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Posted on 05/15/2026 10:47:43 PM PDT by nickcarraway
Atlanta — Going into retirement, 58-year-old David White of Atlanta, Georgia, had some preconceived notions.
"I thought it would be blissful and easy and joyful," White told CBS News. "… It wasn't quite."
In September 2025, White retired after 33 years in education, the last 15 spent as principal at the Burgess-Peterson Academy, an elementary school. It was a career so illustrious that White was once awarded Principal of the Year for the entire Atlanta Public Schools district.
He said he left mostly to be free of the daily demands. But having so much free time got old.
"I was just hanging out with the cat, and it was a little lonely," White said.
White said he really started missing his school community. He knew he couldn't be principal again since they had already hired a new one. But when a different position opened up, he fired off his resume immediately.
"I said, 'Hmm, OK, that's interesting.' I said, 'Absolutely, apply,'" Holly Brookins, the new principal at Burgess-Peterson, told CBS News about when White notified her of his plans to apply for the position.
The video player is currently playing an ad. His job title is site manager, but he is basically the handyman. He does everything from power washing bathrooms and inspecting fire extinguishers to cleaning gutters.
A lot of managers like to say every job is important. But how many truly believe it and truly show it? Not many, and not like this. And although he's no longer climbing the ladder, metaphorically, he doesn't seem to mind in the least.
"Yeah, I'm one of the bottom rungs, if you look at in a hierarchical way," White said. "… It doesn't bother me at all… I still feel like I'm contributing meaningfully to a place I really care about."
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Definition of Socialists is people who want everything you have, except your job.
They could learn a lot from this fellow.
I like that story. It’s good to have work you like in your twilight years. It doesn’t become work.
There was a story some years ago about a decorated Air Ace who was a janitor at the Air Force Academy, and what happened when one of the cadets found out about his past. Not sure if it was true.
(handyman)
James Taylor?
Something I did during some of MI’s worst recessions since Y2k was to mow fairways at two of the nicest resort-style public golf courses within 7 or 8 miles of home. It was exhilarating to be running along on an $80K Jacobsen or Toro fairway mower at 5:30-6 o’clock in the morning making my cuts and patterns at sunrise and all morning long. However, after lunch there was some manual labor but an 8-hour day meant I could be home by 2:30 in the afternoon, which was nice.
I have found retirement to be fun exciting and enjoyable.
Without having another job.
Good for you. I reached full retirement age last year and I’m okay with not going back. I’m glad I wasn’t out there mowing fairways this year. My best year was 2019 when I was the top mower with more acreage covered than anyone else. Then came the COVID and that course was closed until further notice, so I hunkered down and just collected the regular unemployment, plus all the extra weeks for which I qualified. It was right about then that I decided to start receiving SSA retirement benefits at 62 and I’m glad I did.
It’s absolutely true. And the janitor wasn’t just a decorated air ace He was a Medal of honor winner. William J Crawford. A great story.
I am coming up on one year of being retired, and If my body was a bit more spry, this would be the best time of my life.
I did wonder with some degree of trepidation if I was one of those people who worked at a high stress, high responsibility job who simply got addicted to the stress and could not adjust to the inactivity of retirement.
The kind of people who are miserable and kick the bucket within a year or two of retirement. I didn’t think so, but I wasn’t sure.
Nope. Not one of them.
I am enjoying this as life should be enjoyed.
I have become a homebody. I don’t feel the need to have a job. I don’t have the need to travel. I am taking better care of myself.
I am doing things, at my own pace (or...my wife’s pace) and on my own time.
I have hobbies, I design and print all manner of 3D things, I have been working on, of all things, a 1/32 scale model of an F-14 Tomcat that I built to about 85% complete back in 1982, and have carried it with me everywhere as I moved.
I lay in my hammock and read, listen to podcasts or audiobooks, and watch the birds. I visit with friends.
I am happy in my marriage, and I am finding Christ.
This. Is. Just. Awesome.
Upon turning 62 I made a vow to never work again. It’s worked out fine. Flipped 2 condos and a victorian. It wasn’t work. Without the need to chase women life is quite relaxing. Too old and lazy to volunteer. A long walk to the supermarket, stopover at the library and one light beer at the bar is the sum of my activity. Getting lonesome but I’m sure most would like to trade problems.
“This. Is. Just. Awesome.”
I couldn’t have said it better. We’re retired are busier than we’ve ever been — doing things we WANT to do.
Hubby is a Type A, also was in a high-stress career, and I worried that he would have trouble. It was rocky for about a month, and then he slipped right into the new life.
>> (handyman) James Taylor?
ROFL! Let’s hope not!
I’ seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. Maybe another year and a half and I’m out.
I
ve worked in the building materials world for a while on the sales/training side of things. I may become one of those curmudgeonly fellows at the hardware store 1 or 2 days a week.
I travel extensively for my job and am actually looking forward to more road trips with my wife.
He doesn't understand. His job is to serve the cat, and provide for its every need.
If he's lonely, he needs more cats.
100 percent true, but the gent was an Army Master Sargent and MOH recipient. Took out three Nazi heavy machine gun pits by himself. Unfortunately, he was captured soon after and. He was awarded the MOH posthumously because everyone thought he was dead. He got home, served another 23 years in the Army, retired and picked up the gig at the USAFA. One of the students recognized him and, short of the long, he gets his MOH presented to him by President Reagan. His dad was presented with the first one because they thought he was dead. Anyway, he died in 2000 and is the only enlisted soldier buried in the cemetery at the USAFA. His name is Bill Crawford.
Kind of like a thieving Minnesomalia governor leaving his throne to become a vendor who goes around keeping the tampon machines full in men’s and boy’s toilets and locker rooms.
He’s done the right thing the so called golden years are in truth rust.
Some friends that retired didn’t live long after it the ones that kept on the move are still alive.
Retirement is highly underrated.
Kept them on their feet, active and around people.
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