Let me try to give you good advice here, JimBoston. You seem to be asking an honest and sincere question, and thus it deserves an honest and sincere response. I do not claim to have the "Perfect job" for you, but hopefully can pose questions that can help you advance your search for an ALMOST perfect job. And consider MORE than just a job. How will you fill your free time? (See $$ below for a digression on Free Time.) Many men, it seems to me, do not consider other options besides a job.
For a part-time job, consider: First and foremost, how much TIME do you have for a part-time job? How many hours per day and week do you have to work or Volunteer? ALSO, it need NOT be ONLY one main thing that you do. I claim to have at least 5 part-time jobs, and being a good husband and grandfather are my most important of my "jobs." And I only receive financial reward for ONE.
And then:
1) what you are good at doing?
2) what you enjoy doing?
3) where you are needed and where you can add something (or even better) offer LOTS?
4) what can you do to achieve #1-3 in a limited (i.e., fewer hours on the job) capacity?
Things to consider besides a job that pays a wage (or salary):
5) what helps others, in mostly an altruistic sense?
6) What, if anything specific, can you do as a Volunteer to help others and also achieve #1-5, especially #5? Civic groups always need volunteers (e.g., American Legion, VFW, Optimists, Civitans). And your local Church, Hospital, and Food Pantry/Bank, (Meals on Wheels?) need volunteers in activities that MAY match your skill set.
7) If MONEY is NOT an issue (as seems to be your situation, and CONGRATULATIONS for achieving that status, JimB) then you have lots of options and flexibility. If MONEY is an issue, #5&6 become less a factor as you answer these questions.
So it is unlikely that anyone here will find for you or suggest the perfect job that gives you everything. We ALL want a job that pays CLOSE to what we earned when we worked FULL-time, but with flexibility of hours and WHEN we work. Of course, when we work dictates our ability to travel and/or be with Family and Loved Ones.
Now it is ONLY YOU that can truly answer those questions that I posed. That set of questions is likely NOT a complete set of such needed questions as you evaluate your skill set, your desires, and the situation in your area from an economic and/or volunteer situation. You should seek advice and ideas from those you know. I am not aware of an agency or group or such providing such guidance. AARP likely has an online source that MAY be useful, but I have never looked. That may be your best online resource, but again, I have not looked and so I can only offer a mere suggestion.
As I reached 10 years of "Pre-Retirement" I began to give the matter much more thought.
For me, I was rather sure that I could find a part-time teaching arrangement somewhere. I considered several options, such as a Catholic High School. There are always options open for good, respected teachers to find part-time "jobs" with lots of flexibility. I even considered helping elementary students with Reading, an essential skill.
Especially while on vacation, I looked at what others my age were doing and would ask: DO I want THAT job and do I have the skill set and needed "soft-skills" such as patience, perseverance, people skills, and MORE that would allow me to so that job?
I jokingly said at one point that I wanted to be the Wal-Mart Greeter and pass out stickers to the young and young at heart. (As I recall, Wal-Mart discontinued that JOB before I retired, so that took away THAT option.) I wanted be THAT guy on the Beach driving an ATV to deliver Lunches and water & ice to lifeguards at the Beach. The views are NICE and I would NEED LOTS of sunscreen. BUT, not being anything CLOSE to competent and REAL swimming made me QUIT that "dream" job for serious consideration. I did consider two jobs (outside teaching) SERIOUSLY.
A) One job is the person who goes in very early to water the plants at the local "Big Box Store" such as Lowes or Home Depot. I really enjoy gardening and planting and growing things. See my digression ** below if you want.
B) I considered being a part-time Historian for a local historic group. I love History and having read something interesting, I can recall MUCH of what I read without much study. I have a head for what may seem to be trivial facts that are BOTH important and interesting to me. I still may do so, but at this moment, my life is VERY FULL. SEE *** below for a "True Confession."
C) Teaching part-time somewhere. I addressed that above, briefly. There has always been a BIG need for someone in Physics, which I teach and am Fully licensed to do so in VA and other states (and have been since I began to teach.) Chemistry is almost as difficult to fill for many High Schools. When I announced my retirement in October of 2019, the school system found my replacement, from the PHILLIPINES. (The state of GA recruited Physics teachers from Germany in the 1980s, I read back then.) When the world shut down due to COVID, he was kept OUT. They did not find my replacement for nearly 18 months (March of 2021, as I recall). He may be fired soon for lack of success (as measured by statewide High stakes testing). AND he only teaches Chemistry. NOW TO BRAG, a bit: To find someone who can do both Chemistry and Physics (as well as Math) is RARE, and I am fully certified to teach five areas, including Gifted Education.
Now, to continue my digressions, my Church and Faith are important to me; I do LOTS of volunteer work at my Church. I think I already posted about planting roses at my Church a few days ago. I am the Past President of my Church Parish Council. I did not seek that job nor want it. BUT I did it for some five years, longer than most.
Now to digress further about teaching part-time and give my own story here: I was shopping one day at a local grocery (in late December), I saw a former student (from my first 1-3 years of teaching) and she told me of an opening at a small local Christian private school. It was and still is a GOOD fit for me. The one problem/limitation is that I cannot travel when I want; Fall and Spring would be great to avoid the Crush of Summer Travel. My wife and I make it work. I did take two days off (I teach alternate days in some years) to go to Disney World with my son and his family in October recently. I could not do so in some years as I teach 5 days a week in some years.
***SO YES, I can come across as a KNOW-IT-ALL, as you allege. BUT guess what, I do KNOW LOTS about LOTS of History, Science, Economics, and even Politics. Having been a Teacher for over 40 years, I have learned to READ people's faces for reactions to be sure that I am reaching some or most. AND I am aware that I can come across as arrogant and/or condescending, so I REALLY try NOT to be that way. However, in a Forum that focuses on Religion, (some Economics), and especially Politics, such Knowledge and that RANGE of Knowledge can "rub the wrong way" those who disagree with me. SO BE IT. BUT I digress, as I can often do.
$$Let me digress MORE and discuss your "Free Time." What do you do for FUN and not work-related? Do you enjoy family and friends? Do you make time for them, whether it be a monthly meal together or more involved such as care for an elderly relative (or something in-between)? HONESTLY, Your efforts with and care for your elderly mother-in-law is to be commended, JimB.
I am now one of the MAIN Leaders of my Clan here in CC-Land. It is not a job or title I sought. But there is always a NEED for Leaders on CC, it seems to me. I spend an inordinate amount of time here on CC organizing events for my Clan, including making teams for Tournaments. That requires LOTS of databases and records, with a Clan of 43 members, nearly all who are active.
AND there are many VOLUNTEERS on CC; Duk and TeeGee are just two of many dedicated Volunteers on CC who TRY very hard to make this a FUN place that encourages some level of respect and decorum in a mostly competitive world of mostly Males. There is LOTS of bellowing and display of "Horns/Teeth/Claws/etc" of Male attributes. I get it that the Cursing and Yelling is part of that male mentality. BUT if those are your only two tools, remember that to a Hammer the whole world is a Nail; and a Hammer does not fix all problems the BEST WAY. (And the world is NOT ALL NAILS.) I think Duk likened discussion here to what one would hear in a bar or pub. That makes sense to me, but I rarely go to bars or pubs, tbf.
**My yard is NOT immaculate, but looks good, if I may say so. I am still dealing with (NOW) problems of annual blue grass and moles (to be followed by voles) in my yard. I spent Thursday this past week of Spring Break shopping and looking for Plants and gardening tools and comparing prices (and trying to calculate how much time and money it would take to make my own hanging baskets for myself and my mother.) Someone saw my VT hat, knows that it is (among many other things) an Ag School (for Agriculture), and asked about creeping phlox. Since I have grown that plant (and still have some growing in my yard) I shared my limited knowledge, announcing at first to him and his wife that I am NOT an agronomist (as was my first college roommate at VT). He appreciated my insights. He was trying to do what I tried, and it does not choke out weeds and does allow grass to grow among the plants. I would recommend oxalis, but I cannot find the type I want in local garden shops and I did not see that online, at least NOT the type is very successful ground cover here in Central VA.
FYI JimB:
The plant's conservation status is globally secure;[6] however, it is listed as endangered in Massachusetts[7] and Rhode Island,[8] threatened in New York,[9] and a species of special concern in Connecticut.[10]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxalis_violaceaI just looked it up while typing this; its status in MA. MAY be important to you, JimB. It grows wild here and most know little about it, unless one is a gardener. AND NOW I know why I cannot BUY IT; it grows wild and is apparently endemic to the eastern and central US.
Well, if you got here, JimB, I hope that some of this helps you figure out what you can and should do. REMEMBER the 4Fs here: Family, Fun, Faith, and Fulfillment are key to me.One Last digression: Very recently I was asked the night before (at 9:19) to host a gathering at my Church. I basically was the emcee for the 90 minute event, AFTER my wife and I led Stations of the Cross service (as we did for 5 consecutive weeks of Lent). I was told by a few that I did well as emcee and Host. The topic of the event: Retirement. I gave a talk to the same group some 6 years ago. My topic: Reaching the Mountain Top. I can discuss that at length, if anyone is interested.
Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2025 8:46 am
