The UMRA-sponsored Journal of Opinions, Ideas & Essays (JOIE) is an open access journal intended for a general audience. It provides a unique venue for articles—especially those written by UMRA members—that don’t fit conventional professional journals. A wide variety of articles in JOIE currently includes a critique of Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn, a behind-the-scenes pictorial essay revealing the people and operations that make academic work possible at the University, the Civil War history of an ancestor, and even a play.

Many of us enjoy hearing the stories of others. With that thought in mind, we are inviting UMRA members to share their stories of personal experiences during retirement via a short essay (500–1,000 words). 

We have received a number of interesting and diverse stories so far and would like to add to the collection. The stories will be combined into an anthology in JOIE.   

Suggested topics: What surprised you about retirement? Have you tried new activities during retirement? How did the transition from work to retirement go for you?

Please email your essay to Kris Bettin at [email protected] by April 10. Submissions will be edited for length and clarity.

—JOIE Editorial Committee: Kris Bettin (chair), John Adams, Lynda Ellis, Edward Griffin, Jan Hogan-Schiltgen, and Mary Knatterud