When my husband was offered a job here four years ago, we decided to take the leap to move from San Antonio to Virginia Beach. It meant I had to give up my well-paying job as an academic dean. Since I had enough years in at the school district, I was able to retire and receive my teacher retirement pension. Yes, I could have looked for work here, but one of the things we were looking forward to was for us to be able to see our children more and for me to go on business trips with my husband. Getting another job would have meant I could do neither.
Giving up my paycheck, though, has meant we have had to be a little more creative with our cash flow since there isn’t as much flowing. My husband takes care of most of the bills and the mortgage, and I buy all our groceries, presents for all the children and grandchildren, the quarterly bug spraying service, my piano tuning, our membership to the YMCA, and other miscellaneous items. Many miscellaneous items. In fact, my little teacher retirement deposit gets stretched more and more, but, thankfully, it always seems to make it until the next one gets deposited.
The other day my husband asked if I could pick up the payment for something this month, and I said I should be able to afford it. Then, on Saturday we went to lunch at a little gourmet food market and sandwich shop, one where you place your order at the counter and they buzz you when your order is ready. We were sitting outside, enjoying our iced tea, when the pager went off. As my husband got up to get our food, I handed him my credit card and said, “Lunch is on me, since I’m the only one who ever seems to have any money. In fact, I think you stay with me because of my money.” He leaned over and whispered in my ear. I laughed. “Yes, there’s that, too.”
Looking forward to the day when we’re both retired
Coming East 
Love this, CE! Such an amazing photo of your life story. My husband grew up outside of Detroit, and is a huge car buff, and Formula 1 spectator!
My son-in-law had to reluctantly give up racing and his little Miada when he got married, Reeling. The racing was too dangerous, and the Miada was too small because there were three of them. Now that my granddaughter is nearing driving age, he wants to get her a Miada (so he can drive it, too!), but my daughter won’t hear of it.
You have put together a beautiful portrait of love in words and image. 🙂
I gave up my paycheck too, after my husband took a sabbatical in 2006-2007, and didn’t go back to work for similar reasons. I don’t miss the job (much), but the extra money was kind of nice. That said, learning to stretch what we have has been a good experience, especially the gardening and the preserving of the harvest. It’s a lot of work, but very satisfying in the end.
I miss that paycheck, too, Robin, but we’ve gained so much more than we lost, I don’t regret it either.
I loved this post and photo so much. You inspire me!
You have a pretty great thing going yourself, Country Wife!
What a lovely picture of a loving couple!
Thanks, yen. We are truly blessed to have each other.
You mean Shanghai!
Whoops, yes, Shanghai!
love this post, I so relate to this. Hope you are having a great weekend. DAF
Glad you can relate, DAF. That’s what I hope to accomplish with my posts.
You have a beautiful relationship. 🙂
Don’t I know it, Eye!
Lovely to see a photo of you both, and loved your post. 🙂
Thanks, Val. I love that photo because it reminds me of our wonderful week in Truro and how relaxed we were.
Beautiful picture, Susan! Honeymooners! 😉 I’ve always loved your pics with your husband. The love and the “sweetness” always shines through them. 🙂
Thanks, yen. That picture makes me smile, too.
You guys are so cute!
Glad you think so, Daughter.
Seriously, that photo needs to be on a brochure selling the idea of retirement. Absolutely beautiful and happy! Dean of a school? Put your feet up, you earned that and more. My daughter’s school was in search of a new head. The hiring process was long and exhausting, so I can not imagine what the actual position entails.
Glad you liked the photo, Life. I picture retirement being as sweet as that week in Truro.
I have been trying to comment all day but WordPress was having hiccups. Hope it works this time because I wanted to tell you what a handsome couple you are!
Why, how sweet of you to say so, Dor. Thank you!
I love the picture of the two of you. That’s a great love. I was wondering which of you played the piano, but we never got around to talking about that! We joke about marrying each other for the money.
See, I’m not the only one, Patti! I’m the piano player. George is the CD player.
Another enjoyable post! Hey if want to see if it’s possible to save some money on your monthly pest service, call my husband we own a pest control business – let me know I’ll give you his number 🙂 Will you be at the Show & Grow tomorrow?
I didn’t know you read my posts, Sherrie. Thanks! I’m actually on my way to Philadelphia right now.
yes, got connected up via fb – it was on there so I clicked to read. Enjoying it! Hope you have fun in PA. I’ll be in Lancaster next weekend. Beautiful up there!
Love Lancaster, Sherrie. Used to live not far from there. Hope you have great weather.
Ohhh…this is just a beautiful portrait of you and your husband. You deserve to be so very comfortable in every aspect of your life. Cheers! May those retirement years continue to bless you.
Thanks, Georgette. Even though George is still working, he’s more relaxed because he comes home to a wife who is relaxed at the end of the day. Makes a big difference.
Happy, beautiful smiles! Love the picture,Susan. It’s a good move to be close to your children. I’d miss the house you had in San Antonio if I were you…
Yes, we loved that house, Amy, but being closer to the kids is so much better, especially with the outrageous price of air travel now.
Beautiful picture of you two lovebirds!
Thanks, Carol. See what being on vacation can do?
I absolutely loved your post today! I didn’t know you were a fellow Texan 😀 Of course, Virginia Beach is beautiful and it seems that being near a gorgeous ocean has done wonders for you and your husband. What an added bonus to spend more time with your children,too. I love that you both are finding your balance and that you can enjoy this phase in your life with your husband 😀
Thanks, BB. I guess I didn’t realize you were a Texan either. What part? I will always miss my San Antonio and Austin. And sometimes I get a hankering for a bean and cheese taco from Taco Cabana. What’s wrong with me? Nearly everything I write has some mention of food in it!
What a beautiful photo! I look forward to us being retired soon too (although my husband says at this rate we’ll be that couple working side by side at McDonalds into our 80s).
We’ll be working right alongside you, Julia. LOL
Aww, I bet he likes you for more than just the free lunch. Great couple photo of you.
I don’t know, HG. I think he married me for my money, too. My father gave me spending money at college, and my husband’s parents weren’t able to. As long as he stuck with me, he could eat on the weekends. I’m still buying his food. Nothing’s changed.
Beautiful and loving picture and words 🙂
Thanks, Stacia.
Awww what a fun loving and happy couple you two are. Your picture is charming and glows with your love. 🙂
Thanks, E.C. I married an incredible guy.
Love this picture of you both. Have fun in Philadelphia.
Thanks, Al. We’ll talk when I get back.
It’s nice not to really worry too much about money. I looked up Virginia beach as I’d never heard of it. The location looks wonderful. I’d say you made a wise move. Travel would be fabulous once your commitments are reduced. Maybe we can show you both around Sydney one day. A seafood buffet on a harbour cruise can not be beaten.
OMG, GCB, that sounds lovely! We’d have to win the lottery, though, to be able to afford it. It’s more likely you would come here and we’d take you to Ruddee’s to sit outside on the gliding tables by the little marina, eating the best beer-battered shrimp and enjoying a pint or two. Not nearly as romantic as your idea, but we are small town here.
As they say “small but perfectly formed”.
I’m clueless as to who says that, GCB, or what it even means. Must be that I’m in a different generation?
Small but perfectly formed means good things come in small packages. I feel positive the small town would be marvelous despite its diminutive stature
Ah, you are so right, GCB. It is a lovely little town, even though it is the largest city in Virginia.
I’m blushing. 🙂 This is lovely. And the picture of the two of you is magnificent. It’s as if it is a photo for a commercial. Gracious, I love this.
Thanks, LD. That was taken in Truro on the Cape a few weeks ago. We were so relaxed that week, and I think it shows.
Oh, I love that picture of you two! My hubby is semi-retired, but he goes to our business everyday. (And that’s good for BOTH of us!)
What kind of business is it, Dianna? My honey would go stir-crazy if he wasn’t working. I think he’ll do consulting when he leaves this job, but that won’t be for quite awhile yet. He likes what he’s doing, stress and all.
My husband builds race engnes for cars and hydroplane race boats. But he just has a few select customers. We also own commercial rental property (that keeps ME busy keeping track of all that). But hubby can choose his own hours to work and doesn’t have to deal with the public. (He had enough headaches for years when he had a full service automotive machine shop and had 24 employees!) Life is a little easier for him now. 🙂
Your husband and my son-in-law would get along well. My son-in-law is an engineer with GM, and in his younger days, he used to race Formula 1 cars. He gave it up when he married my daughter.