The Retirees' Newsletter

The Retirees's Association ( Faculty, Librarian, Administrator), University of Windsor, Windsor, Ont. Canada

Vol V III, No. 3, June 1998

RETIREES GLIMPSES
Given the success of this feature, first initiated by my predecessor, I agreed with the concept and invited a few colleagues to share their retirement experiences with us

John LaGaipa
Psychology

On a bus ride to "Art in the Park" a young lady offered me her seat, but she wouldn't sit on my lap...... Ageism.

I studied art for several years after retiring. I exhibited and sold a few. But, no one said I had talent. So, I bought a computer and became a nerd. Now, I talk about art - I don't do it. I read history - I don't try to change the world.

This fall, I'm teaching a course on Art and Social Change, mostly to women over70. I don't get paid. I learn more than I teach.

I have learned more about art, literature and history in the last five years than in the last sixty, but what worries me is this. Someday, it will all dribble out of my ears.

Floors are not as steady as they used to be. When I get out of bed, I hold on to the bed post. Sometimes I go back to bed.

I take a short walk every morning about three o'clock. It's so dark and quiet. Nearby, I heard the sound of water. When I return, I take a nap. Sometimes I don't. I have too many memories.

I also walk at the Devonshire Mall. In the morning the seniors pass me by. Later, everyone else passes me by. So, what's the hurry?

I do Aqua-fitness at the YMCA pool. The ladies and I stand next to each other, month after month, twisting our arms and legs, not saying a word. I try to hide my pot belly on my way to the sauna. We eat too much!

I can see better today with my implanted lens than ever before. But, what I look at mostly is my 17 inch computer monitor.

My implanted teeth are better than ever. But, I'm on a diabetic diet, and a hard nut might do $10,000 worth of damage.

I hear there are pills and implants for other parts of the body, but my heart wouldn't go along with it.

See Linda and I on cable this fall. We've spent a lot of time videotaping old folks in nursing homes, a Health Canada grant.

It can be scary leaving a nursing home, when you look like the others. The guard once stopped me at the door. Where's your pass, Grandpa?

Nursing homes are a nice place to visit, but I wouldn't want to live in one.

So, how's retirement?

Well, I'm not one to complain.

Norman F. Taylor
Chemistry & Biochemistry

I retired in 1993. It is sometimes difficult to realize that I have now been retired for 5 years. Partly, this is due to the fact that my department generously re-appointed me Adjunct Professor. This meant that I retained my office and facilities which allowed me to maintain contact with colleagues and students, thereby allowing a less traumatic transition from full academic life to a retirement mode.

For a number of reasons I find myself going into the University less frequently which means I spend more time with my wife and in the house. It is reassuring to know that we can still live together in harmony! I am told by my wife, Jo, that I spend most of my time grumbling. In fact, I am merely exercising my critical faculties!

Apart from this activity, we spend about 5 months/year in a modest mobile home just outside Palm Springs. I used to be on the Faculty at UCLA so I know this area fairly well. We have made a number of new friends and we both love the living desert and, of course, the climate. I now have time to enjoy music and theater which abounds in the area.

Additionally, I have become expert at do-it-yourself - an essential requirement for mobile home owners. Financially, we just about manage to hang in, in spite of the appalling Canadian/American dollar exchange rate. In Canada other activities are mainly confined to my interest in chess, sailing and the computer with periodic trips to England to see my children and grandchildren.

Access to the University computer is now an important part of my life-style which allows me to communicate with friends all over the world as well as keep abreast of developments in the Arts and Sciences. As will be apparent from the above resume, I continue to lead a full and active life without the stress imposed by full-time employment. In short, I enjoy my retirement.

Robert N. Whitehurst
Sociology & Anthropology

Since I am not a new retiree (now in tenth year), I would pass on the following about my retirement:

Retirement is about as I had anticipated, but it does take time to adjust to so many new ways of doing. We are just about all traveled out, having seen and experienced about all we planned to do.

Travel has become more difficult in time due to crowds everywhere and increasing costs. Also, we now believe (that we've seen most of the places we wanted to) that tourism is a grievous fault of our system, that it is ecologically unsound to continue to traipse over the face of the earth and ruin the air, water and historic sites we treasure. Of course there is a dilemma involved which each has to resolve, but it does present a nice conundrum.

Living on Lake St. Clair is pleasant all year round, so we feel less need to repair to other places, except Jean likes sunny places sometimes in the winter. Keeping busy is easy, controlling the amount of work done as a volunteer is sometimes less easy.

Like many others, I still harbor the fantasy of more research and writing, but the follow-through is less active than the imagination at times. Also, facing critical reviewers of one's work is no easier as time goes by. We still stay active and on the go and find plenty to do in the spare moments. Thanks to many of my good colleagues and friends, it has been a good life at the U of W and beyond: may it continue!

Retirees' Dinner Dance Postponed

The Retirees' Dinner Dance scheduled for Friday, June 26, 1998 has been postponed to sometime in the FALL. A number of retirees were away on holidays and both President Ross Paul and President Jang Singh of the Faculty Association jointly decided to hold the function in the Fall.

Any inconvenience caused to some members is regretted.

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