Cathy continues her conversation with Jeff Darbee, exploring how his life and work evolved into a version of retirement that still feels full of purpose. Jeff reflects on the moment he and Nancy realized they no longer needed to work for income and could instead choose projects that brought joy, curiosity, and meaning. He talks about shifting from consulting to writing, teaching, and volunteering, and how that change let him focus on the parts of preservation and history he loves most.

Jeff shares stories from the study abroad programs he and Nancy have led for Ohio Dominican University. They have taken seventy-seven students to Rome and other historic cities, helping many of them travel outside the country for the first time. He describes how students come alive when they experience new cultures, new architecture, and new ways of seeing the world. Cathy and Jeff discuss how mentoring young people has become a natural extension of his work and how it keeps both him and Nancy energized.

The conversation also traces Jeff’s path back to his early influences. He recalls his father’s work at Old Sturbridge Village, his own teenage years spent interpreting history in costume, and the unexpected way a newspaper editorial led him to the Ohio Historical Society. Looking back, Jeff sees how his interests in architecture, railroads, and storytelling quietly shaped a career that feels less like a plan and more like a path that revealed itself over time.

This chapter is a warm reflection on legacy, curiosity, and the way passion can guide a life forward long after traditional retirement begins.

Reinventing Retirement is the property of Dr. Cathy Paessun and is produced by Tim Beeman for Such-N-Such Media.

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