Actually, typing that out, that's why I went to grad school.

Speaking of which... I'm thinking about becoming a pharmacist. Say a person who was 9 years from retirement age was considering going back to school to start an entirely new career, and it would take 6-8 years to get trained, would that be a dumb thing to do? It's something I've thought about doing for many years, it's the only thing I've gotten excited about doing for many years, and I feel like I'm too old to start over. Going back to school at 57, starting a new career at 63, am I crazy to even think about it?

Going back to school at 57, starting a new career at 63, am I crazy to even think about it?

I don't think so. For one thing, you don't *have* to retire exactly at 65 (or any age). You can, but if you enjoy it you can keep working.

I'd look into how much time they are on their feet. I've considered doing online classes for medical billing certificates. Much lower pay, but sitting office jobs that are needed all over the country.

Years ago I heard that pharmacists are well paid right out of school but the pay doesn't rise that much unless you go independent and then there are all those regs and business stuff. A quick payoff for a late career change would be good. However, I heard that back before Walgreens and CVS pretty much ruled the world, so that may have changed.

It's kind of a cliche, but you'll still be 63 in six years, so why not be 63 doing something you want to do?

Going back to school at 57, starting a new career at 63, am I crazy to even think about it?

One of the graduates at a medical school graduation ceremony for a friend had a woman graduating as a doctor at 64.

Are you sure you don't want to point that bus at Giuliani instead?

Ha, I am far behind because I had to do a conference call thing, but I am enjoying Sondland. Clearly his family and friends have gotten through to him and he is too smart to go down with the GOP ship.

I'd look into how much time they are on their feet.

Probably, typically, a lot. It is something I need to take into consideration. I also wonder if the fact that I take both Ritalin and Hydrocodone might cause me problems in trying to get a position where I have easy access to both. My ethics are impeccable, but how to prove that.

I've considered doing online classes for medical billing certificates. Much lower pay, but sitting office jobs that are needed all over the country.

I've considered that also. I used to work for Aetna paying medical claims, which was easy sitting-down work, and I've considered going back to that too.

One of the graduates at a medical school graduation ceremony for a friend had a woman graduating as a doctor at 64.

That's encouraging.

I need to look into how much it costs and financial aid options. And hey, it turns out the only pharmacist degree program in Virginia is... 2 miles away from me, at the University of Virginia. How convenient.

Doing something you are excited about is worth a lot, Zen.

ETA I had kind of a funny conversation with a pharmacist (or possibly not an official pharmacist as they will sometimes say things like "the pharmacist will meet you at the next desk to go over the side effects" but some someone handing out drugs that were prescribed to me, anyway) about my ADHD medication which I thought was her asking me official questions but was actually just personal curiosity because she was on a different ADHD medication and was thinking about switching to mine. So, I feel like they have controls in place for that?

Yeah, the pharmacy thing would only be a timing/age issue if that means (a) you'd have to keep working to pay off student loans forever or (b) you wouldn't be able to add to retirement savings during those years in school and would have to keep working because of that?

That said, I bet especially if you're willing to work weird hours pharmacist is probably an awesome job and maybe even doable part time.