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Thursday, June 14, 2012

RE-TIRE-MENT!!!! It's Official! (for him)

A week ago on Friday we drove to Sacramento to talk to counselors at the Calstrs office
regarding possible retirement for my husband from his last ten years teaching
history to 6th, 7th and 8th graders.
It was  a good meeting and we learned that his benefits were better than we thought they might be.


Before that meeting we'd stopped at Starbucks for coffee as we had some time to kill.  I bet that guy on the right is retired already. He and his wife just looked really relaxed.


After the first meeting we needed to go file for social security (for him) and Medicare Parts A for him and B for both of us. We sat waiting with these folks. Some of whom were already talking to a person at those numbered booths.
 That meeting too was very successful. Again we learned that he'd get more than we'd expected.
We were pleasantly surprised. This was a second career for DH of only ten years duration; but together with the many years he'd worked before becoming a teacher, as a furniture refinisher, he had money coming to him. And they did not reduce it too badly when combining it with the teachers pension. Whew! Relief!

I hope this woman got what she needed too. She looked a little worried to me.
One must also make sense of Medicare and Supplemental Health Insurance plans,
which took all weekend to sort through.
Plans A-Z
I swear this was more difficult than studying for and passing my professional exams!
If you are planning to retire I suggest you start preparing for it
a year or more ahead of time.

After lots of time spent talking to people we needed to refuel ourselves so we stopped in here at the
La . Bou
for very good hot sandwiches (grilled chicken, jack cheese, fresh basil, pesto) for me. I think he had turkey. He started filling out the pile of paperwork needed to start the retirement process. And I drew these younger people eating their lunches. Turned out, DH told me later, that this had been the very restaurant he'd gone to for lunch on his very first day of teaching ten years ago!


We had more decisions to make, things to sign, and figure out. We ate and wrote and talked and talked
just like the couple in the picture I later painted at home.


 We were both so relieved when this part of the process was over. We drove back home to our town and went out for ice cream to celebrate!

That only wired me more and kept me awake all night long. The combination of excitement and sugar will do that to me.

DH is purging papers and his closet. He bagged up all his "school uniforms" (khaki pants, dress shirts) to give to the thrift store. Only clothes left in his closet are blue jeans and blue cotton shirts. His old and now new again uniform! I am so happy, I can already feel the difference as the stress of that teaching career is behind him...I have my dear husband back at last!

And he is FREE AT LAST! FREE AT LAST!

Happy Paint Party Friday!
Your comments are much appreciated!
Thanks for stopping by.

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59 comments:

  1. Love your drawing and watercoloring, they remind me of comic strips a little. Yay for a better life ahead and getting (more of) what you deserve!

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  2. YEAAAAAAAA.. its a done deal and someone can breathe again. Wonderful drawings of the memory making event. They say it all. You have his relaxed state while driving the car. I feel like I am standing in that Starbucks waiting to order. Nicely done color and all.

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  3. Yea for retirement! My husband was a teacher, too, and is LOVING his retirement. Great pictures.

    Nancy

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    1. Thanks Nancy, I know my husband is going to love it too. I already do for him!!!!

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  4. nice that you have this place to go that helps you through the process. for me, the process was easy. but i've always been good at paperwork. glad the DH can throw away those school teacher clothes (though I'd think ONE pair of khaki's and a dress shirt might come in handy some time). Hope he has fun and hope you can soon join him.

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    1. Suki, he did save a couple of those other outfits for special occasions, although he hates "dressing up", but will when it's required.

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  5. So happy for your DH. I bet the stress has really gone from his life. Way to go, and way to document the day in art. It shows how much attention you pay to people.

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    1. Elizabeth, it will be monumentally changed as far as stress is concerned. His life is now his own and "ours"...his job was 24/7 365 as he worked through the weekends and planned and worried over the summer vacation time. Now he can do what he wants! I'm so relieved that he will have relief!

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  6. Congratulations on your husbands retirement. I assume he is now going for the retirement life? Good to know your income will be okay, and the health care is okay. We get National Health here, so lucky.

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    1. Well, we do have to pay for our government Medicare in part; and for supplimental insurance too, but it's not huge! It's doable. I plan to continue working for several more years...and then reevaluate.

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  7. Sounds great. Congrats to him for a great decision!!!

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  8. Congratulations and what alot of fun, wild sketches!! :)

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  9. congratulations and I love that it is all recorded in sketches... and I ave to say that ice cream sounds like the perfect way to celebrate...xx

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  10. How many drawings do you make in a day? Your sketchbook must be soooo much fun to look at!! patsy

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  11. Congrats to your husband! Isn't figuring out all this retirement and medicare stuff a trip! OMG been there done that! Love how you expressed it thru your art!

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  12. So happy for your husband (and you)!

    I don't think many non-teachers understand how much time goes into being a good teacher, which DH obviously was. I'm glad that the stress is gone!

    My own DH is a high school principal who loved teaching and loves what he's doing now, too. He'll be retiring in four years--I tease him that he is soooo much older than I am, but it's really only eight years. We'll still have one to put thru college afterthat so we will see--

    Happy for you both, and love your sketches as always!

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  13. My sister retires from teaching this month and she is greatly looking forward to it. Loving all your wonderful live paintings and your commentary, fab work. Happy PPF, Annette x

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  14. Life on the "slow track" is an opportunity to pursue personal dreams. I wish him well and hope his retirement doesn't curtail your wonderful sketching. These are positively delightful!

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  15. I love seeing how your day unfolds. :) And you get all the details like the bold spot on that guys head. :) Love it!

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  16. I love how you illustrated your entire day - wonderful. Good news all round as well with your husband looking forward to his retirement - how good it must feel to get rid of the clothes he only work because he had to, for work!! and how perfectly serendipitous that he eat in the same place at the start and end of his teaching career!

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  17. Awesome feeling, retirement.
    Congrats, Mr Lynn,,,,,enjoy yourself!

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  18. Congrats! And what a GREAT illustration following your steps to becoming FREE!
    Happy PPF,
    Stephanie

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  19. Yay for the husband! It's nice to read about the process going smoothly for you both. Looks like you had a fabulous, sketch-filled day. It's fun seeing the process thorough your sketches.

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  20. Congrats to your husband (and you) on his retirement. I love seeing the story told through your paintings! Happy PPF.

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  21. what a great way to tell your story I was captivated by your art and the story of finding the way to retirement and relief and reality ! good luck and happy trails to you both
    keep PPf-ing with us of course
    -KAT-

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  22. wow, what a fun way to document this milestone in your lives!! It's just like being there, seeing all the great fun ilustrations. And, of course... congratulations!

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  23. Congratulations to your husband! I am so happy for you both that everything worked out for the best. I absolutely adored sharing your experience through your journal pages! I hope you both have wonderful new adventures and lots of much needed relaxation and good health. Happy PPF! :-) Thanks for the sweet comment on my blog. :-)

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  24. How exciting to have your dear hubby back! I'm so excited that things have worked out for you guys and wish you the best. Love your sketches and paintings...love the stories they tell.

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  25. I hope your husband has a long and happy retirement! Great sketches!

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  26. Delightful creations as usual ~ such talent! ~ Happy Retirement to your hubby ~ ^_^~thanks, enjoy the weekend ^_^ ~ A Creative Harbor

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  27. Great sketches, wonderful details and I love your colors! Happy retirement to your husband, my best wishes to both of you!

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  28. Thank you for sharing such a sweet story! I know you will enjoy having your husband back!! Your work is fabulous!!

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  29. excellent news - and glad to hear about the good surprises. ENJOY

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  30. oh how exciting!!! Congrats to him!!!

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  31. I am so happy for both of you that he is able to retire!
    Sometimes in your country I see people work at such a high age...
    I guess we will get that here as well.
    When I started my job the retirement was at 50 gradually it changed to 56 and now I have to work until I am 60 ........I wonder what it will be when I am 60.
    Anyhow teaching is stressful job and I am happy he can retire and enjoy life as a free man.
    But since you changed the clothes in his closet already, is it like that that after your information you could retire straight away?
    You dont have a years notice or something?

    Enjoy having your DH back dear♥

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  32. Love your drawings. Glad your husband is now free; I was teaching for 35 years, and was very relieved to be officially OUT! Valerie

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  33. Félicitations à votre mari! vos dessins sont très expressifs

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  34. Yippee!!! So happy for you both!I wish I could retire too, it's not my time yet. I love seeing your day in drawings, so much you capture in the details...awesome.
    Happy Weekend my friend!
    ♥Jenny

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  35. Congratulations on DH's retirement!! This is such a positive post! So happy you are getting more than expected!! I just loved the journal process of your day! This is a very nice recording of events!! Happy ppf, and retirement!

    Hugs Giggles

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  36. I can almost feel the 'relief' across the pond! And I am very jellyass too. Well done and good luck, that is just fantastic!
    Soon- in about 3 years time, I hope it will be me!

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  37. Congrats, DH. Enjoy your exciting new phase of life. And Lynn, you're really getting prolific with the drawings and paintings! To do all of those while going about your day ...

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  38. Congrats, DH. Enjoy your exciting new phase of life. And Lynn, you're really getting prolific with the drawings and paintings! To do all of those while going about your day ...

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  39. Congratulations to your husband on his retirement!!
    These are my favorite paintings you've done so far...maybe because of the personal story behind them. :)
    ♥♥♥
    Happy PPF!!
    Mary
    Mixed-Media Map Art

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  40. good luck to DH at this stage of his life...and wonderful paintings for this post!

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  41. I love coming here to see your new sketches. They are always so colorful and fun. Congrats to the hubby and good riddance to the khaki pants! Part of me wants my DH to retire right now (not even remotely possible) and another part fears that he will drive me crazy if he is allowed to be home during the day. :)

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  42. Wow..fabulous pieces..all so detailed and intriguing! and yay Congrats to him...wonderful..best wishes and much joy!
    Victoria

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  43. love your scetches they are so inspiriring and you are very talented to get the expression of the people catch up!! ..and congrats to your husband ♥

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  44. I've said it before and I'll say it again, I love your 'journal of life' sketches. So awesome! And prolific... you've been busy!

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  45. I enjoyed your stories with beautiful sketches very much lynn! Congrats on your husband. I hope you both will enjoy each other's company even more now that he is "free". Have fun and all the best!

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  46. This is the second post I've read this morning about retirement from teaching. http://rivergardenstudio.typepad.com
    Wonderful to feel the excited buzz about this new phase in your lives. Does that mean you will be sketching more in coffee shops?

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  47. Lovely illustrations to match your interesting post!

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  48. I am in love with your story. Your words told the story beautifully, however, the pictures added a new and vivid dimension to the story (reminded me of a graphic novel). Thanks so much for sharing. Blessings, Janet PPF

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  49. Yeah for retirement - and good news to come with it! I love that first drawing especially - it tells the story:-)

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  50. Wow! I had no idea DH was retiring! I am so happy for him (and jealous)! You both have so many hobbies and so much zest for life and now he will be more relaxed and able to enjoy your adventures together. Please tell him "congratulations and good luck" and give him a big hug from me since I didn't get to do it in person. I am happy that I'll get to keep tabs on him and his fossil hunting adventures through your blog (but don't tell him that) LOL!

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  51. Yayaaaay ya ya for HIM AND FOR YOU. Now... when are YOU retiring??
    It's quite an adjustment (at least it was for us) took a year or so to really get into the mindset. But now we are retired, adjusted and living it up.
    Love love love your character sketches of life. You have such a wonderful eye.
    C

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  52. This is so great...You are going to find a whole new life. Arney hpes to retire next year. I love all your paintings, you see things, and put them on paper with so much energy...so sweet! Hugs Mary

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Thanks for leaving your comments as I love hearing from you. Your words of encouragement are why I continue to draw!