a life AND continue to make a small difference in the lives of youngsters. I can help with interpretive programs at state and national parks and wildlife refuges... I think I can make this work!
Thanks again!
Welcome, Laura. You will find this a place for a lot of good information, and the occasional advice for making things easier and better. Glad to have you as part of the family.
Now, having mentioned "advice," you might use a larger font size so your comments are easier for some of us older folks to read.
Terry