I will miss going to work with a great staff

PORT VIEW
By Chris Keuss
Executive director, Port of Edmonds

Some years back I asked a good friend of mine who was retiring from his job, How do you know when it is time to retire?

He was healthy, in good shape physically, and seemed to have many more years of work experience left in him. He replied, You will know when it is time.

This past year I have been thinking a lot about that reply.

On the first of January, when I made the announcement to retire, it was with mixed feelings and emotions. I will miss the people I have met and worked with to solve issues, collaborate on projects and socialize.

I will miss going to work with a great staff and finding another challenge and experience each new day. I will miss the interaction with the boating community, the business community and the many friends and acquaintances I have been fortunate enough to have made in this job.

Having worked for over 40 years and then suddenly not waking up to an alarm clock will seem strange and different.

On the other hand, waking up to a day where I can spend some quality time with our grandchildren, play a little more tennis, travel to other parts of the United States and foreign countries that we want to visit and, of course, tackle those long delayed projects that have been put on hold and need to be completeddoes not seem that bad.

Judy and I plan on staying in the Edmonds area and I do want to continue to be involved in the community. We have been blessed with five grandchildren, a beautiful place to live, good health and the desire to do more things together.

My friend was right, you do know when the time is right to say goodbye. Now the time is right and it feels right to move on to another phase of my life.

I sincerely wish the very best for the Port of Edmonds, the commissioners, my talented successor and the staff. May all their futures be one of fair winds, calm seas, blue skies, and a compass course always set in the right direction.