While I was driving home today, I was thinking about my eventual retirement. Part of me anticipates it because of all the writing and editing it would enable me to do. But part of me dreads it because I realize how much I would miss my students, both teaching them in the classroom as well as advising and bonding with them in the math lab.

Today I thought a bit deeper about retirement. At school I am surrounded by people who need me, both students who seek math help or personal advice, as well as fellow teachers and administrators who also depend on me. It is not egotistical to say that many of those students and peers respect and like me. What can possibly replace that when I retire though? I am a fairly solitary person outside of school, spending my time writing on the computer or reading in my free time. I do not socialize much, and certainly do nothing to engender the type of respect similar to what I get at PHS. After 20+ years, it might be a somewhat difficult adjustment going from being needed and important to becoming a nobody again. I wonder how I will deal with that?

Fortunately, retirement is not imminent, so I do not need to dwell on this yet.