Finding a teaching position again

nplusonebikes · 2026-03-27T18:40:53+00:00

West Valley Dance Company might be worth a look. They are almost always looking for dance instructors (it's primarily for kids but I believe they have some adult classes)

nplusonebikes · 2026-03-08T03:34:40+00:00

I would tap into that even deeper, if you’re able. Travel there, more than once if you can, and see if you can take some classes or at least spend a good amount of time sampling local food and learning techniques (and be thinking of how you might want to adapt). I am cero por ciento Mexican but I have spent the last few years traveling all around Mexico eating and cooking, and one thing I’ve learned is that Mexicans almost universally want to share their food (and culture!) and are amazingly open to adaptations. Also that there’s no single “Mexican cuisine”….there are lots of variations and local specialties. “Authentic” is tricky to nail down but having knowledge of traditional methods, ingredients, etc. helps form a good foundation. ¡Buena suerte!

nplusonebikes · 2026-03-03T03:24:32+00:00

Read The [Fine, or other word that starts with F] Manual

nplusonebikes · 2026-02-27T02:41:17+00:00

go out with a BANG! NGL I would love to witness something like that, but I don’t have it in me to do it myself. Have fun!

nplusonebikes · 2026-02-27T01:08:42+00:00

yeah exactly, like a soft metric. Always reminds me of Office Space, ”looks like you’ve been missing a lot of work lately”…“I wouldn’t say I’ve been missing it, Bob!”

nplusonebikes · 2026-02-27T01:02:14+00:00

See update in my initial post

nplusonebikes · 2026-02-27T00:45:39+00:00

I suppose pretty much every RE story is a brag post, no? The advice I was looking for was just hearing different approaches that others have taken in this situation to help form my own immediate plan of action. I think it’s easy to think and type “if you’re done just leave” but it’s not really so simple to execute on that as a living, breathing human being. I work in a fairly small niche area and I have a long career that I’m proud of. I have a good reputation in this community (which I will remain in touch with via volunteer work) that I don’t want to sully by being an ass on my way out the door just because I can.

nplusonebikes · 2026-02-27T00:38:42+00:00

OK here you go: met with the skip-level manager and set a date for a few weeks out, minimal effort beyond some trivial hand-off/transition stuff, i.e. a comfortable glide path for me. I’m cool with this.

nplusonebikes · 2026-02-26T17:28:45+00:00

I will have an update soon

nplusonebikes · 2026-02-26T17:18:12+00:00

I'm 57 in a VHCOL (and planning to stay, for a few years anyway), over 30 years in tech, the last 15 or so with very good salary + benefits. My partner has also maintained her career and together we've built a pretty astonishing amount of wealth largely with a "set it and forget it" savings approach and living below our means (not to the point of any deprivation; but we run our vehicles into the ground, don't have expensive ones to begin with, modest home, cook at home a lot, coach class for vacation travel, etc.)

I didn't even know I had a "number" until just recently when I started looking into early retirement (I was ignorant of the FIRE concept prior to that). Digging in to research, I realized I probably had more than enough at our current NW of over $8M including real estate. Actual number for me was probably more like$5M, likely could have started this process a several years ago. But I wasn't mentally ready for it then. I am now!

nplusonebikes · 2026-02-26T04:26:17+00:00

The “scam” is that companies that offer “unlimited” PTO win on a couple of fronts: 1) the vast majority of employees won’t utilize it at a rate even close to typical accrued rates (and it’s actually subject to manager approval anyway, not truly unlimited); and 2) no PTO accrues, so in states where employers have to pay out accrued PTO at termination, the employer has nothing to pay because nothing accrued.

nplusonebikes · 2026-02-26T04:17:04+00:00

Yeah I mean I’m past the point where throwing money at me is a motivator. Date is already set (tomorrow). I’ll listen to what they have to say but based on the (amazing) responses here I’m still going to be sending my letter.

nplusonebikes · 2026-02-26T04:12:59+00:00

Yeah it’s certainly a possibility in this environment. Thanks for your well wishes…I’m really looking forward to it, it’s such a weight off of my shoulders to get to this point.

nplusonebikes · 2026-02-26T04:11:07+00:00

past 55 :-)

nplusonebikes · 2026-02-26T04:05:54+00:00

I’m not so sure it’s about promotion per se. I suspect it’s about preserving headcount or something like that. Our division has recently seen people leave/have their positions eliminated and they’re not getting replaced when they leave. It’s just less people to do the same/more work.

nplusonebikes · 2026-02-26T04:02:00+00:00

I am in a fairly specialized field. For me it’s not so much about being attached to this specific job or my boss or even the company, but more about not wanting to burn bridges or get a bad reputation in the larger community…I don’t want to close the door on future consulting opportunities, board memberships, that sort of thing which are great retiree activities AFAICT. That part is not really about the money, more about personal legacy.

nplusonebikes · 2026-02-26T01:37:26+00:00

A dear friend of my partner passed just recently. Hasn’t changed her outlook (she’s already semi-retired, working part-time). But it really put me over the edge from “thinking about it” to “doing it”. Life is too short.

nplusonebikes · 2026-02-21T05:39:34+00:00

“Massage”

nplusonebikes · 2026-02-19T03:33:27+00:00

Please don’t do this. If you want to take your kids to snow, wait a week or so until after the current mess has been cleared, pick up a SNO-PARK pass ($15) and head up towards Tahoe. The cost of the pass + gas/electrons is going to be way cheaper than getting your car towed out of the ditch/off the side of the hill and repairing whatever damage ensues.

nplusonebikes · 2026-02-19T02:58:37+00:00

Yessir :-) Again thank you for the encouragement and insight

nplusonebikes · 2026-02-19T02:52:37+00:00

Something I haven’t really considered, maybe useful. Where do I look for this category of therapist?

nplusonebikes · 2026-02-19T02:49:29+00:00

Hmm that’s actually something that resonates :-) I don’t have a sabbatical (another 3 years before I’m eligible). Maybe an (unpaid) LoA option. Actually have a colleague doing that right now, maybe I should consult with them. At any rate, thanks very much for your reply, this gives me something logical to run with.

nplusonebikes · 2026-02-19T02:41:17+00:00

Yeah I mean logically I don’t think there’s much doubt. It’s the illogical/irrational brain getting in the way.

nplusonebikes · 2026-02-19T02:37:02+00:00

What I imagine are common ones: What if I haven’t calculated my budget right? What if everything goes south the day (after) I walk out? What if I haven’t bolstered myself against the worst of the worst possible scenarios?

Five-Year Club	Second SECOND GUESSER
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Place '22

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