I have been to Uranus.

Before you say, "You are extremely delusional" or "What have you been smoking?"please let me explain.  

Texas public school teachers have to hit a magic number of years of experience plus age to be eligible for retirement.  The year I reached that number, I began to dream that I was on Uranus.  How did I know?  Because the signs at the airport in Uranus stated "Welcome to Uranus."  Through sleep, I learned that retired teachers have an option to move to Uranus and are, in fact, encouraged to do so.

This dream was a reoccurring one.  I began to know when my sleep was taking me to this cold, distant planet.  My daughters would take me to the DFW Airport and say goodbye, and then I would board Air Uranus or some other airline for my flight to that planet.  Soon, I would arrive at my new home.  It was very similar to earth except that the sunlight appeared a little less bright, sort of like looking through a filter.  This was my new home.

I tried to analyze these dreams, but I could find no answer or explanation.  Uranus?  the planet with the unfortunate name, the name that made students laugh.  Your anus? What about MY anus?  Those sort of comments.  Then I had a revelation.

First of all, making the decision to retire was not an easy one for me.  I wrestled with the decision for three years.  Teaching was all that I knew.  I had been in the classroom since I was 24 years old, and my entire life seemed to have been played out there--two children, divorce, passing of parents, graduations, marriages, grandchildren.  Yes, I was frightened to find out what was beyond that door.  When I hit the magic number, these dreams began.  The unknown was terrifying.
My principal advised me that if I weren't sure about retiring, then I shouldn't do it.  I would know when it was the right time.  Sage advice from a man in his early forties,, right?
Retirement is more than signing the forms.  It is preparing for the next chapter.  The journey isn't easy.
It is now almost three years later from when I started to write this.  I am a seasoned resident of Uranus now.

Photos from the Philippines--at Corregidor and at the Hell Ship Memorial

I've been on this journey for three years.  I have gone crazy with volunteering until I realized that I was exhausted and scaled back.  After that, I entered the world of substitute teaching.  I primarily subbed at my two former schools where I had taught and enjoyed being in different classrooms and seeing what various teachers do.  Last  year, I got trapped in a long term (eight month) position, taking over the classes of a teacher on medical leave.  I had never taught the subject before although it was a social studies subject, nor had I taught freshmen.  I was not a happy camper by the time spring rolled around
I have had several adventures the past three years on my Uranus journey.  I spent ten days in the Philippines, traveling my dad's World War II path.  I will finish that path next week when I go to Japan.  I have become very active in the American Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor Memorial Society, have met many new now close friends, and am a national officer.  I have spent more time with my granddaughters and have a beautiful backyard due to my inherited gardening skills from my dad.  If retirement truly is a time of new discoveries, I have done that.
Uranus is not such a bad place.  Yes, at first, it was sort of scary, and I was very hesitant to enter a new world of not teaching (although I have returned, kind of).  I like it.