Dear Chris, Thanks for sharing about your communities -- I can see how each of them would be huge resources for all the members. And the names are great! Over a year ago, I was involved in a fairly structured 8-week grief support group of 7 people following Susan's passing. At the end of it, we decided we wanted to continue meeting informally, and we are still having monthly pot lucks more than a year later. (I'm making a key lime pie for our dinner next week -- come on over!) I have dubbed the group The Magnificent Seven. It definitely works. Thanks for sharing about your communities!
Dear Carole, Such a beautiful question to begin my day with! Thank you for asking. It deserves a thoughtful, reasonably coherent answer -- so it will be my meditation for today and I will be back in touch. I see you are writing on Medium. Is that you, or someone with the same name? Are you moving to Substack? I just glanced at a few of your posts, and plan to look deeper. What was your discipline? I think I see you on ResearchGate - from University of Nottingham Trent? If so, we definitely have some overlapping interests in identity and narrative. (I'm on RG as well, but haven't updated my site in the past year or so.) ANYWAY, thanks for your provocative question -- I look forward to pondering it today. It is much more pleasant than pondering the news.......
Ah, retirement. I have finally begun announcing my retirement which seems to be a huge shift and which occur at the end of the summer. I wondered about the loss i would experience as i left the university that i currently work at, though i too have worked at other institutions. After pondering and puzzling how to remain connected in some way to higher education and really to what is now my home institution i decided to take a class. Actually a retake of a course i took almost 40 years ago as a college freshman in a field i was never able to pursue because it was so utterly unemployable. i have been a professor and an administrator for so long that i decided to return to my roots, being part of a learning community and being a student. To me that’s at the heart of what my career has been for so long.
Dear Claire, Congratulations on your retirement -- and what a great idea ... to take a class!!! I'd love to hear more about it some time. As you probably know from reading my series, I love classical music. So this summer, I took a week-long online course through Yale Divinity School on "Requiems and Funeral Songs through the Ages." It was absolutely fascinating, and the instructor provided a master class in how to engage students in a seminar. I think you are definitely on to something in taking a class!! I hope it's great fun -- just learning for its own sake. Enjoy!! And thanks for this comment. My head is kind of exploding thinking of all the opportunities that presents.......
Dear Hal, I had to smile seeing your choice in topic for an online class. I think Requiems and Funeral Songs seems like a great choice especially for someone who loves classical music, on the other hand I imagined puzzled looks some people may give you when you tell them what you had taken. I say this because, while some people get it, many do not understand what is prompting me to actually begin retirement by taking a course in Intensive Elementary Ancient Greek. I hope you find other ways to pursue your musical interests.
Well, I did get my share of puzzled looks, but I feel a great freedom to do what I want in this new phase of life! I suspect you will too -- and studying Ancient Greek is a great step!! I bet it will be fascinating -- and it will be interesting to get to know the undergrads who are in there. I suspect they have different kinds of passions than the typical students we have worked with. I am pursuing as much music as I can. I am singing with Hampshire Choral Society during the year and Berkshire Choral International in the summer + taking voice lessons at UMass. I just also committed to singing with Grace Church starting in the fall. They have an excellent choir with a young, dynamic director. Adventures await for both of us!!
Hi Hal, I'm resonating with your desire for community - and that it takes committed action to bring it about.
Today, I'm on a plane (as I write this) to a Spiritual Singles Retreat called "Saying Yes to Love!"
Don't know a soul. Loved the title (Oh yes, that's me!!) and so...here I am venturing into a new community🥰
And to experience beautiful places on our planet: Ashland, Oregon & Mt. Shasta in Northern California❤️ where I will be in a 2nd retreat on the mountain!
Here's to new ventures, adventures, and a new community!!
Dear Jane, I admire your willingness to take risks and put yourself out there. India! Oregon & California! What will be next??!! I have a feeling these adventures will be exciting and positive for you. Your warmth and openness will add immeasurably to the group's process. Wishing you the very best with it. Enjoy every minute -- and I look forward to hearing how it went!
Hi Dr. Grotevant. One thought. I retired in August of last year and one thing I did was join the League of Women Voters. There’s a chapter in most communities and I believe every state has a chapter. I have found a community of men (men can be members) and women committed to democracy. The chapter I joined has a book club. We have amazing discussions. You choose your level of involvement and for many members this is an important element of community. If not LWV, another organization whose mission aligns with your passion(s). Best to you.
Dear Diane, I'm so glad you and the LWV found each other -- it sounds like a wonderful community. I greatly appreciate the recommendation. There is an active LWV here, for sure. I was not aware that men could be members, so I'm happy to know that. I wish you all the best in your retirement. So far, I am finding it to be an exciting time for a re-boot.
I love this emphasis on community. I have the following regular community components built into my life:
Wednesday Mornings: Bro Coffee with two others.
Friday Mornings: Men's Drinking Group (coffee) with 5 other guys.
The Sensation 6: Three couples meet a few times a month to share meals, life concerns and laughter.
League of Extraordinary Gentlemen: Text group with college friends
This is outside of church and family relationships.
Dear Chris, Thanks for sharing about your communities -- I can see how each of them would be huge resources for all the members. And the names are great! Over a year ago, I was involved in a fairly structured 8-week grief support group of 7 people following Susan's passing. At the end of it, we decided we wanted to continue meeting informally, and we are still having monthly pot lucks more than a year later. (I'm making a key lime pie for our dinner next week -- come on over!) I have dubbed the group The Magnificent Seven. It definitely works. Thanks for sharing about your communities!
I like the title of your Substack, Hal. Just wondering..what are you seeking (now)?
I sent you a direct message through Substack chat last night. Let me know if you can't find it.
Dear Carole, Such a beautiful question to begin my day with! Thank you for asking. It deserves a thoughtful, reasonably coherent answer -- so it will be my meditation for today and I will be back in touch. I see you are writing on Medium. Is that you, or someone with the same name? Are you moving to Substack? I just glanced at a few of your posts, and plan to look deeper. What was your discipline? I think I see you on ResearchGate - from University of Nottingham Trent? If so, we definitely have some overlapping interests in identity and narrative. (I'm on RG as well, but haven't updated my site in the past year or so.) ANYWAY, thanks for your provocative question -- I look forward to pondering it today. It is much more pleasant than pondering the news.......
Ah, retirement. I have finally begun announcing my retirement which seems to be a huge shift and which occur at the end of the summer. I wondered about the loss i would experience as i left the university that i currently work at, though i too have worked at other institutions. After pondering and puzzling how to remain connected in some way to higher education and really to what is now my home institution i decided to take a class. Actually a retake of a course i took almost 40 years ago as a college freshman in a field i was never able to pursue because it was so utterly unemployable. i have been a professor and an administrator for so long that i decided to return to my roots, being part of a learning community and being a student. To me that’s at the heart of what my career has been for so long.
Dear Claire, Congratulations on your retirement -- and what a great idea ... to take a class!!! I'd love to hear more about it some time. As you probably know from reading my series, I love classical music. So this summer, I took a week-long online course through Yale Divinity School on "Requiems and Funeral Songs through the Ages." It was absolutely fascinating, and the instructor provided a master class in how to engage students in a seminar. I think you are definitely on to something in taking a class!! I hope it's great fun -- just learning for its own sake. Enjoy!! And thanks for this comment. My head is kind of exploding thinking of all the opportunities that presents.......
Dear Hal, I had to smile seeing your choice in topic for an online class. I think Requiems and Funeral Songs seems like a great choice especially for someone who loves classical music, on the other hand I imagined puzzled looks some people may give you when you tell them what you had taken. I say this because, while some people get it, many do not understand what is prompting me to actually begin retirement by taking a course in Intensive Elementary Ancient Greek. I hope you find other ways to pursue your musical interests.
Well, I did get my share of puzzled looks, but I feel a great freedom to do what I want in this new phase of life! I suspect you will too -- and studying Ancient Greek is a great step!! I bet it will be fascinating -- and it will be interesting to get to know the undergrads who are in there. I suspect they have different kinds of passions than the typical students we have worked with. I am pursuing as much music as I can. I am singing with Hampshire Choral Society during the year and Berkshire Choral International in the summer + taking voice lessons at UMass. I just also committed to singing with Grace Church starting in the fall. They have an excellent choir with a young, dynamic director. Adventures await for both of us!!
Community is everything. We need one another. Thank you for sharing, Hal. Many hugs.
Thank you, Elena -- we definitely need one another!! Hugs back to you! I hope all is well in your world.
Hi Hal, I'm resonating with your desire for community - and that it takes committed action to bring it about.
Today, I'm on a plane (as I write this) to a Spiritual Singles Retreat called "Saying Yes to Love!"
Don't know a soul. Loved the title (Oh yes, that's me!!) and so...here I am venturing into a new community🥰
And to experience beautiful places on our planet: Ashland, Oregon & Mt. Shasta in Northern California❤️ where I will be in a 2nd retreat on the mountain!
Here's to new ventures, adventures, and a new community!!
Best, Jane
Dear Jane, I admire your willingness to take risks and put yourself out there. India! Oregon & California! What will be next??!! I have a feeling these adventures will be exciting and positive for you. Your warmth and openness will add immeasurably to the group's process. Wishing you the very best with it. Enjoy every minute -- and I look forward to hearing how it went!
Hi Dr. Grotevant. One thought. I retired in August of last year and one thing I did was join the League of Women Voters. There’s a chapter in most communities and I believe every state has a chapter. I have found a community of men (men can be members) and women committed to democracy. The chapter I joined has a book club. We have amazing discussions. You choose your level of involvement and for many members this is an important element of community. If not LWV, another organization whose mission aligns with your passion(s). Best to you.
Dear Diane, I'm so glad you and the LWV found each other -- it sounds like a wonderful community. I greatly appreciate the recommendation. There is an active LWV here, for sure. I was not aware that men could be members, so I'm happy to know that. I wish you all the best in your retirement. So far, I am finding it to be an exciting time for a re-boot.