The Fall You Don’t Have to Grade Papers

If you asked me what I’m looking forward to after I retire from education, fall camping would be pretty high on the list.

I love sweatshirt weather, the leaves beginning to turn, and being outdoors with family and friends. Someday, I’d love to travel to the Northeast and see the fall foliage there. I’ve never been, but it’s an experience I’d like to have.

You may have no interest in camping. Maybe you’d rather go somewhere warm, visit family, or enjoy the fall activities close to home. I’d imagine there’s something you’ve had trouble finding time for, too.

Right now, between schoolwork and the athletic events I’m involved in, finding enough time to get away is usually the problem.

For most of my career, October has meant being well into the school routine. Even when there’s an opening on the calendar, there may be papers to grade, materials to prepare, or an activity that needs me back by a certain time.

You’ve probably had an invitation you couldn’t accept or a trip you couldn’t arrange because the dates fell during school. After enough years, we can stop considering certain possibilities before we’ve even looked at them.

Leaving that routine could make a weekday outing possible. A scenic drive when the weather looks good. Lunch with a friend without watching the clock. A few extra days visiting someone instead of spending most of a short trip getting there and back.

I expect to keep working after I retire from education, and I know many of you will, too. We’ll still have schedules and responsibilities. I’m hoping mine will leave room for a few days away in October without having to take time off from school.

Off-season travel is something I hear teachers mention when retirement comes up. After years of arranging trips around summer vacation, spring break, and holidays, being able to consider other dates sounds pretty good.

For some destinations, that might mean finding a better price or a less crowded time. You can compare a few weeks rather than starting with the one week you’re available.

Fall isn’t the off-season everywhere, of course. My Northeast foliage trip could put me right in the middle of a popular travel season. But I’d be choosing those dates because I wanted to see the leaves, rather than because school happened to be out.

And enjoying that freedom doesn’t require a big trip.

If you’re already retired, think about something you could enjoy this season. It might be a local festival, a museum you’ve been meaning to visit, a drive through the countryside, or a few nights away.

Start with how much time and money you’re comfortable spending. Then check the details that could affect your plans: opening days, tickets or reservations, seasonal schedules, and cancellation policies if you’re booking a stay.

Consider the pace, too. How much driving or walking would make the day enjoyable? Would you rather have one main stop or several? A lower price isn’t much help if the dates don’t suit the experience you want.

You don’t have to fill every hour. An afternoon with one place to visit and time for lunch may be exactly enough.

If you’re still teaching, write down one place you’ve wanted to go or something you’ve had to pass up. You can look into dates and costs when you’re ready. For now, it helps to have something specific to look forward to.

One thing I’d like more of is time with family and friends. That could mean traveling together, but it could also mean being available for an afternoon I would otherwise miss.

My retirement won’t make everyone else’s calendar open up. They may still be working or have children in school. But more flexibility on my end could make it easier to work around their schedules.

When planning together, ask who can come and how much time they have before settling on a destination. Perhaps they join for the weekend while you stay longer. Or lunch and a local outing work better for everyone. Sometimes a simple plan is what makes getting together possible.

Which school activities I’ll miss most, I honestly don’t know yet. I’m sure I’ll miss seeing the people and the kids. But I’d also like more opportunities to spend time with family and friends without school responsibilities deciding whether I can go.

I don’t know when I’ll make that Northeast trip. But sweatshirt weather, turning leaves, and a few days camping with family or friens would be a pretty good place to start.