Well my friends, here we are. In just nine short months I will turn 60, and thereby be eligible* to start my pension. You could say I have been looking forward to, maybe even counting down the days to, that happy day. I submitted my official notice of intent to retire this past week. I am both nervous and excited.
What are my plans?
I should repeat for those who have not been paying attention – Retirement for me will not mean I never work again. My retirement model has always involved some form of employment – I screwed up royally, financially, when I was younger so my pockets are not deep. Plus, I like to work. But it does mean I can finally put the University System behind me. I’ve enjoyed my years there, but I am ready to move on. I’ve not yet decided, however, the type of employment I will seek.
My first post-retirement plan is to do some extended backpacking trips. In fact, getting ready for this was a primary reason I moved back to my hometown. Historic data from the various trail associations (CDT, PCT, AT) says it costs roughly $1-2K out of pocket per month while on trail. (Recently, the PCT has stated that thru hikers are spending around $10K on their trail, which is far above what I have budgeted for that trail.) I left Atlanta and moved to Spartanburg primarily because the cost of living is much much lower here – I could save more money to allow me to spend more time on the trails.
What all have I got planned for 2026?
First and foremost, I need to make sure I am physically prepared for the long hikes. My cardio capacity has greatly diminished from the days when I used to run, and it shows quickly when I try to hike an incline. So I am going to increase the amount of cardio training from my current level.
Secondly, and really just as importantly as my cardio health, I need to make sure these olde bones will be able to withstand the challenges of thru hiking. First up, my back. I’ve been having some issues for the last couple months which I will start addressing. Once I am satisfied there, I will look into other areas of mild concern, so I will most likely be seeing someone who specializes in sports medicine.
I will be taking routine test hikes from here on out, and my next one is scheduled for February 15th. This will be at Table Mountain – A challenging hike. I attempted this hike a few weeks back and whiffed it majorly. I figure if I reach the point I can hike this hike semi-easily then my training will be going in the right direction. But I also have a tentative shake down hike late this summer (probably early August) on the Colorado Trail. As most of the section I will hike will be above 10, 000 feet (3048m), this will be my first experience hiking at elevation. It will be important to know how I react to altitude. Plus this will also give me the opportunity to visit a good friend in Denver. On top of this, I will also work more weekend backpacking trips into my schedule, in as many different weather situations as possible. I hope to do at least one each month, even it is just a night in my tent in Camp Croft.
There are also some training classes I would like to take. First, an outdoor survival class offered through the Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC). Seems like it might be important to know what to do if I get injured in the wild. I might also try to take a winter outdoor survival course – I’ve kicked around doing the AT southbound over winter, so I am sure I would see some wintry conditions. I’ve also started the process of updating all my gear to ultralight. Since the expense of the equipment is inversely proportional to the weight (the lighter the equipment the more expensive) this will be a process.
In November I hope to take a birthday trip to Iceland. The details of that trip will be decided later this year, but my hope has been to do the entirety of the ring road in a camper van. There are some rental places in Iceland with really awesome vans – But it will, of course, depend on just how severe the weather is expected to be. We shall see, to be determined.
Finally, I would like to take a trip for Christmas. I am not sure just yet where, but I’d like to do something other than hang out at home. It can be with friends, but with a potential boyfriend would be better. I’m a hopeless optimist. I tried to get a VRBO near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park this year but I was too late in the season to find anything decent. I’ve already set a reminder for next year, on October 1, to make a reservation for Christmas.
This will be a busy year for me. I’ve really been looking forward to it for a while, though.
Wish me luck!
*Though I will be eligible to start my pension at 60, and though this is something I have worked towards for years, there is still the possibility that I may delay retirement. This is based on the simple fact that none of us knows how things will look nearly a year from now.
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Will's GenX Adventure 