I turned 65 last month having retired 3 yrs ago, I used that time wisely, enjoying things I love to do and traveling quite a bit. ..Morocco and a transatlantic cruise to name just two trips. I also successfully walked the Jimmy Fund Walk for Cancer as I really wanted to walk the Boston Marathon route to celebrate my 40 years since coming to the US.
I didn't make it being 65y/o for one month before I was diagnosed with breast cancer! Bummer but living in MA I have access to outstanding care at MGH. My prognosis is very good and I am very hopeful and positive about the future. Honestly the thing that drains me the most about all of this is the reactions of some people. They are devastated hearing the news and I feel I have to look after them a bit. I don't mind as such, I am just noticing that it is emotionally draining. Anyway, surgery will be over in two weeks, a period of rest follows then intensive radiation for four weeks. Hoping that will take care of it all and by the New year I can start planning on more trips. Meanwhile I stay busy, enjoying life and staying connected while feeling exceptionally blessed.
This is a good week to read your story Andrew. I just celebrated my 65th birthday.
I emigrated to this country 42 years ago. I had studied to be a nurse at home in Cork city, Ireland. The day I left Ireland I knew I was not coming back to live there. Very long story short, I worked in a variety of hospitals, working towards getting my green card as soon as I could. Later on, I became a citizen. Starting off in dialysis but in a year was working as an emergency room nurse in Columbia Presbyterian in NYC which was quite the experience. Soon after moving to Boston, I discovered psychiatric nursing and started working at Maclean hospital. From there I went back to school and got my masters in psychiatric nursing. I worked in a variety of psych positions before finally having my private practice in which I did psychotherapy and prescribed medications. I have had a very rewarding work life, before retiring 2 1/2 years ago. I have been married for thirty two years and have one 27y/o child. I knew that by leaving Ireland I was changing my destiny. I hoped for opportunities to manifest which I am happy to report, were plentiful. This is not to say that I didn’t work really hard and I’ve overcome many serious challenges along the way. I am the youngest of four, and having buried my three siblings all in the last six years, I am free of an enormous amount of caretaking now. (Obviously I would have preferred that they had not died). They all struggled very much, carrying the trauma of our childhood with them to the grave. Unlike me, they were not equipped to rise above the dysfunction.
Now I am free, financially secure, healthy enough to travel and do as I please. I have always been grateful for the opportunities the US has provided me with and take nothing for granted. Carpe Diem!
Thanks for this Mark. It brings me back to childhood memories of being in Fountainstown, Co Cork for entire summers and even a little bit into autumn. I cherish those memories of crab fishing from the rocks, exploring the marsh, swimming and eating those (soft serve) ice creams topped with a flake (I forget what they were called). Oh was it 99s? My mother, once or twice had us linger for an extra month, so we'd take the bus up to Cork to go to school which was a great adventure. I still love going to the coastline but now typically go to Cape Cod or my favorite place Ogunquit Maine.
To this day, I still love September and that feeling of starting back into routines and reconnecting with friends and family. Enjoying the beautiful warm sunny days and crisp cool nights. The best of New England weather has to offer.
My husband retired June 1st and his Medicare enrollment did not go as smoothly as it should. He is also having trouble with BCBS Sapphire in that he hasn't received a card yet. I told him he should keep a log of all calls and contacts regarding these issues in an effort to be able to follow the trail. I also think it is a good idea to start keeping a Healthcare log of MD visits, etc so that one can refer back when needed as it can be challenging to remember all the details when needed.
Mark,
I enjoyed reading about your personal journey. I grew up in Cork and was not affected by "The Troubles" but certainly faced plenty of personal adversity and feel like I changed my destiny for the better by moving to the States 40 years ago. I recently finished reading "Say Nothing" which I found to be very well written, researched and although it was challenging to read at times, it is an excellent book.
I succeeded in so many ways, more than any other member of my family. Unfortunately they were blighted by many obstacles. I was the first to attend college etc and feel very blessed although I certainly worked very hard to get to take part in "the American dream"
Response to ostrichtacossaturn7593
RE Minister is "Religious Education" Minister in charge of educating the youth on the Universal Unitarian Principles.
My child aged 26, works PT as an assistant to the RE minister at our church. They find the work very rewarding but the salary doesn't come near to covering their full expenses. They completed their Undergrad but was miserable and depressed trying to navigate a Masters. I told them finally to let it go, it wasn't worth the damage it was doing to their psyche. So we support them and supplement their income gladly as we can afford it. Obviously I hope that some day they will find work that supports their lifestyle. There is talk of doing a Graduate degree at Trinity college Dublin. It's a different world now. 40 years ago, I came over from Ireland and worked my way up from nothing but an Associates degree. It certainly wasn't always easy but I succeeded and am now retired almost two years.
The youth of today face so many more hurdles and pitfalls that frankly many of them require help and assistance due to mental illness, physical issues, emotional immaturity, cost of living, debt, substance abuse etc.
While we are able to offer support I am happy to do so. I do not feel that I am enabling.
In fact my daughter's friend who doesn't have a job due to severe migraines and could no longer afford rent moved in with us on June 1. She also has a cat. We charge no rent and we are as supportive as we can be. The thing that makes it work well is that I have no expectations at all and accept her as she is. We are trying to support her and help her navigate her future and I believe she will succeed. I know many of you will be horrified by this disclosure. If my child needed such help, I'd hope someone out there would do for them, so it's about karma and trying to leave the world a little better than I found it.
To Mark Crothers, Greetings from Boston. Came from Cork City, moved here 40 years ago for the "American Dream"! Been retired for 20 months now, enjoying it very much. My husband retired last month. I totally notice a less intense ambience around vacations. They are no longer required in the same way as when I was working.The stress of managing all the loose ends prior to going away are no longer issues. Now planning a trip to Costa Rica.
Comments
Thanks, I appreciate it.
Post: Room For Happiness
Link to comment from October 10, 2026
I turned 65 last month having retired 3 yrs ago, I used that time wisely, enjoying things I love to do and traveling quite a bit. ..Morocco and a transatlantic cruise to name just two trips. I also successfully walked the Jimmy Fund Walk for Cancer as I really wanted to walk the Boston Marathon route to celebrate my 40 years since coming to the US. I didn't make it being 65y/o for one month before I was diagnosed with breast cancer! Bummer but living in MA I have access to outstanding care at MGH. My prognosis is very good and I am very hopeful and positive about the future. Honestly the thing that drains me the most about all of this is the reactions of some people. They are devastated hearing the news and I feel I have to look after them a bit. I don't mind as such, I am just noticing that it is emotionally draining. Anyway, surgery will be over in two weeks, a period of rest follows then intensive radiation for four weeks. Hoping that will take care of it all and by the New year I can start planning on more trips. Meanwhile I stay busy, enjoying life and staying connected while feeling exceptionally blessed.
Post: Room For Happiness
Link to comment from October 9, 2026
This is a good week to read your story Andrew. I just celebrated my 65th birthday. I emigrated to this country 42 years ago. I had studied to be a nurse at home in Cork city, Ireland. The day I left Ireland I knew I was not coming back to live there. Very long story short, I worked in a variety of hospitals, working towards getting my green card as soon as I could. Later on, I became a citizen. Starting off in dialysis but in a year was working as an emergency room nurse in Columbia Presbyterian in NYC which was quite the experience. Soon after moving to Boston, I discovered psychiatric nursing and started working at Maclean hospital. From there I went back to school and got my masters in psychiatric nursing. I worked in a variety of psych positions before finally having my private practice in which I did psychotherapy and prescribed medications. I have had a very rewarding work life, before retiring 2 1/2 years ago. I have been married for thirty two years and have one 27y/o child. I knew that by leaving Ireland I was changing my destiny. I hoped for opportunities to manifest which I am happy to report, were plentiful. This is not to say that I didn’t work really hard and I’ve overcome many serious challenges along the way. I am the youngest of four, and having buried my three siblings all in the last six years, I am free of an enormous amount of caretaking now. (Obviously I would have preferred that they had not died). They all struggled very much, carrying the trauma of our childhood with them to the grave. Unlike me, they were not equipped to rise above the dysfunction. Now I am free, financially secure, healthy enough to travel and do as I please. I have always been grateful for the opportunities the US has provided me with and take nothing for granted. Carpe Diem!
Post: One Piece Of Paper
Link to comment from August 5, 2026
Thanks for this Mark. It brings me back to childhood memories of being in Fountainstown, Co Cork for entire summers and even a little bit into autumn. I cherish those memories of crab fishing from the rocks, exploring the marsh, swimming and eating those (soft serve) ice creams topped with a flake (I forget what they were called). Oh was it 99s? My mother, once or twice had us linger for an extra month, so we'd take the bus up to Cork to go to school which was a great adventure. I still love going to the coastline but now typically go to Cape Cod or my favorite place Ogunquit Maine. To this day, I still love September and that feeling of starting back into routines and reconnecting with friends and family. Enjoying the beautiful warm sunny days and crisp cool nights. The best of New England weather has to offer.
Post: The Long Dander Home: Being Close to Your Crew
Link to comment from September 15, 2025
Reply to Quan. What powerful stories about your uncle and yourself. I enjoyed reading both.
Post: Never Working a Day in My Life
Link to comment from September 6, 2025
My husband retired June 1st and his Medicare enrollment did not go as smoothly as it should. He is also having trouble with BCBS Sapphire in that he hasn't received a card yet. I told him he should keep a log of all calls and contacts regarding these issues in an effort to be able to follow the trail. I also think it is a good idea to start keeping a Healthcare log of MD visits, etc so that one can refer back when needed as it can be challenging to remember all the details when needed.
Post: The Half-Completed Retirement Transition
Link to comment from August 14, 2025
Mark, I enjoyed reading about your personal journey. I grew up in Cork and was not affected by "The Troubles" but certainly faced plenty of personal adversity and feel like I changed my destiny for the better by moving to the States 40 years ago. I recently finished reading "Say Nothing" which I found to be very well written, researched and although it was challenging to read at times, it is an excellent book. I succeeded in so many ways, more than any other member of my family. Unfortunately they were blighted by many obstacles. I was the first to attend college etc and feel very blessed although I certainly worked very hard to get to take part in "the American dream"
Post: From Public Housing to Early Retirement: A Path Forged in Adversity
Link to comment from July 28, 2025
Response to ostrichtacossaturn7593 RE Minister is "Religious Education" Minister in charge of educating the youth on the Universal Unitarian Principles.
Post: Family Dynamics, Part 2: Supporting Adult Children
Link to comment from July 28, 2025
My child aged 26, works PT as an assistant to the RE minister at our church. They find the work very rewarding but the salary doesn't come near to covering their full expenses. They completed their Undergrad but was miserable and depressed trying to navigate a Masters. I told them finally to let it go, it wasn't worth the damage it was doing to their psyche. So we support them and supplement their income gladly as we can afford it. Obviously I hope that some day they will find work that supports their lifestyle. There is talk of doing a Graduate degree at Trinity college Dublin. It's a different world now. 40 years ago, I came over from Ireland and worked my way up from nothing but an Associates degree. It certainly wasn't always easy but I succeeded and am now retired almost two years. The youth of today face so many more hurdles and pitfalls that frankly many of them require help and assistance due to mental illness, physical issues, emotional immaturity, cost of living, debt, substance abuse etc. While we are able to offer support I am happy to do so. I do not feel that I am enabling. In fact my daughter's friend who doesn't have a job due to severe migraines and could no longer afford rent moved in with us on June 1. She also has a cat. We charge no rent and we are as supportive as we can be. The thing that makes it work well is that I have no expectations at all and accept her as she is. We are trying to support her and help her navigate her future and I believe she will succeed. I know many of you will be horrified by this disclosure. If my child needed such help, I'd hope someone out there would do for them, so it's about karma and trying to leave the world a little better than I found it.
Post: Family Dynamics, Part 2: Supporting Adult Children
Link to comment from July 26, 2025
To Mark Crothers, Greetings from Boston. Came from Cork City, moved here 40 years ago for the "American Dream"! Been retired for 20 months now, enjoying it very much. My husband retired last month. I totally notice a less intense ambience around vacations. They are no longer required in the same way as when I was working.The stress of managing all the loose ends prior to going away are no longer issues. Now planning a trip to Costa Rica.
Post: A Quick Question about Retirement Vacations
Link to comment from July 13, 2025