It has been a long time since I've been here. I apologize. I've been busy.

I retired. This decision was strictly to secure health coverage for my wife after I pass away (sounds ominous but it's really not). Well, that was part of the reason. I also have to take care of my mother.

We're moving as soon as the house sells in Texas. The house in Tennessee has a view of 7 mountain ranges off the back deck (on a clear day). My wife's going to work until she gets fed up or the house sells.

I'm not eligible for any programs under the affordable care act. Well, maybe I am, but for now I'm a retired federal government employee with a federal insurance plan.

I'll try to check in more often.

Tom

Great to hear from you.
Do have plans for your retirement? What's on your schedule? I realize that you will be taking care of your mother, but what will you be doing to take care of yourself and to keep busy?

When my late husband retired at 55, I wondered what he would do with himself. Within a few months of his retirement, he said that he couldn't figure out how he had found the time to work a regular job; as he had rekindled an interest in restoring old tractors (circa 1950s)...and then of course his trusty wife also had things for him to do .

Hope that you enjoy your freedom and that your move goes well, when the time comes.

With love, Erika

Looking forward to photos taken from the deck in Tennessee.

Congrats on your earned retirement. Enjoy!

Will you be eligible to take a ride on the next launch?
Would you want to??

Good to hear from you! Glad you and the wife are doing well. Tennessee sounds beautiful.

I'll still think of you when the ISS passes over. We occasionally see it a few nights in a row. And I'll always remember Kemah, and feeding the stingrays. And missing my one chance at a personally-guided-by-you tour of NASA because I was too hung over.

Congratulations on your retirement! I think about it all the time but since I started working full time so long after our sons were born, I have a long way to go, putting away as much as I can in my 401K, and my body holds out.

Please share pictures of the view in Tennessee! My sister and niece are considering a move there in a few years.

We are going to miss you down here Tom! Congrats on the retirement and good luck on the move!