ElderChicks

After volunteering all my life, when I faced retirement, i was determined to volunteer for things interesting to me.

Interested in architecture, I volunteered as a tour guide. First I attended architectural sessions to learn about the various styles and periods. Then I even found a part time job at an architectural firm.

Since I no longer cooked for my family on a daily basis, I decided to cook for 60 homeless men, but only once a month. There I received more than I gave, acknowledging their hope and sense of fun.

And then having seen first hand how a juveniles first offense in the criminal justice system could ruin his life, I volunteered for the youth aid panel of Philadelphia. There juveniles are monitored while they perform community service and other obligations during a three-month period. If they fulfill all of their obligations and stay out of trouble, their record is wiped clean.

All of these pursuits have stimulated my mind and enabled me to continue to learn and grow. I think we never retire from that.