After we married, I was in college working on my degree when called by local school dist to teach 4yr olds English. I did that for 3 semesters when Viet Nam job called Jim to repair the shot up helicopters. In those almost 4 yrs, I managed a dept at Montgomery Ward and then became a Mom.

Stayed home when moving with our child for a little over 3 yrs. After a 6 month job that became 5yrs or so yrs, had baby # 2 and again stayed home. Then when she was ready for kinder, Began in Natural Gas business with Valero Energy, was there 19 yrs or so, didn't take the buy out offered by new owners and had almost 3 great yrs. I was 48 then when downsizing got me, stayed home a few yrs and my PC told me I had retired way too young. I did volunteer at the State TB hosp but did put in a little over 5 yrs in school dist, working with nurse and teaching 5th gr bilingual readers. My MIL was requiring more help than I could give her thru the night and go to work at the school so at 55 I retired again. Not a huge amt anywhere but 3 retirement incomes adds up a bit. Never regretted any of my decisions as we told our girls their educations and our help were their inheritance. That has worked out well, oh yes, during paying for college, I took a second job. Guest services at a local greyhound race track. Met lots of interesting folks, even after putting my full time hrs in my other job. It all worked out and we all are ok. Or girls have been very successful and thank us all the time for what we did, we won't die rich but we are sure finding ways to have fun and be with others, we won't sit at home til we have too, hope that is never. So sorry this is so long.