RETIREMENT: Keeping in Touch
Retirement: Keeping in Touch
I retired nine years ago; I can hardly believe it has been that long ago. Just last week I attended a college housing conference. That’s what I used to do, provide housing for college students, helped them adjust to college living and basically becoming young adults. I also was a counselor, an educator, trainer, supervisor, emergency responder, event planner, financial budget planner, team member and a conduct adjudicator. I can’t believe that I don’t miss it! I do however miss the people and the community. Attending the conference gave me the opportunity to reconnect with former colleagues, staff members, and to connect with friends I hadn’t seen in years.
I wanted to make sure that I was fully participating in this conference, so I volunteered during check-in. This allowed me to meet new professionals that had moved into the region since I had retired nine years ago. I also participated in the Buddy program which paired me up with new professionals/first time conference attendees. This allowed me to mentor then regarding the conference and the region. I also learned about new things that are happening in the profession and in the region. I was really impressed with these bright, promising new professionals and look forward to seeing big things from them in the future. In addition, I presented a program, attended sessions, went to socials and receptions, and loved visiting the exhibits hall. I especially enjoyed seeing James C. Smith receive the Charles L Miller award (which is the highest award you can receive in our region) and hearing Margarita “Maggie” Malagon give the closing keynote!
Some of the connections were brief and others were extended over the full four days. Some the time is never enough it seems and others you can talk for five minutes, and it means the world. That connection is so important, impactful, and is different for every individual. Speaking of work colleagues that make an impact there is a group of us that worked together, and we meet for lunch when we are in the same area. We plan for an hour or two and usually are there for four or five as time just gets away from us. We laugh, we cry, we share pictures of kids, grandkids, travels, plans, dreams and hopes. We are friends who have shared experiences in life. Work brought us together and these common experiences forged us into lifelong friends. We are stronger for those experiences and for our friendships.
When I think of the friendships that I have developed through the housing organization, while they might not be forged as strong through the as the work experiences as the work friendships but are just as important in other ways and meeting other needs. When you have those connections and support networks in your life it is important to keep them strong, however you can. Whether that be in person, snail mail, phone, text message, social media, however you do it, just make sure you do it. 5 minutes or 5 hours-it doesn’t matter if you make it count and do it! I’ve learned to make an effort.
How does this correspond to my RV travels you ask? As I’m traveling around the country I’m trying to reconnect with former staff, co-workers, Resident Advisors (student workers), and students when I know where they are. I’ve even made it to Housing Conferences in other regions. It is fun to catch up and see how everyone is doing in person. The Palm Springs WACE was awesome, there were so many retired folks, people that had left housing but were there presenting or were there just visiting that it seemed like it took the whole conference just to catch up with everyone! I’ve caught up with Abby Juhasz who was a former Assistant Resident Director and is now working up in Walla Walla, Washington. I’ve also been able to catch up with Larry Perez, a former colleague who is in Florida now. Things like this make my travels exciting and relevant.
Who should be next to make the list?
“Count your age by friends, not years.” John Lennon
