Resolved: New Journeys
WE RETIRED AND MOVED to Spain in 2018. We were excited and eager to explore our new home and a new culture. We traveled a lot, mostly in Spain, but also the rest of Europe and Asia. But since the pandemic started, our travel has been limited.
Indeed, COVID-19 sped our return to Dallas.��I���m happy that we���re now closer to our sons, and can see family and friends in person. But having lived in Dallas for 28 years, I already know the city well. Still, I plan to keep exploring���but this year I���ve resolved to take my retirement journey in two different directions.
First, during the ultra-strict Spanish lockdown in early 2020, I discovered my love of drawing and painting, and even set up online art shops. Creating art has helped me deal with the stress of the pandemic and of my mother's��situation. It has become my way of turning off the outside noise. This year, I���ve resolved to continue to draw and paint in my sketchbook every day. Whether that will translate into making more money isn���t important to me, though I���ll admit that I get excited and enjoy the extra validation that comes with selling a piece of art.
My second journey for 2022 is returning to graduate school. Like my husband Jim, I was recently admitted to the Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies program at the University of Texas at Dallas. My focus will be gender studies and economics.
Why? I spent my career in the male-dominated world of finance and banking, and I���ve written about my experiences and the challenges��women face. I���ve also been interviewed about the gender pay gap. It���s an issue I���m passionate about and want to explore in depth. Classes are set to start in late January. I hope that, by drawing on multiple academic disciplines, I���ll have the opportunity to turn my personal experience and interest into a more complete understanding of the issue���and then I want to work to broaden opportunities for women who are still in the game.
Indeed, COVID-19 sped our return to Dallas.��I���m happy that we���re now closer to our sons, and can see family and friends in person. But having lived in Dallas for 28 years, I already know the city well. Still, I plan to keep exploring���but this year I���ve resolved to take my retirement journey in two different directions.
First, during the ultra-strict Spanish lockdown in early 2020, I discovered my love of drawing and painting, and even set up online art shops. Creating art has helped me deal with the stress of the pandemic and of my mother's��situation. It has become my way of turning off the outside noise. This year, I���ve resolved to continue to draw and paint in my sketchbook every day. Whether that will translate into making more money isn���t important to me, though I���ll admit that I get excited and enjoy the extra validation that comes with selling a piece of art.
My second journey for 2022 is returning to graduate school. Like my husband Jim, I was recently admitted to the Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies program at the University of Texas at Dallas. My focus will be gender studies and economics.
Why? I spent my career in the male-dominated world of finance and banking, and I���ve written about my experiences and the challenges��women face. I���ve also been interviewed about the gender pay gap. It���s an issue I���m passionate about and want to explore in depth. Classes are set to start in late January. I hope that, by drawing on multiple academic disciplines, I���ll have the opportunity to turn my personal experience and interest into a more complete understanding of the issue���and then I want to work to broaden opportunities for women who are still in the game.
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