Life beyond ed tech

As part of the DS106 Radio Summer Camp, I did a session with Clint Lalonde on life after ed tech. I’ve been retired for two years and Clint is heading for retirement. We’ve both been in open and ed tech fro a while so thought it would be fun to discuss things outside of that life, and accompany these with record choices, as we’re both vinyl collectors.

The fun was in the process. We set up a google doc to throw in some ideas, and then think about a song that might accompany each. We pre-recorded the show so Reclaim could just play it on the day.

The topics we came up with:

• Radio show – Clint has a cool global music show over at Electro Magnetic Radio
• Novel writing – I may have mentioned that I’ve published a couple of novels since retirement.
• Sports – In a strange cultural swap, Clint is a big football fan, and I’m a big ice hockey fan. It’s probably because both of these are niche sports in each other’s countries, compared with the dominant ones.
• Exercise – Clint runs and cycles and after the Vancouver half I’ve been working with a personal trainer at a gym to try and build some strength as I head into my sixties
• Vinyl – we both collect vinyl, and have Instagram accounts
• Travel – an old favourite of retirees I guess. I miss having conferences as the reason for my travel, so now have to plan other trips.

Note that none of those options are playing golf.

After a long time, work can become synonymous with identity. What I think we’re both trying to do with these activities is to provide some immunity to that sense you have of some people who retire and find themselves adrift.

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