We Would Cry Three Times: Retirement…as an Adventure

Bob Evans and Peg McIntosh belong to that group of dreamers inspired by Bobby Kennedy’s words,
Some men see things as they are and ask why? I dream of things that never were and ask why not?

Following an early retirement in 1992 they took a step back and asked themselves what have we always wanted to do, but haven’t had the chance to do? We’d each raised a large family, watched them grow, complete their schooling, marry and have families. We had set them free to follow their dreams, and now we found ourselves in our mid-fifties and free to pursue our unrealized dreams. Both of us knew immediately what that dream would include: travel, education, and cultural experiences. Our journey began with a year of service in Elgin Texas, which gave us the courage to apply for our first assignment overseas, which was two-years in Bangladesh Job Creation Program for women. This involved travel, learning another language, living and working in another culture. It was difficult but amazing; at times it was a heart-wrenching experience of personal growth. It was educational, but more than that it was life changing. As predicted, we would cry three times: 1st, on our arrival; 2nd, on seeing the poverty, and 3rd, on leaving Bangladesh. They would be tears of love, sadness, frustration, and joy, but we continued to serve for 3 more years in British Columbia and in Cambodia to support Peace and Justice for minorities and nationals.