Has Anyone Seen Spring? Please!

I apologize for not posting since January 23!  I wish I could say I've been away on an exotic vacation, but I've been right here in Virginia-busy digging out from 27" of snow.  Even though it's almost March 1st and the weather is still threatening more snow, this year I'm really looking forward to spring. Not only can I enjoy working outside, but since I'm retiring in June, I can focus more time on gardening and other outdoor hobbies.  In the past, by late July, I have to start thinking about and planning for the next teaching year.  But not so from now on.  Freedom at last!

My husband and I started a program of exercise almost a year ago, but again with work commitments, it has been challenging to work out consistently during the work week. We go to the club at least twice a week, but I know we need to be going  every other day. So this is another goal.

I enrolled in Virginia's Master Gardener program beginning this August, but a friend told me that I should check into the Master Naturalist course. Of the two, he thinks the later is more environmentally friendly.  If anyone can shed some light on the Master Gardener vs. the Master Naturalist course, I'd appreciate your comments.

Retirement: Ready or Not, Here I Come

Two weeks ago, I suddenly decided to retire. Right now I can't recall the exact stressful work moment that finally pushed me over the edge. However, I've been a middle school teacher in Virginia for the past eight years and the pressure on teachers to ensure that all of their students pass the year end SOL tests has become relentless. In the past, my students have done very well on these tests; however, this year my students are much poorer readers that in previous years, several are absent too frequently, and two are constantly getting into trouble, resulting in out of school suspensions. I have to stay after almost nightly to help them make up missed work or pull them from P.E., during what's supposed to be my planning period. If they fail the test, the administration won't care about the students' failure to be responsible, only my failure to get them to pass. When teachers find themselves in this situation, it doesn't take a genuis to figure out why moral is often low and why many feel burned out.

Anyway, two weeks ago, I decided enough was enough, so this coming week I'm meeting with someone in the Benefits Department to sign the papers. I haven't told my principal yet. Partly, because my decision was so sudden that even I still can't believe I'm actually doing this--Retiring! I'm excited, but also kind of frightened. Sometimes when I think about not returning next year, my stomach feels like it has butterflies in it. Financially, I'll be fine. By retiring before 65, my monthly pension will be about three hundered less, but my husband has a good pension from the federal government and we've stashed money away. But I am concerned about keeping busy during my retirement years. I plan to write my thoughts/ideas about doing that on my next post. If anyone out there decides to stop and read my very first Blog post, I'd like to hear your ideas about making the transition from work to retirement.