Comments:
I retired 15 years ago and went to work for Canada Life. Three years later my son Ryan, a math teacher, left the Comp to join me. We now operate a number of companies, the major ones being Pinkney Financial Services, and Pinkney Tax Services. We own the former CIBC bank building on Franklin Ave., and I still work seven days a week when here in Fort McMurray.
Pat and I travel a fair amount, some work, some play, and sometimes a combination. Our favorite destinations are southern locations for 8-14 days, except Australia this year and Europe the year before, when we added a holiday onto a conference. Our main destinations are Newport Beach, Ca., Vegas, Nashville, Palm Springs, Phoenix, Boston with Fidelity Investments, Houston where Pat attends the Annual American Quilters Conference, and the odd trip to Mexico and the Caribbean. After two weeks Pat says I become restless to get back to work. I often offer financial incentives to our kids and grandchildren to join us. That together with our babysitting seems to appeal to our kids. We also travel with Ryan's seven year old and his younger brother has started joining us the last two years. The kids like Palm Springs for a week and then to Newport Beach for a couple of days. Poor grandpa looks like a prune after a few days of hours in the pool.
That's my present life; work and family.
My two great friends from Peter Pond, Oliver Pruden and Lorna Hatridge both died within five years after their retirement. I often think back to the Peter Pond days, and some of the wonderful teachers I worked with there. They had to be good to survive all those junior high kids. During RSP and tax seasons almost everyday I see former Peter Pond and Comp students in our building, who remind me who they are. Lots of great stories. Of course a few I still remember vividly, particularly the ones who visited me regularly.
Pat and I moved out of our big house into a condo that faces directly onto the Clearwater River, where the old Canadian Tire was once situated. We have a spectacular view of the river and the forest, and it takes me three minutes to get to work. I have included two photos. Grandma tells the boys that only Grandpa reads the poop books which are always popular. Liam was unhappy that his brother and cousin had all the room so I had to put him on my shoulders, so that he could also "read" the book. The second photo is from my surprise 70 th birthday this past January, just five minutes from Atlantis in Nassau where we visited as a family the last three Januarys. Three of the kids were there with 8 of our grandchildren. A party I will always remember.
