The day came, and it went. My 4th term ended at 12:01 am on January 1, 2013. And thus endeth one career which will now morph into another. I keep being asked how I feel about retiring from the active bench. My answer is that the job is just changing as I move to occasional judicial assignments and mediations. I really look forward to the mediation work as it is a natural extension of my experience of 16 years on the bench and my best attribute, that of a problem-solver. I’ve always been a “project guy” with a long-term view of issues and that should stand me, and my mediation clients, in good stead.

During the day on the 1st Jennifer asked, since it was my first day of retirement, if I felt any different. I did not, and most people find that to be odd. There is a reason.

I had already begun plans and many preparations for mediating, and to accept judicial assignments. I’ve taken the first certification course and am signed up for the next. On January 1 I faxed my “Visiting Judge” paperwork to the Secretary of State and the presiding judge of the Third Administrative Judicial Region. And my hobbies. There are the hobbies that can fill any otherwise blank hours.

Will I miss the bench? Of course. It’s been a true labor of love. I would say a “calling” if that weren’t so overused. But it was.

And so is mediation and continued judicial assignments. My “PERMA” continues to be good and I hope yours is as well.