RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 1 sourcesGeorge Crabtree was lured back to his old job and took the "soft retirement" option. Courtesy of George Crabtree
George Crabtree retired from his job as a commercial printer after 40 years in the trade.
He looked forward to enjoying his free time, such as volunteering at a botanical garden.
Then he got a call from his ex-manager. Crabtree agreed to a "soft retirement" under his own terms.
This story is based on an interview with George Crabtree, 65, a retiree who also works for a commercial printing firm from Seattle . It has been edited for length and clarity.
I retired from my job as a commercial printer on October 31, 2025, after working at the same company for 10 years.
It was four days before my 65th birthday. I'd considered holding out until the official retirement age of 67. However, the recent deaths of my brothers-in-law made me think again,
"What am I waiting for?" I thought. My wife and I should make some more memories together before it's too late.
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We spoke to financial planners who said we were good to go. I was a little surprised, but I had gotten lucky with certain investments.
My employer must have seen it coming. Three years earlier, I'd asked to go part-time because I'd had enough of the responsibility of managing up to 23 people.
I'd made sacrifices for the company
They said I could work fewer hours, but not fewer days. I'd been working 11 or 12-hour shifts, so they compromised, saying I could do eight hours instead. They let me step down from my supervisory role and work a job in my chosen part of the shop.
It was nice, because I'd made sacrifices for the company, and they were repaying me by caring for me.
Crabtree spends his leisure time in the Great Outdoors. Courtesy of George Crabtree.
Nevertheless, in the fall of 2025, I knew I wanted to permanently retire. I'd had a good run after 40 years in the trade.
They accepted my decision. I didn't have a retirement party — my introverted personality wouldn't allow it — but my co-workers gave me greeting cards, a monetary gift, and many well-wishes.
My main concern was to stay as active as possible. I'm an avid gardener at home, and was thrilled to be hired as a volunteer at Bellevue Botanical Garden after an orientation and background check .
I lasted less than 2 weeks in retirement
My first day was November 2nd, and I loved every minute. I enjoy doing my own garden, but there was so much camaraderie among the volunteers.
Eleven days after I retired, my cellphone rang. It was one of my former bosses. They wanted to know if I wanted to come back and help out. One person had taken a medical leave, and another had unexpectedly quit.
I only mulled it over for a few hours before saying yes. I understood the situation, and being short two workers would be a production problem.
What really swung it was that I liked my co-workers and hoped to alleviate some of their stress. Also, since I had only been retired for less than two weeks, I wasn't completely set in my ways.
My wife, who retired from her job as a barista eight years ago, was OK with it. Although we would be fine financially without a paycheck, you have to think differently when you no longer receive one. I'm trying to wait until 70 before collecting Social Security.
Also, it felt respectful to be asked. And the terms were ideal; I could pretty much decide how many hours I wanted to work and when.
Bellevue Botanical Garden, where Crabtree spends two days a week volunteering. Greg Vaughn /VW PICS/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
We agreed that I'll work on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, usually between 6 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. I'll occasionally work overtime if needed. Hours are flexible, and they'll text me if they need me.
It's a win-win. They benefit from my commitment and experience, and my brain keeps on functioning. I particularly enjoy chatting with other staff and playing disc golf in the park with a colleague who is young enough to be my son.
He makes me laugh because, whenever he sees me, he mimes throwing a Frisbee.
We take extended vacations
My " soft retirement " has worked wonders for my physical and emotional well-being. I go to the gym three times a week, walking on the treadmill and doing a lot of stretching.
Then there is the luxury of taking extended vacations. We visited China in March, exploring Shanghai and taking high-speed trains.
We plan on traveling to Nevada this November to visit the red rock caves in the Antelope Valley. My wife has always wanted to go. We might return to China for Lunar New Year .
Still, I get the biggest kick out of volunteering at the garden. I'm there every Tuesday and Thursday morning getting covered in dirt. One day, we're pulling weeds. Next, we're dragging timber up a trail or walkway.
We've spread rocks along the paths, which must be a certain size and set at a certain angle to accommodate wheelchairs . I'd never have thought of that. I'm constantly learning.
I'm not sure how long my "soft retirement" will last. We'll see. In the meantime, I recommend it to everyone who might find it works for them.
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