MTFCA Forum

Well, as of this week I am officially retired from my job of twenty-one years at The George Eastman Museum in Rochester, New York. For ten years I taught photograph conservators how to identify different types of 19th century photographs by teaching how they were made and also how they deteriorate. Then for my remaining years I continued my research and taught public workshops in how to do early photographic processes at the Museum and internationally. There is a very strong movement of people using these old techniques.

I was actually planning to retire later in 2021, but after canceling twenty-three workshops in 2020 and no hopes to schedule any in 2021 my job was going to be dissolved. So the director of the Museum and I agreed a slightly early retirement was the best for both parties. I am actually delighted for the transition. Just need to figure out the health insurance. My wife and I will actually continue to teach a limited number of workshops in our studio (see picture) when the pandemic lifts. We have been teaching live online tutorials and doing custom work, most recently for the National Gallery of Art. And of course we will continue to exhibit our photography. Best of all, I don’t have to go to work every day and .... I can have more time to drive and tinker with the 23 runabout.

Congratulations Mark. I hope you enjoy retirement as much as I have.
Rich

Congratulations Mark, and welcome to the world of "Twice the time, half the pay"!!
Money "aint" everything, just enjoy life. I wouldn't change it for the world. Sounds like
maybe you aren't 65 yet, sadly, that's one thing about getting closer to the grave....MEDICARE!!
I had great insurance when working, had very good insurance the first year of retirement, then it went downhill
from there, until I turned 65. In the end, it gave me a $100 "pay raise"!! And better coverage. Just too bad I get so little from S.S. as
I have a pension, sadly, the government doesn't want us retirees to "get ahead".
Again, enjoy your free time!!

I retired in 1991 from Pacific Bell Telephone co after 35 years service. Then I went back to work with a contract company with Pacific Bell for another for another 17 years. I am glad that between the two tours of duty, and during layoffs from the contract job we were able to make several trips around the United States and parts of Canada. We also spent a month in Europe and took a cruise to Alaska and several trips to Hawaii. We also have been on quite a few week long Model T tours. And restored 2 Model T's as well as helped others with their T's. Now when we are older, we are slowing down and this year has been especially hard, because we had things planned which we have not done because of COVID.
I say all these things because now it takes me a week to do what I used to do in my spare time. We have slowed down, so while you are able to do so, enjoy the travel, the hobbies, and your photography. Congratulations on your retirement.
Norm

I retired in 2003, and haven't regretted it. As above, I restored two Model T's, and keep busy doing T related things. I've been able to attend four tours this year with no problems at all.

I am turning 66 in February and plan to apply for Social Security in April. I had been planning to retire the middle of 2021, so covid stepped up my schedule by a few months. Actually very happy to do this. Last week I brought a mountain of boxes from my lab and office. I have established an archive at the Museum of all my research files and writings. Just sold 200 books the other day but the house is full of boxes of my previous life!

Mark,
Retirement is a scary thing but believe me, there is much more to life than work, regardless of how much you enjoy it. What I enjoy most is the freedom to set my own schedule and then change it at will. Congrats and best of luck!

Congratulations Mark on your retirement!
I did that 10 years ago and haven’t regretted it. I restored 2 T’s during that time as far as Model T’s go.
I have a farm that keeps me busy so I am lucky to be able to keep busy. That’s the most important thing that people need to do in this stage of life.
Guys like you are an asset to the hobby. Good luck!

You will thoroughly enjoy retirement. I retired at 56 with 2 kids in school. I was concerned about having enough money. Now I wished I would have retired at 54 with the first early retirement offer. And I wished I got my 23 touring out of storage much earlier than I did.

You did what I did Art. I retired at 61 and a half. I could have waited until I was 65 to get the full social security retirement but started drawing as early as I could which was 62.
I came to the conclusion that you’ll never have enough money even if work past 80.

Life is to short. Why work until you have to accept a gold watch in a wheel chair.
I was fortunate enough to be in fairly good health and active. I wouldn’t change a thing and would do it the same way. I’m now 72 and still going along.

Mark,

Congratulations! And best of luck as you start a new chapter of your life. I'm sure you will have lots of projects and dreams to pursue.

Respectfully submitted,

Hap l9l5 cut off

Mark, Once you get used to it, retirement will be the best part of your life. I retired in 2008 and the last decade has been wonderful. I hope that yours will be the same.