Prep Time ... for Retirement: Questions and Answers

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Prep Time ... for Retirement

Questions and Answers

Carol Baird-Krul and Enise Olding

In response to the many questions received from educators about planning for retirement, we are pleased to introduce this new question and answer column. We invite you to email your questions about preparing for retirement to info@CanadianTeacherMagazine.com, with “Retirement Question” in the subject line and we’ll do our best to address as many of them as possible. We ask that you provide some background so that your question can be properly considered. Please note that personal information will not be printed.

Question:
I’m a high school teacher (math and physical education specialties) approaching retirement, and because my personal situation allows me freedom to travel, I initially want to spend a good portion of my retirement time teaching overseas as a volunteer in underdeveloped countries. Do you have any ideas as to where I can get information?

Answer:
There’s a great deal of interest from people approaching retirement in using their skills overseas, and we often get queries like this one. Finding a volunteer teaching job overseas requires patience and research. The Internet is a good place to start. Volunteer jobs overseas abound, but some sites and agencies are better than others, so beware. Occasionally, universities and provincial teachers associations have overseas volunteer opportunities, so it is worth checking with them first. CUSO (Canadian University Services Overseas – www.cuso.org) and to a more limited degree given your specialties, CESO (Canadian Executive Services Overseas – www.ceso-saco.com) might be worth checking out. Two other well-known and reputable non-profit groups are Go Abroad (www.goabroad.com) and United Planet (www.unitedplanet.org). Both offer volunteer teaching or assisting opportunities overseas. Another group that helps people teach as a volunteer overseas is World Teach (www.worldteach.org); however, you should be aware that their mandate includes religion. In preparation for finding a volunteer position overseas, you should compile an electronic CV, reference letters, copies of your degree and the front page of your passport, and a letter from your doctor.

Question:
This summer I’m retiring, but my spouse is continuing to work. Do you have any suggestions as to how we can both make this change in lifestyle a smooth transition?

Answer:
Many people don’t really know what their spouse’s ideas are in regard to retirement. The very first thing we would suggest is that you have an open and frank discussion about what each of you expects in retirement. In your particular case, it would be helpful to know how long your spouse anticipates working; would it be full or part time, might there be long holiday periods built into the structure of the job? Understanding that your day-to-day lives will revolve around the structure of the job provides some indication as to how your weeks, months and years will unfold. Discuss also your own expectations as to how your life will change once you retire; perhaps you are contemplating another occupation; part-time study, paid employment, retraining, voluntary work. Or you may have a desire to pursue sports, outdoors or other activities more vigorously. However you envisage spending your time after retirement, share that vision with your spouse so that you are both aware of what the other expects in this changed living situation.

Enise Olding - enise@shaw.ca

Your queries will be addressed by Pre-Retirement Planners, Carol Baird-Krul and Enise Olding, who are the creators of a series of pre-retirement and post-retirement planning workshops: Transition to Retirement: The Uncharted Course©, Recently Retired: Charting a New Course© and Ideas ... Enhanced and Advanced©. and authors of Transition to Retirement: The Uncharted Course, www.PacificEdgePublishing.com . Previous articles on retirement may be viewed at www.CanadianTeacherMagazine.com.