Where are the Proverbial Goalposts?

by Angela Sanford

  Two years ago, I made a quick decision to buy out Pam’s Web and reshape it into what is now The High Tides Bulletin. It was a decision made with clarity and confidence — little hesitation, no second-guessing — and it remains one I do not regret.

  Retiring after more than 30 years in education? That decision was different.

  It came with sleepless nights, deep reflection, and more than a little hesitation. Education has never been just a career for me — it has been a lifestyle, a calling, and a steady rhythm to my days. But even with the weight of that history, the timing feels right.

  And with only double digits left to work until Retirement is upon me!

  So now the real question emerges: What comes next?

I sit on several boards. Do I lean more fully into those volunteer roles? They could easily fill my calendar. Or do I step back from the long list and focus more intentionally on one or two where I can make the deepest impact?

  Do I pursue a new avenue in education — consulting, coaching, offering services to teachers free from policy constraints and red tape? Is there space locally for tutoring or even a private school opportunity? Would there be enough interest? Enough demand?

  Or do I finally launch one of the many entrepreneurial ideas I’ve carried for years — ideas that were always tempered by time, funding, and practical responsibility?

  And then there’s the quieter option.

  Do I allow retirement to simply unfold? Days shaped by good books, unhurried mornings, time with my grandchildren, and golf when Nova Scotia weather cooperates. No strategic plan. No five-year vision. Just presence.

  Thirty years is a lifetime in a profession that has shaped who I am. Walking away from that identity isn’t simple. But stepping toward something new — or toward something slower — is equally compelling.

  Perhaps I should upload my credentials into ChatGPT and see what it suggests. After all, it seems to have opinions about everything else these days.

  Or maybe this season isn’t about answers yet.

  Maybe it’s about permission — to pause before deciding what’s next.