Gains and losses

Retirement can be hard in the little ways as well as the big ways. Tonight I was shopping with my daughter and saw a brightly colored necklace that made me think, "Oh, I can wear that to work! The students will think it is so cute." But in the next moment I realized, "No -- In another month I won't see the students anymore." No more bright-eyed students popping in at my office door, no more long conversations in which I learn what it's like to be a 20- or 21-year-old in today's world. After spending thousands of hours since 1990 in the company of these bright and creative young people, what is it going to be like to not see them any more? Will all the free time make up for that loss? I don't know.