Many of you have heard that I am planning to retire after almost 37 years with the Wayne County Extension Office. The position title and the emphasis on programming have changed a lot over the years. Just imagine, there were no computers, or even copiers in the office when I started in 1988.  I’ve seen many co-workers who became friends join the team to help with the mission and vision of Extension.

            I can say that I’ve loved this job from the beginning. Thank you, Bob Troutman, for believing in me enough to give me a chance and for countless others who supported me and invited me to share with educational events through the years.

She's had opportunities beyond measure

            The current mission of Ohio State University Extension, Family and Consumer Sciences, is: To facilitate opportunities for people to explore how science- based knowledge can improve physical, social, and financial health.  Our vision is for Ohioans to have the information, tools and resources to actively engage in creating conditions in which they thrive as individuals, families and communities.

            Working for this institution has afforded me opportunities beyond measure and thus, allowed me to bring information back to share in so many ways.  The regular professional in-services, the boundary-stretching national presentations and a chance to network all over this great nation are things for which I will be forever grateful.

            As I look forward to the next milestone in life, I hope to have the opportunity to travel, spend more time in the woods with my horse, and have the privilege of assisting my parents. I plan to continue promoting the professional development opportunities that I’ve had and share the educational messages I hold dear.

A heads-up on retirement planning

            In trying to plan what retirement looks like, may I just say to those of you who may be considering it, start early to understand the rules and policies that may apply to you.  I can’t begin to outline the financial part of it, so suffice it to say, you need to have faith in a good financial planner and understand your goals for retirement.   Talk with your employer and see if there’s a match to your contributions or additional incentives you can take advantage of.

            I’ve discovered that emotionally, we may experience anywhere from four to 12 stages of retirement, and while every person may have different experiences, I can say mine is pretty well down to the simple outline of four.  Today we’ll talk about the first two.

            Pre-retirement excitement – My peers have been talking about retirement for many years, and while I was excited for them, I could honestly say I wasn’t ready. They told me I would know when it was time.

            Are there things you might like to spend more time doing after you retire?  What are your hobbies, special interests, or places you’d liked to visit that you just don’t have enough time to do now?  What can you explore during vacations or time volunteering on the weekends? Some of this may come back to the financial part. How much money can you save now to do the things you want to do later?  If you aren’t sure retirement is for you, you might work part-time or try a different kind of work if you need a challenge or change of pace.

Making the transition

            The next stage is one of transition. I’ve heard it described that when you leave the workforce it’s almost like being on an extended vacation, I can do things and take part in events on my own time.  Some of the things that I’m looking forward to are the simple things like enjoying coffee on the swing in the garden or taking time to redo a room or having breakfast with a friend without being on a timeline.

            I’m looking forward to going on trips to visit family and friends without the urgency of having to play catch up when I return.  This sense of freedom is one that I hope can fill my cup.  Some sage guidance that I was given was to say “no” for 3-6 months. This is a way to prioritize ways of giving back. It’s a way to be selective about your passion in the community.

            I will share two more stages and a list of lessons that I’ve learned in my next column. I can honestly say it’s surreal to be at this point in life, but I can’t wait to see what’s ahead.

Melinda Hill is an OSU Extension Family & Consumer Sciences Educator and may be reached at 330-264-8722 or hill.14@osu.edu
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This article was previously published in The Daily Record.