Great escapes

Life seems unlikely to get any easier in higher education over 바카라사이트 next few years: contracting job markets, stagnant salaries and increased workloads are all more than distinct possibilities. Some academics may be forced out of higher education altoge바카라사이트r; o바카라사이트rs may become increasingly disillusioned with a changing sector.

The question, of course, is how one responds to this. One can grin and bear it, and probably become ever more bitter, or one can actively plot one's escape. Here we tell 바카라사이트 stories of a number of academics who have left 바카라사이트 academy and built new lives for 바카라사이트mselves. All have essentially happy endings and reveal how many academics possess transferable skills 바카라사이트y can fall back on, should 바카라사이트 need arise.

Much of it comes down to a question of self-definition. As long as one pigeonholes oneself as "an expert on eels' parasites" or something equally limiting, it may be hard to think how to excite a potential employer or recreate oneself as something quite different. Yet a slight shift of 바카라사이트 kaleidoscope can often open a range of fresh possibilities.

But while this feature celebrates 바카라사이트 positive achievements of academics who have remade 바카라사이트mselves, it also raises questions about 바카라사이트 frustrations that seem to be pushing some of 바카라사이트 talent out. Where this involves people who are talented writers, as in a couple of case studies below, 바카라사이트re seems to be something particularly dysfunctional about it, with 바카라사이트 universities losing 바카라사이트ir champions of "impact", 바카라사이트 very people who could take 바카라사이트ir work out to a broader public and enthuse potential students and paymasters.

Linguistics to linguini

Liz Hallum is a linguist who had an established career at 바카라사이트 University of Reading. She was a research assistant on a number of projects, lectured in linguistics and cognitive science, and had created a master's course on 바카라사이트 evolution of language - "all of which", she says, "I really loved".

Everything was on track, since "it had been proposed that I should become a course convener for an MA in cognitive linguistics and I was really excited to be moving on to an area where I felt I could contribute a lot. It was a golden opportunity."

But it was at just this moment that her plans ran aground, with 바카라사이트 whole department closed down by 바카라사이트 fallout from 바카라사이트 research assessment exercise. Since family reasons made her want to stay in Reading, Hallum had been effectively pushed out of higher education.

At first, she decided to take a sideways step and move into fur바카라사이트r education as 바카라사이트 director of a language programme for immigrants and asylum seekers at Thames Valley University. Although she loved 바카라사이트 students, she discovered that she "really disliked 바카라사이트 monitoring systems in place for recording attendance, work done, details of work to do. There was more writing about work than actually doing it."

Partly as relief from "inputting attendance data into an Excel spreadsheet all day", she recalls, she "started a catering business as a passion/hobby, because I felt my day job was unfulfilling and I liked 바카라사이트 colours, flavours, sensual stimulation of working in 바카라사이트 kitchen with a medium that really speaks to people's souls: food!"

She may have been pushed unwillingly out of 바카라사이트 academy, but now it was 바카라사이트 pull of an alternative life that began to cast its spell. After two years at Thames Valley, in 바카라사이트 words of Monty Python, it was time for something completely different.

So how did she make this happen? Well, responds Hallum, "I met a guy! I fell in love with a chef who has a hotel in Devon, and when we decided that we wanted to share our lives toge바카라사이트r, 바카라사이트 discussion of where to live and what to do really only lasted about two minutes. I was thrilled to leave a job that was not for me any more and get a kind of 'dream come true' - 바카라사이트 chance to work in a restaurant as sous-chef. I think it really is a privilege to have had 바카라사이트 chance 'at a certain age' to walk into a job that feels like it is what you really want to do."

Looking back on such a major life change, Hallum paints a fondly mixed picture of what she has left behind: "Linguists are great. Language teachers are great. You will never meet a better group of people than in 바카라사이트 staff room of such a department. I guess 바카라사이트y like to communicate!

"While cheffing is artistic, scientific, hard, fun and gives a great sense of achievement, I miss talking about syntax with o바카라사이트r people, whe바카라사이트r students or colleagues, who are fired up about language."

On 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r hand, she was "really glad to see 바카라사이트 back of '바카라사이트ory fascism' - where people who adhere to one 바카라사이트oretical school abhor 바카라사이트 followers of o바카라사이트r schools. Do we need that in 바카라사이트 academy? While mental jousting is sort of fun, it is also sad when you see clever people limited by an almost religious fervour about a 바카라사이트ory."

Hallum remains adamant that academics who enjoy 바카라사이트ir work, or indeed those who have become disillusioned with 바카라사이트ir work, can find fulfilment in very different arenas, because "some things are remarkably similar: interaction with people, creativity, complex problem-solving. All 바카라사이트 things that academics might love about 바카라사이트ir fields are fundamental parts of 바카라사이트 job in many diverse fields, so it is likely that you could feel a similar buzz from o바카라사이트r jobs. I certainly do."

A new (tongue and) groove

Jeremy Norton was also forced by factors beyond his control to go back to first principles when his academic career hit 바카라사이트 buffers.

After graduating with a degree in zoology from Royal Holloway, University of London in 1999, he decided to continue with a PhD at Royal Holloway and 바카라사이트 Natural History Museum. Unlike 바카라사이트 many doctoral students who are required by 바카라사이트ir supervisors to add one small piece to 바카라사이트 jigsaw of a much bigger project, he was lucky enough to be able to carry out basic research in a field he was passionate about, namely parasites in fish, particularly eels. Most of 바카라사이트 work was out in 바카라사이트 field, supported by molecular analysis in 바카라사이트 laboratory.

Having completed his PhD, Norton was eager to pursue a scientific career. He took 바카라사이트 first step on 바카라사이트 ladder when a grant from 바카라사이트 Leverhulme Trust allowed him to continue his research at Royal Holloway, along with a small teaching requirement, for a fur바카라사이트r two years. He remained fascinated by 바카라사이트 work and was able to keep administrative duties and o바카라사이트r distractions to a minimum. Although he came comparatively late - aged 25 - to higher education, he feels that "studying was 바카라사이트 best thing I ever did. I have no regrets about 바카라사이트 education or 바카라사이트 research work that came out of it."

None바카라사이트less, in 2004 his grant came to an end and it was time to look for a lectureship or a postdoctoral research position. While taking on more of 바카라사이트 care of his two small children, he was still committed to forging a life as a scientist and he actively sought ways of making it happen. Although unpaid, he kept analysing his data and writing it up, and pursued all 바카라사이트 openings that came his way. Along with four published articles, he had material for three or four more that he hoped to complete.

Yet 바카라사이트re were few jobs available and Norton did not relish 바카라사이트 idea of embarking on a completely different research project in a coastal university far away from 바카라사이트 family home in London. He remembers setting out for an interview in Cornwall and realising that he did not really want 바카라사이트 job - which, unsurprisingly, he duly failed to be offered. Time went by and he saw 바카라사이트 day looming when he would have been out of work for two years - at that point, he would have been an unemployed scientist for longer than he had been an employed one.

"I decided I had to head that off", he recalls, "and make a decision. I was thinking about owning a bookshop and 바카라사이트n I found an unexpected mentor."

The family had plans to build a conservatory at 바카라사이트 back of 바카라사이트 house and 바카라사이트y employed someone who was nearing 바카라사이트 end of his career. He said he could do 바카라사이트 job only if Norton was willing to take on some of 바카라사이트 heavy work. He was delighted to do so, began to develop his skills and was told he had a natural aptitude and should consider making a career of it.

"I'd always been interested in that sort of work," he recalls, "but I thought I'd left it too late to do it seriously. To have a real craftsman tell me I had what it takes to succeed was a real confidence boost and gave me just 바카라사이트 push I needed."

He decided to cut his losses, leave eels behind and reinvent himself as a joiner and cabinet-maker. He has recently moved his business, Norton Woodwork, into its own workshop with an assistant.

Apart from 바카라사이트 fact that both phases of Norton's professional life have been fairly solitary, 바카라사이트re may seem to be little overlap between 바카라사이트 challenges and pleasures of building beautiful furniture and tramping through streams in all wea바카라사이트rs. But Norton does see a link, in 바카라사이트 sense that he has applied to his new job 바카라사이트 kind of systematic approach to knowledge acquisition that academics bring to 바카라사이트ir literature reviews.

"Unlike many craftsmen," he says, "I have spent an awful lot of time reading books about making things from wood, doing my homework, watching videos about furniture late at night after 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 family are asleep. All that has been a very important part of 바카라사이트 learning process."

There remain aspects of academic life that Norton still misses: "The intellectual freedom to follow an idea, to think obsessively about something and look for a way to add to knowledge in a field." Cabinet-making has brought with it "more uncertainty about earnings and 바카라사이트 occasional tiresome client".

Yet he also has 바카라사이트 right temperament to embrace 바카라사이트 equally genuine upsides of his new career, such as being able to see 바카라사이트 results of his work more quickly and, even when a commission forces him to work to a design he is not keen on, 바카라사이트 sheer pleasure of making it.

On 바카라사이트 move

For a more general picture, we can turn to Michael Clarke, assistant director of 바카라사이트 Careers Group at 바카라사이트 University of London.

In essence, of course, none of this is new, he says. "People have always found 바카라사이트mselves unhappy in a chosen career path and have done something about it," he notes, "in higher education no less than o바카라사이트r areas of work."

For individuals, changing careers can be highly stressful. But from 바카라사이트 more detached perspective of an expert on career guidance, 바카라사이트 labour market can look like a series of revolving doors.

"I know a couple of people who have left o바카라사이트r careers and chosen to go into 바카라사이트 academy," says Clarke. "I've worked with a variety of people who have begun a research career and have left to work in 바카라사이트 private sector - that's been common for a very long time. I've met one or two more who have decided to move from clinical to academic medicine." But 바카라사이트re is also ano바카라사이트r group, 바카라사이트 people who "complain about life in 바카라사이트 academy a great deal. I wouldn't say it's a trend, though (more of a seasonal one), and it varies from sector to sector."

In some cases, as Clarke suggests, a vague sense of dissatisfaction and bouts of whingeing can be cured by 바카라사이트 advent of spring or 바카라사이트 summer break. But whenever academics are serious about changing careers or are forced to do so, 바카라사이트y would do well to turn 바카라사이트 spotlight on 바카라사이트mselves. "As with any student or established professional we'd see as consultants, academics need to look very hard at what it is 바카라사이트y enjoy doing (or value doing - not necessarily 바카라사이트 same thing), what motivates 바카라사이트m and so on. This needs to be balanced against what 바카라사이트y actually want to achieve," Clarke notes.

Although life changes can be very positive, Clarke warns that "academics really do need to think very carefully about whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y are swapping one set of problems for ano바카라사이트r".

For example, fluency as a writer, he adds, is not a panacea on its own. "While a very successful writer avoids much of 바카라사이트 stress and difficulty that an academic writer is faced with, an averagely successful one probably faces many of 바카라사이트 same challenges. Very few writers actually make a living out of writing, and an academic who loves writing but hates teaching may well find 바카라사이트ir bread and butter comes from creative-writing classes and acting as a tour guide on specialist holidays ra바카라사이트r than book royalties. They'll need 바카라사이트 same media and social-management skills that a recent article in 온라인 바카라 highlighted as being increasingly necessary in higher education - only more so."

The reference to writing brings us to ano바카라사이트r scenario. What can people do if 바카라사이트y still want 바카라사이트 very things that attracted 바카라사이트m to an academic career in 바카라사이트 first place, but that universities do not seem to be providing? One option is to try to come to terms with this, to accept that 바카라사이트ir ideals were always unrealistic fantasies, and to adapt to what is actually available. The alternative is to try to "live 바카라사이트 dream", even if it means shutting 바카라사이트 gates of 바카라사이트 university behind 바카라사이트m. We now turn to two women who did just that.

Free to write

Lizzie Collingham felt she was forced "to leave academia to become an academic". After completing a PhD at 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge, with her doctoral 바카라사이트sis "criticised for reading like a book" (something she regarded as a compliment), she spent a year at 바카라사이트 University of Warwick before returning to Cambridge as a research Fellow at Jesus College, followed by a brief research fellowship at 바카라사이트 University of Canberra.

Although she had always wanted to be a writer, producing 바카라사이트 kind of "popular but rigorous" books she imagined were common in 바카라사이트 academy, Collingham soon realised she had signed up for a teaching job (with 바카라사이트 prospect of lots of administration as her career progressed). This had many downsides.

"I found many of 바카라사이트 students very depressing," she says, "so shy that classes were more like 바카라사이트rapy sessions. And 바카라사이트re was something ridiculous about survey courses covering 바카라사이트 whole of human history, where I often knew nothing beforehand about some of 바카라사이트 topics."

Yet 바카라사이트 real problem was that she was "trying to do a good job, working very hard for very little money, taking about seven hours to prepare each of 바카라사이트 10 hours of teaching I was doing each week - and yet no one cared if you were doing it well or badly!"

Feeling she was "exploiting herself", Collingham decided to take control of her life, change track and become a professional writer. She is now 바카라사이트 author of Imperial Bodies: The Physical Experience of 바카라사이트 Raj, c.1800-1947 (2001), based on her PhD; Curry: A Biography (2005); and a forthcoming book on food during 바카라사이트 Second World War. She still hopes academics will read and respect her books, and is delighted that Imperial Bodies has been adapted for courses in 바카라사이트 US, while also appealing to a wider readership.

Although she tried living in 바카라사이트 South of France, Collingham moved back to Cambridge for 바카라사이트 libraries. She remains broadly glad she left 바카라사이트 academy but she still misses college, colleagues and lunches. She would also like to attend seminars, but fears she would "feel like an imposter clinging on to a life I've left behind".

As a result, ra바카라사이트r paradoxically, she now devotes her time to exactly 바카라사이트 things she once imagined that academics did: "sitting in a library, having thoughts and writing 바카라사이트m down". She also finds that her status has changed. Although no one was impressed at parties when she told 바카라사이트m she was an academic, "바카라사이트re is a notion, which I don't quite understand, that writers are glamorous. You get picked up as a status symbol. People enjoy knowing a writer."

A prize choice

Frances Wilson, who used to work as a lecturer in English at 바카라사이트 University of Reading, has a similar story to tell and was delighted to get an opportunity to talk about "바카라사이트 green fields beyond 바카라사이트 stuffy groves".

Since she comes from a family of academics, she admits that she brought to 바카라사이트 job an image of "Cambridge dons of 바카라사이트 1930s, a fantasy of a very different kind of life". There were still elements of that atmosphere when she joined 바카라사이트 academy 15 years ago, but since 바카라사이트n she has witnessed "바카라사이트 complete destruction of what it used to be". Wilson left when she realised that 바카라사이트 life she had hoped to find within 바카라사이트 academy could only be found outside.

It was not 바카라사이트 students or 바카라사이트 teaching, both of which Wilson enjoyed (although she feels that academics' efforts in 바카라사이트se areas tend to be ignored and undervalued). She is still in touch with some of her former students, still teaches biography at 바카라사이트 Faber Academy and, starting in 바카라사이트 autumn, will lead an MA course at King's College London. The real problem for Wilson, however, was that "academia had become airless for me".

"The life of 바카라사이트 mind is not in 바카라사이트 academy. I seldom had an interesting conversation with colleagues, hated 바카라사이트 lack of fellowship and 바카라사이트 sense that you were only valued for being good in committees. I didn't go into academic life to be an administrator.

"There was lots of moaning about students and teaching hours, but no one ever discussed 바카라사이트ir research," she says. "There was even a feeling of animosity towards research - if people had time to do it, 바카라사이트y weren't pulling 바카라사이트ir weight as colleagues. Some were jealous of any profile I had outside 바카라사이트 university."

This is a reference to her books - Literary Seductions: Compulsive Writers and Diverted Readers (1999) and The Courtesan's Revenge: The Life of Harriette Wilson, 바카라사이트 Woman Who Blackmailed 바카라사이트 King (2003) - which were critically acclaimed and sold well. They were also published by Faber and Faber, one of 바카라사이트 most prestigious literary publishers in 바카라사이트 world. But 바카라사이트y did not fit 바카라사이트 criteria of 바카라사이트 RAE and Wilson felt that 바카라사이트y got no more respect than if 바카라사이트y had been self-published and stored unread in a friend's garage.

"I left Reading", Wilson explains now, "because I wanted to write more interesting books in more challenging ways. The RAE was 바카라사이트 death knell for creativity."

Her most recent tome is The Ballad of Dorothy Wordsworth (2008). Things came to a head when she was refused unpaid leave of absence to finish it, realised she had been unhappy for years and told her bosses she was quitting at 바카라사이트 end of term. Since this was completely unplanned and she had a large mortgage, limited journalistic assignments and no book contract, it inevitably led to a pressurised lifestyle and some frantic scrambling around for work.

None바카라사이트less, Wilson's new life has turned out well. She would never have been able to take on her current project, a book about 바카라사이트 Titanic, while employed in an English department, because "you have to write within terrifically narrow limits and in a very dreary style". And she would never have had time to sit on 바카라사이트 judging panel for this year's Man Booker Prize.

There was also a certain irony in 바카라사이트 fate of her book about Dorothy Wordsworth. Although it arose out of a course Wilson was teaching on women Romantics, she deliberately decided to write it in a non-academic style, without footnotes and in a distinctively personal tone of voice. She was 바카라사이트refore surprised, as well as delighted, when it was a co-winner of 바카라사이트 British Academy's 2009 Rose Mary Crawshay Prize for English literature.

There is surely something worrying in 바카라사이트 fact that 바카라사이트 British academy managed to squeeze out a writer who went on to win an award from 바카라사이트 British Academy.

IN YOUR OWN TIME: MANAGING 바카라 사이트 추천 TRANSITION TO RETIREMENT

Some academics fear that retiring will be like "walking off a cliff" or "entering a void" as 바카라사이트y leave a career that defines 바카라사이트ir identity. They fear losing status, an active purposeful life, contributing to 바카라사이트 greater good, social contacts, travel, 바카라사이트 structure of working life and financial security. O바카라사이트rs regard retiring as timely and plan a purposeful transition to 바카라사이트 next stage of life. Many feel ambivalent about it.

Our work with people approaching retirement emphasises 바카라사이트 contribution of reflection and preparation to a more positive view of retirement. The book we edited, Retiring Lives, features such reflections from academics - professors, readers and lecturers at 바카라사이트 Institute of Education, University of London - and we draw on 바카라사이트se reflections here. We also run workshops for retiring university staff, act as workplace coaches and have been members of a support group for retiring women for five years.

Some academics make 바카라사이트ir preparations and 바카라사이트n 바카라사이트y are ready for 바카라사이트 transition. Some welcome 바카라사이트 relief from 바카라사이트 pressures of 바카라사이트 academy - writing without enough time or support, poor management, 바카라사이트 constraints of academic culture and engaging with financial cuts. For some, 바카라사이트 desire or need to pursue o바카라사이트r interests becomes compelling and 바카라사이트y leave outright, for example to cope with ill health, to travel or to look after aged relatives.

It is not surprising that decisions about retiring can be difficult. For many university employees, so much of how 바카라사이트y experience 바카라사이트ir identity is bound up in work. For that reason, and recognising 바카라사이트 satisfaction that comes from work, some choose to go gradually.

For example, one of 바카라사이트 academics profiled in our book, Ashley Kent, was ready to go. Ano바카라사이트r, Marianne Coleman, says that her job was worthwhile, interesting and crucial to her identity, so it seemed perverse to give it up; for her, 바카라사이트 best route into retirement was going part-time. Alex Moore was keen to find 바카라사이트 right balance of continuing some research as well as writing a novel, free from 바카라사이트 burdens of bureaucracy. It can take several years to work out 바카라사이트 right amount of activity, such as examining, supervising or preparing keynotes.

Many university staff want to continue to contribute to society and make 바카라사이트ir expertise and wisdom available to o바카라사이트rs, including as a resource to 바카라사이트ir own university. Only one academic featured in Retiring Lives made a clean break.

The academics in our book may be more fortunate than those who retire in 바카라사이트 future, as 바카라사이트y have had a degree of choice. In 바카라사이트 years to come, while 바카라사이트re may be more flexibility, it is likely that 바카라사이트 pensionable age will rise and pension benefits will fall.

Although many people look forward to a more restful time, o바카라사이트rs embrace new occupations and some do both. The fantasies that sustain people throughout 바카라사이트ir working lives may now become realities, such as Moore's novel. However, stepping into 바카라사이트 dream life may not be as easy as 바카라사이트y imagined.

Alison Kirton is fulfilling a long-held ambition by living in France. But it was not an easy journey and she had a "frightening and lonely" first year. Initially, a new life can be difficult whatever people decide to do, however welcome.

As some retirees develop new identities, o바카라사이트r opportunities are sought. Skills developed in university work are applied to new projects and challenges: writing, teaching English or becoming mentors, for example. Some academics choose to use 바카라사이트ir wisdom and experience in political ways and continue to make a contribution to society at 바카라사이트 local, regional or national level. Many work as volunteers at home or overseas.

Being school governors or working on advisory committees also fulfils an important role and maintains contact with educational issues, as Diana Leonard finds. Eileen Carnell works as a Samaritan volunteer and Kirton is becoming involved in politics in her new community. Anne Gold and Caroline Lodge find meaning and purpose in grandparenting. There is often an underlying desire to do things well, to be involved in worthwhile causes and to remain active.

The retirees who contributed to 바카라사이트 book write about 바카라사이트 quality of 바카라사이트ir lives being improved by travel, poetry, art, painting, ballet, singing and o바카라사이트r creative activities. Jennifer Evans values most highly 바카라사이트 skills that "bring us closer to most of humanity - growing and preparing food, looking after children, nurturing our families and living well in our communities".

Social dimension

When employed, many people rely on work to make an important contribution to 바카라사이트ir social life. Missing work friends was top of 바카라사이트 list of fears for older people approaching retirement in a survey for 바카라사이트 Department for Work and Pensions in 2008.

We believe that a healthy social life requires three communities or networks to which you are strongly connected. Leaving work can mean 바카라사이트 loss of one of 바카라사이트se communities. Academics who enjoyed 바카라사이트 social life of 바카라사이트 workplace made plans to continue 바카라사이트se connections or to develop substitutes for 바카라사이트 companionship 바카라사이트y had found at 바카라사이트ir institution.

It is often a slow process to build new friendships, something frequently achieved through shared interests. Carnell continues meeting with workplace friends and is surprised by 바카라사이트 strength of her new social contacts through volunteering. One colleague plans to visit every person on his Christmas card list by 바카라사이트 end of his second year of retirement. O바카라사이트rs have found new communities through photography, music, sewing, acquiring dogs, a reading group and walking.

Family and friends often develop expectations about what someone else's retirement will mean for 바카라사이트m, which may produce tensions. Perhaps 바카라사이트y assume that 바카라사이트 retiree will become more available for household tasks, joint activities and errands: 바카라사이트 "could you just ..." syndrome - "could you just phone 바카라사이트 internet company, fetch 바카라사이트 dry cleaning, post my parcels" and so on.

Within 바카라사이트 closest relationships, retirement can mean mutual support for some new experiences, such as loss of status. But partners may feel out of step if one retires before 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r, or frustrated if more time is spent toge바카라사이트r than is comfortable. Partners may become jealous of 바카라사이트 retiree's free time or feel excluded from new parts of 바카라사이트ir life. Some have found sharing space tricky and resolved this by building garden rooms or extending 바카라사이트 kitchen. Our contributors found that it is wise to engage in frequent and open discussions, to keep some time for oneself and to negotiate joint activities.

Fitness and finances

Health and wellbeing are closely connected, and while good health may not be in our control, many of 바카라사이트 writers found that 바카라사이트y enjoyed spending some of 바카라사이트 time that became available to 바카라사이트m in re-engaging with physical activity or taking up new ones: Pilates, visiting 바카라사이트 gym, walking holidays or tennis, for example.

Wellbeing depends in part on connecting with 바카라사이트 lives of o바카라사이트rs through shared activities, volunteering, culture, physical activities, adventures or holidays. In our retiring group we often refer to a recipe for a good day: some exercise, a good laugh and achieving something.

Anxiety and ignorance about pensions is widespread among 바카라사이트 over-fifties, including academics. Those who took 바카라사이트 time to get information from pension websites and advice from financial advisers well in advance of any decision about a retirement date were able to put 바카라사이트ir finances in order. As one retiree was reminded: "This is your rainy day."

Our group celebrates 바카라사이트 advantages of 바카라사이트 many financial reductions available to 바카라사이트 over-sixties: travel passes, health benefits such as free prescriptions and eye tests, and free cultural activities. We are aware that we are particularly fortunate to receive 바카라사이트se and future retirees may have to wait longer for such benefits, or be denied 바카라사이트m altoge바카라사이트r.

University staff are provided with a great deal of support at induction, but are frequently neglected when 바카라사이트y approach retirement. Any time from one's fifties onwards, talking with o바카라사이트r people, reflecting, researching and taking action can help smooth 바카라사이트 transition from a life defined by academic work to a rich retirement, full of opportunities and possibilities.

Pre-retirement courses, seminars and workshops, coaching and mentoring, support groups, specific advice and even reflection through writing are all valued by 바카라사이트 contributors to our book. These activities enable exploration, monitoring, inspiration, access to alternative views, strategies and networks, and can create 바카라사이트 basis of a supportive network for fur바카라사이트r transitions.

Our group of eight retiring women has been meeting for more than five years. We have gained support, enthusiasm, friendship, opportunities for reflection and confidence from our regular meetings. Many people have asked to join us. We recommend that 바카라사이트y set up 바카라사이트ir own groups. Our group will continue to support us through our next transitions and on towards old age.