Developing a Plan

Finances are only a means to an end.  The real challenge is to figure out a plan for this stage in life that a) provides meaning and fulfillment, b) opportunities for learning, and c) connections with a vital social network.  “Retirement” is an outdated concept at a time when life expectancy for men approaches 80, and the possibility of being productive can extend well into our 70’s and beyond.  I did not leave pulmonary medicine just to sit around.  I left because I wanted to spend time and energy on a variety of different pursuits that may fit better with who I am and would like to become at this point in time.  Hence, the more appropriate terms I use when asked are “reinvention”, “rebooting”, or “renewal”.

Our financial situation opens up doors to “pursuits” that do not come with a paycheck.  However, with a multitude of doors available to open, there is a risk that I could enter many wrong doors, never finding the right one(s).  

For three years, I have tried to be somewhat systematic in approaching this challenge.  Several sources have been useful in provoking thoughts, offering examples, and providing approaches.  I have created an annotated list of references and citations as a separate “Page”, but again I am not giving an endorsement, and have no financial relationship to any of them.  Nonetheless, they have been helpful in my thinking about this.

In thinking through my portfolio of potential activities here are some of the possibilities, and the easiest, quickest answer to the question “What are you doing”:

1.    Chair the IRB Committee on Behavioral Research.  I have been doing this for several years, and there is no immediate successor (though someone who could do this very quickly if needed).  I have found this work intellectually stimulating and challenging, forcing me to learn new areas of research and research design, and often making me have to think through complex and competing concepts (essentially, when is the risk of the study justified by the benefits, how can the risks be minimized, what will make it possible to do the research).  I have contact with bright stimulating people, and I have to articulate myself well.  When I review a protocol, I get into the “flow” when time seems to stop.  My clinical duties have made this difficult to do “right”, so I welcome my greater time to expend on this.

2.    Support my wife in her full time position as the pastor of North Ferrisburgh UMC.  The decision to move to the parsonage was a step in this direction.  I have taken on the role of creating the Sunday morning powerpoint liturgy presentations (example of a slide attached).  I enjoy cooking, tolerate cleaning, and with cooking, would like to do more of the grocery shopping.  I have gone, and will go, on more mission trips such as our week long trip to Gulfport MS to work on houses damaged by Katrina.

3.    Consider other mission work.  I did a day long training to be an Early Response Team member in for United Methodists Committee on Relief and Volunteers in Mission.  These teams would go into areas hit by a disaster after the first responders had done their work for periods of up to 3 days doing mucking out, tarping roofs, and removing debris as well as listening to, and being a presence for survivors.

In 1986, I spent a month working at a hospital in Haiti.  It was exhausting work that I was not sure I was cut out for.  However, doing mission work in an area in which I have training (medicine) makes obvious sense.   Whether it would make a difference that I am now more experienced (I was still in training back then) is uncertain.  One thing I know, I need to regain skills in basic medicine.

4.    Public Health. I have training in public health (an MPH) and lots of experience now in working with Vermont’s Public Health Department.  Not sure what is available, even if unpaid.  I will continue to be chair of Vermont’s Tobacco Evaluation and Review Board’s evaluation committee, though I no longer on the board itself.  I’d love to help clinics set up systems to identify smoking status, but I am not sure I would have the credibility to do this now that I am not actively practicing. 

One advice that seems to make sense right now is to “recharge my batteries” first.  It’s too early to make too many decisions, and I need to put some space between actively working and taking up this “3^rd stage”.  To that end, I am taking a week to go backpacking in Arizona to learn wilderness medicine skills.  Perhaps this would be good for me if I do some sort of medical missionary work, but it really sounds like just a good time doing something completely different.  Besides, it has been the easy answer to all the questions about “What are you going to do?”