So I’ve initiated a “staff departure” and my last day of part-time work at Space Telescope will be at the end of this month. Then it’s back to the retired life again. When I came back I set myself a goal of working it at least until the Roman Space Telescope launched. And now it has. So my goal is met. And I think this time, it is time.

That first time I really didn’t want to belly flop into being retired but part-time work wasn’t available at the Institute then. So when my project lead came to me after a couple years and asked if I was interested in coming back part-time I jumped at the chance. Now I think it really is time to move on. I’ll always be a part of it, my den walls are full of artifacts from my 26 years working for a NASA contractor, but it will be good to have the time to explore my art more. I want to give my cameras and my drafting table more love now.

I’m going to miss having that extra amount of income, and it’s probably going to be scary watching my 401k slowly shrink, but so it goes. It’ll be a comfortable, if not fabulous retired life. I have a house of my own. My car is paid for. My health insurance is good. My neighborhood is walkable.