tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post5487143226553419078..comments2023-10-15T04:23:50.187-04:00Comments on College Misery: A Big Thirsty on Retiring Early From Adele from Avondale.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-83249426207561631092014-01-03T19:26:56.278-05:002014-01-03T19:26:56.278-05:00One thing you may also want to consider is what yo...One thing you may also want to consider is what you are contributing to the dept. While we're all looking at these considerations from the perspective of... well, ourselves... are you able to also contribute to the department in a way that the department deserves? I ask this because I wonder this about myself.The Contemplative Cynichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02088570661592922436noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-5383359597799872192014-01-03T12:41:48.517-05:002014-01-03T12:41:48.517-05:00I do not think you are too old for a career change...I do not think you are too old for a career change, especially since you will be bringing in enough income through retirement to live modestly already. Why not find a different job, part time or otherwise, that you might really enjoy? <br /><br />At any rate, I think that is what I'd like to do at your age (not soooo very far away).Bellahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15686242633678466958noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-22474513658541529662014-01-02T21:09:52.119-05:002014-01-02T21:09:52.119-05:00I have no advice because mine would be to take the...I have no advice because mine would be to take the retirement and run; if you don't have to do this and you hate it, why do it? Find something fun to work on until you can start to cash in on that retirement. But that's from my embittered mid-career perspective as I envision another 25 years of this at a SLAC that offers only summer sabbaticals (meaning we get an extra $1,500 over the The Contemplative Cynichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02088570661592922436noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-60830558151153059882014-01-02T14:44:50.570-05:002014-01-02T14:44:50.570-05:00I cannot stress enough how amazing a sabbatical ca...I cannot stress enough how amazing a sabbatical can be. I'm twenty years in and was questioning whether or not I could make it another fifteen. A sabbatical cleared my head and helped me gain some much needed perspective. I do have a few more years in me. Especially if I can sneak in another sabbatical. Annie Oakleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02396950355961607377noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-44587739350189169782014-01-02T14:05:43.991-05:002014-01-02T14:05:43.991-05:00That should read "people with your sort of ex...That should read "people with your sort of experience are the ones we need in administration" [not young whippersnappers with "higher ed administration" Ph.D.s and minimal if any classroom experience]. A few years in administration might also bump up your last salary, and hence some retirement income calculations (I'm not sure how many work that way anymore). <br /><br /Contingent Cassandrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08161652083031423415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-7433639242068100882014-01-02T13:59:19.624-05:002014-01-02T13:59:19.624-05:00I like the ideas above. It also might be worth as...I like the ideas above. It also might be worth asking a structural question: what happens to tenure lines in your department when people retire? Does at least some of the 75% turnover you mentioned provide some guidance on that score? I'm the last one to suggest that older faculty who want to continue teaching, and are still doing a good job, should retire (that would not be in my best Contingent Cassandrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08161652083031423415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-51907963849198834732014-01-02T10:33:21.366-05:002014-01-02T10:33:21.366-05:00Can you take a sabbatical? Or even better, apply f...Can you take a sabbatical? Or even better, apply for a Fulbright. You can do a short ( Senior Specialist ) tour, or a semester or even a year abroad and gain a new perspective on teaching and yourself. You can do a research grant and get a break from teaching but come back renewed. It might give you contacts for life after retirement, too. <br /><br />If you pick a country that is not greatly inTrish from Texarkanahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01537710252663530562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-39853247189383064342014-01-02T09:10:16.608-05:002014-01-02T09:10:16.608-05:00I would personally recommend either a reduction in...I would personally recommend either a reduction in responsibilities or taking on some online teaching. That way you can retire but keep a trickle of income coming in as you prepare for the next few decades.Academic Monkeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07086078244493768565noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-34027485820015836132014-01-02T07:07:57.567-05:002014-01-02T07:07:57.567-05:00Perhaps you can discuss this question with your de...Perhaps you can discuss this question with your dean or department head with the goal of revising your teaching, research and service in a manner that is more pleasing to you. Maybe drop all research responsibilities while adding a class in the spring or fall. If you enjoy your new, more ideal work load then you might decide to work a few more years. Both you and the school would benefit from Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com