Opportunities: Vignettes by Sociologists (Brief—approximately three or four paragraphs--vignettes written by sociologists who have semi-retired, illustrating different ways of doing it; e.g., working part-time for same employer; doing this in a new location; writing; being a consultant; traveling internationally to give workshops; working on a time-limited contract; engaging in activism, etc.)

1. VIGNETTE by Peter Stein (semi-retired)

I spent almost 40 years teaching sociology at the undergraduate and graduate levels at several colleges and universities in New Jersey and New York. The longest stint was at William Paterson University—I retired in 2006 then spent the next year there teaching half-time for half of a full salary. It was nice --teaching two classes, two days a week. But being a half-timer was a mixed bag—I could attend Departmental meetings but had no vote. I was no longer in the loop.

I had been doing some research with a grad school friend. When he became the Director of the Institute on Aging at UNC I told him I was open to moving and not too happy with my half-time status. He suggested several projects on a part-time basis and before I knew it we were headed South. Michele, my wife, and I had visited Chapel Hill several times and found it to be a vibrant community.

I have enjoyed my work as the Associate Director for Aging Workforce Initiatives. I interact with representatives of public and private sector organizations through monthly meetings which I organize and chair. I helped to write a Report of the Forum on North Carolina’s Aging Workforce, and I serve on the program committee of the North Carolina Coalition on Aging. I’ve enjoyed meeting a number of professional people who are dedicated to expanding organizations’ knowledge of their aging workforce and improving the working conditions of older workers.

Working at the Institute also provides social contacts I enjoy--interesting colleagues and friendly staff. Michelle and I have become politically active, enjoy local theater, concerts, and college sports--she tutors immigrant children, and I coach Special Olympics. So, while I miss my NY freinds and colleagues, I'm enjoying our new life.

2. VIGNETTE by Jon Darling (semi-retired)

I taught mostly undergraduate sociology full time over a span of 40 years, 31 of those at the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown (PA), from which I retired as Professor Emeritus and as Acting Vice President for Academic Affairs (VPAA) in September 2008. My wife, Rosalyn Benjamin Darling also retired at the same time as Professor Emeritus (Sociology) from Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP), and we moved to Maryland, close to Annapolis. My retirement, which was fully voluntary and somewhat planned, was (despite all the planning and anticipation), akin to jumping off a speeding freight train, rolling to a bruising stop, and trying to figure out just where I had actually landed. I could hear the train rushing away into the increasing distance and fading out of range. Too late to get back on. Anticipatory socialization is still anticipatory until it happens.

After two months of dealing with my relatively unstructured new-found freedom to be (whatever I might want to try to be), by pure chance, I learned that the Legacy Leadership Institute on Public Policy at the University of Maryland was accepting applications from people over 50 who were interested in enrolling in a program to be trained as Legacy Leaders to work as unpaid interns in the Maryland General Assembly. I applied and was accepted as a member of the 9th annual class. At the end of the fall term, I served as an intern in a state delegate’s office throughout the 90-day legislative session doing bill research and handling constituent matters (along with more pedestrian tasks). At the end of the session, I was hired to serve as a legislative aide year-round. Since I had a long career in politics and public service, this ended up being an ideal setting in which to thrive. I absolutely love this work, and I feel plugged in again, continuing much of what I had done for years but in a different setting.

I was also hired to teach one section of Introduction to Sociology (perhaps the most important course any of us may teach) at Anne Arundel Community College, close to Annapolis.  Since the fall of 2009, I am have been teaching two sections fall and spring each year totally on line. I have taught classes in web-support mode since that was available; however, this is my first experience teaching totally on-line. If this mode continues to work as well as it has, I could likely continue teaching in such mode for the same college (or others) regardless of where I might be living. Now, I feel as if I have immigrated to a new portion of the digital realm and have earned a green card :-).

MORE COMING SOON (SPRING 2011).  WE ARE SEEKING ADDITIONAL VIGNETTES. CONTACT US TO ADD YOUR OWN.