“Hey Coach, how’s semiretirement going for you?”
“The long way home,” was a statement I would hear from my dad when he
would come out to visit us in Marine City. He had been retired for years and
mom had just passed away. Dad was still living in Warren and would visit
us frequently and many times he would spend the night. When he would
leave, I would give him a hug and tell him to please call when he got home
so that I knew he was safe. That’s when he would share, “I think I am going
to take the long way home today so it may be a while.” I would never say it
out loud, but my mind immediately would ask why? Why would he take a
route that nearly doubled his time to go home. Now that I am semi-retired, I
have a whole new perspective on the hands of the clock.
The amount of time spent talking about the subject was completely lopsided.
No matter what day on the calendar, when we sat down for lunch in the
school’s cafeteria the topic dominated the conversations. It was fascinating
to hear how the plans for retirement and the subsequent exit from the
coaching fraternity evolved through the years, for each coach. We all loved
coaching at Marine City high school, there was no doubt about that. The
persistence and passion we collectively held created amazing success in the
program. We were also passionate about life after football, life after years
and years of unwavering commitment.
When I retired from coaching and teaching in 2019, one of the first things
my wife said to me was, “you know you’re too young to do nothing.” She
just wanted to make sure I was not envisioning hours and hours in a rocking
chair as she continued to work in her profession. I knew I had to find
something that would supplement my pension and fill the void in time that
was created with retirement. Semiretirement was the answer as I was just 55
when I wrapped up my career in public education.
Whether it is full retirement or semiretirement, the adjustment to this new
environment is a process. And oddly enough, it has been my relationship
with time that has been the biggest change in my lifestyle. When working
full time, (science teacher and multisport coach) I found I was constantly chasing the clock.
Every minute of every day was strategically planned out
much like a good lesson plan or practice plan. I knew for our program to
stay successful we had to accomplish specific things in each segment of the
year. Whether it was the weightroom, or our donut academy, or our speed
training, things had to get done for us to sustain. If there was any free time, I
found I was trying to play catch up with the family or the “honey do” list of
household fixes that needed to occur. The short summer vacation around the
4th of July created a small reset for my mind before the grueling run of
preseason, regular season, and post season.
Now that I am in year four of semiretirement, I have settled into routines and
time schedules that I am very comfortable with. I enjoy my new relationship
with time and I find it to be counterintuitive to Einstein’s theory of relativity.
He proclaimed that as you physically speed up, time itself slows down. This
theory has been validated with experiments using atomic clocks and jet
planes. I have found that as I slow down, so do my interactions with the
daily clicking of the clock. I find massive amounts of available time for
extra cups of coffee, lesson planning, getting car washes, grocery shopping, etc..
What I find ironic is the energy I possess to attack the day. One would think
that with more time, I would have more energy, but that doesn’t necessarily
hold true. Working full time, I would often be energized by the needs of a
head coach and my commitment to keep the program successful. I rarely feel
any pressure in my new role, and I miss that adrenaline rush that came with
the pressure of a head coaching job. Newton again talks to me with his laws
of motion, “body in motion stays in motion, a body at rest stays at rest.” It
has been a very slippery slope, as I choose to do less, I often feel less energy
to attack the day. Adjustments need to be made in this area, and I suspect my
diet is the main contributor to this feel of dormancy.
“The grass is greener,” is a mindset that can trick all of us. Semi-retirement
does not create greener grass, it creates different grass. It is up to each
individual to fertilize his own grass. My ride has not always been smooth
and there have been days of reflection that have made me quite emotional.
Luckily talks with my older brother Jim, who is also a retired coach and
educator has brought me back in focus and off the emotional cliff. A focus that allows me to try new adventures and new opportunities. I have vacationed more than any point in my life. I have written a book that I am very proud of and look forward to many new experiences tied to the book release. I have a wonderful family and I am spending more time with them than ever before.
Last Friday after a staff meeting at Austin Catholic High School, (my new
gig) I took the long way home. I stopped at the New Baltimore DQ for a
strawberry sundae. I drove on M29 through Algonac and witnessed some
breath-taking views of Lake St. Clair and the St. Clair river. I drove past the
Algonac State Park and smelled the campfires that were numerous around
the park. I jammed to some of my favorite 80’s rock and roll as the ride
home progressed. On this day I had the time and I took it. I took the “long
way home,” and enjoyed every single minute. Thanks Dad, I get it now!
