How '44s handle 65 or, making the ice cream come out even with the chocolate sauce

There's little question about it: the Dartmouth area is a pretty nice place to retire in, or to, whichever comes first. We '44s are mostly 65 this year and there's lots of retirement in the air. A score of us live within shouting distance of Baker Tower and while some still own alarm clocks for getting to the office, the majority of us don't. But, paychecks or Social Security, rocking chairs are out.

Dr. Marsh Tenney continues to teach and conduct research at the Medical School. "I'm having fun doing what I like to do. Occasionally I give up one thing but then I pick up something else, and at the end of the day it all adds up to one."

Nor is engineer Jim Browning any retiring violet. "I can't imagine life without some new project coming along. Right now I'm hoping for a two-year drilling assignment from the government."

Jack Stephenson retired from Ohio to Norwich, Vt., a couple of years ago. "I've found retirement far more challenging and stimulating than I ever imagined it could be. Everyone we meet is brim full of ideas and doing things."

Former College steward DaveEckels: "It's nice getting up not just to go to work, or having to bring papers home from the office."

Bob McLaughry heads the largest real estate agency in the area. "I think about retirement now and then, but Ann and I like what we're doing so why break the pattern?"

Win Martin, a recent retiree to Grantham: "I don't much care for the pejorative definition of 'retirement.' I'm not getting off this world. There are so many new interests and directions."

Rod Morgan, retired college v.p. and corporate officer at AMCA International: "When we change jobs we work very hard at our new assignment. Same with retirement; it needs some energies to bring it off. Too many of us worry about financial security when we can really live on what we think we haven't got. It's a question of making the ice cream come out even with the chocolate sauce."

Bill Craig retired from yellowpaging in Dayton to hill-topping in Etna. "My weekly calendar is chockablock full. Assignments for the College, class, and clubs, community fund-raising, you-name-it."

Still active CPA Karl Musser came to Hanover from Boston. "I've already retired twice and I keep thinking part-time. But somehow the 'part' keeps coming out 'full.' "

Don Pfeifle is also a multiple retiree. "I highly recommend it to everyone. How can you beat skiing, sailing, traveling, whenever the spirit moves you?"

Bill "Swampy" Marsh retired to Quechee, Vt., from Greenwich. "I've been working on retirement for some time now, but find I'm busier than ever. When do you ever stop working on your house?"

Hank Marshall retired to Norwich four years ago. "Liz and I love our golf and long evening walks."

Burt Bickford, retired in Quechee: "I started cutting back slowly several years ago. In 1981 my company had me slotted for Mexico, but we thought New England had a better look about it. So here we are."

Tom Close is still at it as treasurer of Blaktop, Inc., in West Lebanon. "I honestly haven't given retirement much thought. I like keeping busy and my job takes care of that."

Jim Elliott in Sunapee: "We now own for ourselves all 24 hours of every day."

Lawyer Dick Whiting stepped down from his law practice for retirement in Eastman. "We're busy, busy doing many of the long-deferred, often unimportant but fun things we never had time for."

For yours truly, who hung it up three years ago, retirement is so exquisite as to be almost obscene ensconced in my hills and woods, braced by family and friends, and warmed by my beloved books and music. My cup truly runneth. . .