Dear So and So

[Crankin]

I got my second master's (in clinical mental health counseling) at age 55, so it's never too late. But, I've always been in school. When you are a teacher, it's part of the plan. I love going to school, so I never minded. Finished all but the internship for a Certificate of Advanced Grad Studies in Ed Admin, then decided I was done with teaching. But, I learned a lot in those classes, and I don't regret it. I also was involved with a Spencer Foundation grant (my boss said we would never get it!) on teaching creative writing, and did 2 years of stuff around that; workshops, and retreats that were awesome. It was a ton of work, to justify the 20K they gave us.
Blueberry, all things about cars suck...

[ny biker]

The VW situation is appalling. I know two people who are affected -- one just bought his car a few months ago.

My degrees are in marketing. When I changed careers to software development I took classes in a continuing education program at a local college. It was not inexpensive. Now I am wondering if I have a future in this field or if it's time to find something else, but I don't want to go into debt for more schooling. I also don't feel like I have the mental energy for it anymore.

[Pax]

The VW situation is appalling. I know two people who are affected -- one just bought his car a few months ago.

My degrees are in marketing. When I changed careers to software development I took classes in a continuing education program at a local college. It was not inexpensive. Now I am wondering if I have a future in this field or if it's time to find something else, but I don't want to go into debt for more schooling. I also don't feel like I have the mental energy for it anymore.

That's where I'm at here, having zero luck finding a job so giving some thought to finding a program that might offer better opportunities... but I just don't have the mental energy anymore.

[Helene2013]

I thought Pax that when you were moving to Florida it was for retirement. Sorry you are having a hard time finding a job.

[Pax]

I thought Pax that when you were moving to Florida it was for retirement. Sorry you are having a hard time finding a job.

My retirement (early since I'm only 55) was hoped for but my pension is tied up by being on my wife's benefits. If I draw now I lose my high quality affordable health insurance.

[Helene2013]

ah. What a bummer.

[ny biker]

You have no idea how complicated that was -- you said flat-out you didn't believe me when I told you it would take a lot of work. You have no idea how much effort I put into it. And we sailed through the customer demo with no problems.

You're welcome.

[emily_in_nc]

That's where I'm at here, having zero luck finding a job so giving some thought to finding a program that might offer better opportunities... but I just don't have the mental energy anymore.

I totally feel ya, Pax! I am taking online Spanish lessons, and even that is enough for me. I just can't imagine going back to school for anything significant at this point, and I'm "only" 54. "That ship has done sailed," as they say in the south!

I also get the health insurance thing. DH and I are living on such little income now (by choice) that we qualify for an extremely good and low-cost ACA plan (silver with cost sharing). We are toying with the idea of buying a nice RV next year, but if we do so, we have to take money out of one of our retirement accounts (which we haven't touched yet), thus increasing our income and having to pay a lot more for health insurance premiums, plus more out of pocket for any care we might need. It's a real dilemma, and we have to decide by Dec. 15th. Since we like living kinda spontaneously at this point in our lives, having to decide what we are going to do mid-next year is challenging.

Ah well, I am not complaining. We are super fortunate to be early retired and not have to work, and I don't take that for granted for a minute.

I wish you well in your job hunt!

[smilingcat]

Hi Pax,

I know the feeling well. I "lost" my job back in 2010. People were still not hiring. Long story short, I decided to pull myself up by the boot strap and decided to farm.

I already knew lot about growing/gardening and was pretty good at it. And rather then waiting to burn through my limited funds, I jumped into farming. If it doesn't pan out, I can sell the farm property and get my money back out and only thing I lose is the sweat equity I put into it. Meanwhile I get to eat really fresh and high quality produce.

See what you are good at and something you like. And see how you could turn it into a money making venture. It doesn't have to be big. Just so that there is some money coming in. Far better than no money coming in.

If you need to break into something, start volunteering first to get your foot in the door.

[Pax]

I started volunteering at the local marine discovery center last week, it's interesting and allows me to network a bit as most of the volunteers are younger retirees who know lots of people in town. If I wasn't so limited by this crappy knee I'd have so many more jobs to look at.

[rebeccaC]

it's interesting and allows me to network a bit as most of the volunteers are younger retirees who know lots of people in town.

....and, if it's like the MDC in Santa Cruz here, help with environmental community stewardship work too hoping you meet some new interesting people!!!!

[Pax]

....and, if it's like the MDC in Santa Cruz here, help with environmental community stewardship work too hoping you meet some new interesting people!!!!

Did my first day and really enjoyed it, met the executive director and mentioned I'd like to learn to work with the live exhibits, so he set up a training class for next Monday... I get to work with the sharks and turtles, and... Yay!

[Helene2013]

Lucky you Pax...enjoy it and hoping it takes you to a paying job.

[Pax]

Thanks, Helene. Sure is nice to have someplace to be once in a while.

[ny biker]

Did my first day and really enjoyed it, met the executive director and mentioned I'd like to learn to work with the live exhibits, so he set up a training class for next Monday... I get to work with the sharks and turtles, and... Yay!

Wow! Best of luck with your new endeavor.