Dilemma

[Flathead]

I have a dilemma (correct spelling btw)

 

Most of the things I want to do socially are better in the UK. It suits my interests and hobbies better.

my dilemma is it means that I would have to retire and I am not very good at that. The work I do here is good fun, satisying and well paid. I am no longer registered in my profession in the UK and there is not really anything similar where we would move back to anyway.

the irony is I really don't need to work if we return...I just have problem retiring.

 

I am a nurse by profession and work with a number of hospitals and universities, on a casual basis, to teach, supervise and mentor student nurses. It is good fun and keeps me in contact with young people who seem to be really interested in what I have to offer. It is probably also the only way that an old bloke like me can get to talk to young girls without being seen as a perv.:laugh: (joke btw). Unfortunately the work only occupies me for 6 months of the year

 

So I really enjoy my work but much of the rest is like groundhog day. In the UK I would enjoy my free time but not have the work? My wife is happy either way as she seems a bit more adaptable and has similar interests here as in UK? We have grandchildren both here and there.

 

I suppose part of it is about being reluctant to accept that I am getting older? My cop out is to say "well just another year then".....that happens every year though.

 

No one can give me an answer....it is just cathartic to vent....can anyone identify with this in any way?

 

I have typed this on an iPad and it is sending me loopy?...bloody auto correction!!

[Conniebygaslight]

Could you do 6 months in each country...?

[Guest]

Kind of, in that in my IT field in the UK I was just one of many, whereas because of the lack of competition in Perth I have risen to the top of my field, although the experience I have gained will help me in the UK I know I am probably going to drop back down the ladder a few notches

 

I don't know where you plan on moving back to but are there any Further Education Colleges or even possibly 6th form colleges there? Many years ago I used to be a 'Lecturer in Health and Socail Care' (to give me my fancy title) and i would have thought there would be lots of opening for someone with your background doing something like that. There are often part-time or maternity cover opportunities if you want to ease into retirement.

 

The Times Educational Supplement is the place for jobs but a quick google search found quite a lot...

 

http://www.indeed.co.uk/Health-Social-Care-Lecturer-jobs

 

You don't need a degree if you have relevant vocational qualifications (& I certainly had colleagues who came from nursing) and you don't have to be a qualified teacher - although vocational qualifications in training and assessment are valued and you will probably be expected to take them (it's mainly accredited prior learning and classroom observations so easily achieved).

 

Just a thought, maybe it is not either/or!

 

Good Luck

 

Jules

[Flathead]

 

You don't need a degree if you have relevant vocational qualifications (& I certainly had colleagues who came from nursing) and you don't have to be a qualified teacher - although vocational qualifications in training and assessment are valued and you will probably be expected to take them (it's mainly accredited prior learning and classroom observations so easily achieved).

 

Just a thought, maybe it is not either/or!

 

Good Luck

 

Jules

Thanks for the replies

I used to be a university lecturer and have teaching qualifications and degrees.

 

The system is somewhat different in the UK and what I do is pretty specialised. I teach nurses therefore need to work for a university and also need to be registered in the UK which could be problematic given my lack of clinical work over the past few years.?...and my age.

l have thought about what you have said in the past but ruled it out for many reasons........I may look again though.

 

as for spending 6 months here and 6 months there......the work is not in 6 month blocks but spread over the academic year. I would also find that lifestyle problematic as I would prefer some stability to get on with joining clubs, having a garden etc. it would also be prohibitively expensive trying to maintain two places to live.

 

It seems all or nothing and that is the bullet I will have to eventually bite.

[Quoll]

I can relate. I have "retired" from my profession too - no longer registered in Australia and couldnt register in UK any more. I thought retirement would be very bland for me too but apart from the fact that I am caring for the aged parents my days are full of other stuff that I never had time to do when I was working. If I did get the stir crazy itch then I would go for volunteering but I havent got time to volunteer either at the moment - I had thought about Samaritans (did that and Lifeline in the past) or the police (not sure I am young enough for even the office volunteers though), and the local library has been pestering me to be a library volunteer. Then there is Helping Hands which I would do were I not a HH for my parents and my aunt and uncle. My intellectual stimulation comes from my hobbies most of the time and I am astonished at how much time and energy I can devote to getting fit and losing weight.

 

I will say that total retirement was a bullet I bit because I had to and it did cause me more than a pang or two (I cried when I wrote my letter of resignation and again when I indicated that I wanted to no longer be registered as a psychologist) but once that line has been drawn I cant actually see me ever wanting to work again if I dont have to!

 

Good luck with the solution to your dilemma - it's hard to let go!