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True StoriesDrs. Herb and Phyllis
Goldberg:
By training and temperament, they are well equipped to do so. Drawn to medicine, Herb wanted to "see disease, deformity and illness improve because of intervention." When the couple met as camp counselors, he had just completed his studies at the Medical University of South Carolina. He would specialize in plastic surgery, attracted to "intricate and finite surgical manipulations that improve function and form," and go on to establish a private practice in Encino, California, in plastic, reconstructive, hand and cosmetic surgery. Daughter of a doctor, Phyllis "fell naturally into the study of psychology" at the University of Manitoba. She completed her Ph.D in Counseling Psychology at the Professional School for Psychological Studies in California, before establishing her practice in marital, family and individual therapy in Tarzana, California. Early in their marriage, they agreed that they would stop working after about 25 years in practice. In their mid-50's, they intended to "completely reorient our life’s passions." They also planned to have raised and educated their two children and have the financial wherewithal to live comfortably and "enjoy the fruit of our labors." Having these goals in sight "kept us enthusiastic, focused and stimulated." Last year, with their children well on their way to professional careers of their own (their son, about to graduate from a medical residency and their daughter, completing a Ph.D), the moment of liberation had arrived for Herb, 58, and Phyllis, 55. "Here we were at the moutaintop, so to speak, ...not knowing how to reinvent ourselves. We were certain that we wanted travel and volunteer work to be part of our lives. [We knew] that exercise and mental stimulation were important for our physical and emotional well-being." Using the INTERNET and other resources, Herb and Phyllis began to plan a 9-week "off-the-beaten-track"journey to Southeast Asia, "a great learning experience [and] almost as much fun as the journey itself." Concurrently, they reviewed volunteer opportunities, looking for a good "fit for us in terms of goals, commitment, time and locales." They chose to join Global Volunteers, a non-sectarian group "whose philosophy -- teaching and assisting people in developing countries-- we both admire. It offers an interchange of ideas and cultures and enables volunteers and their hosts to learn from each other." They began their adventure with a 9-week journey to Southeast Asia in the spring of 1999, traveling to isolated areas of Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam, and Hong Kong, with a trek in the Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan. They spent three weeks in Vietnam as Global Volunteers where they "taught conversational English, advised in the hospital and medical clinics, taught medical and psychological policy and the American way of life." Later the same year, they training for, then climbed 14,500 ft. Mt. Whitney, the tallest mountain in the lower 48 states. In October, after more planning, they embarked on a three month journey in Sub-Saharan Africa. Next summer, they are headed to South America, also as Global Volunteers. The organization meets the Goldbergs’ criteria, but the "it may not be for everyone," Phyllis says. Some programs are in remote areas with poor infrastructure. Her recommendation: "Review the options carefully, then decide." Back at home in California, Herb and Phyllis are involved as volunteers in a number of projects. These include teaching seminars in retirement at the Emeriti Center at the University of Southern California. They want to continue to "mentor younger adults and those approaching retirement on how to adjust, plan and cope." They are also offering their expertise at local medical and psychological free clinics, and training for crisis intervention with the Red Cross. Phyllis is doing research for a book on women at mid-life, focusing on the emotional tools that are helpful for this transition. In partnership with two colleagues, she plans to launch a website, Her Mentor Center, in the near future. Getting Started Global Volunteers Her Mentor Center Home | True
Stories Copyright 2001 2Young2Retire.com, All Rights Reserved
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How to transition gracefully from a structured, demanding
professional life into "a long sabbatical" filled with travel, adventure and
volunteering? Drs. Herb and Phyllis Goldberg, two accomplished professionals -- a plastic
surgeon and marriage and family therapist -- are engaged in answering that question.