10,000 Hours That Come Easy

My philosophy about retirement is that one should go towards something and not simply go away from a job. I knew when I chose to retire in Estes Park that I wanted to have a new “career” as a volunteer in Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP). The park is home to me. Over the past 9 years I made my retirement goal a dream come true.

I was acknowledged recently at the RMNP Volunteer Recognition Event with my 10,000 Hour drop-down Bar. Doing the math, that equals 250 weeks of service or almost 5 years of full-time paid work. None of my volunteering at the park, however, feels like hard work. It is a service of love for the beauty of this park landscape and the habitats of the animals. I am privileged to spend my time surrounded in beauty working with other dedicated volunteers and staff to instill in visitors the value of these public lands and natural wonders.

I recognize I am an overachiever and did not necessarily intend that so much of my life at this stage would be wrapped up with this volunteering. Nevertheless, I do not know what I would give up if I had to volunteer less. Just as I felt my professional career was a calling, my service in the park is a calling.

People ask me what my favorite volunteer activity is. I never know what to say. Some days are not as much fun as others. Overall, however, I would not do what I do unless it was meaningful to me and to others. My blogs have described several of my service activities that are diverse such as weed warrioring, information office talking, and elk counting. Even within a single season, a particular volunteer opportunity varies from day to day.

My volunteering is not altruistic. I volunteer because it feels good, and I feel needed to contribute to a greater cause. I like being in the “know” about the park. Since I no longer associate daily with young college students, I enjoy the perspective of young staff as they seek to make sense of their lives and their work in the park.

I am proud of my 10,000 hours. I am grateful for the National Park Service and how it contributes to the edification of visitors. I am fortunate to play a small role.