“All year round, there’s 
always something going 
on in downtown Campbell.”
downtowncampbell.com

As I wandered down East Campbell Avenue in downtown Campbell, California this morning, a strange thought crossed my mind: Retirement is not over-rated!

It was about 10:45 on a Thursday morning. There was a time when I would have been in the middle of teaching my third period class. I don’t do that anymore — and I don’t miss it. My teaching career was challenging, enjoyable, and fulfilling… until it wasn’t. In the spring of 2015, for a number of reasons, I knew it was time to pack it up and vacate Room 3 at Saint Lawrence Academy. Despite the 31 years I had devoted to working at Saint Lawrence, changes in leadership left me feeling unappreciated and unwanted. Life can be that way sometimes. I terminated my employment with the school at the start of June 2015.

It’s been almost eleven years since I made that transition. Those years have not been easy. To this day, I have frequent nightmares about my experiences at the school during my last ten years of employment. In my waking hours, I have convinced myself that what’s done is done and that there is no longer any reason for me to hold onto resentment. The nocturnal hours, however, continue to bring those memories to my attention. This has resulted in many a sleepless night.

Today, however, walking in downtown Campbell, I felt an overwhelming sense of peace. My career is over. I did my best. There are those who appreciate the effort I put in to my work, and there are others who, for whatever reason, were unable to do so. How people perceived me then, and how they remember me now (if they do at all), is completely out of my control. So I embrace the feeling of gratitude — for what was, and for what is.

Downtown Campbell is one of my happy places. A number of upscale restaurants seem to be quite popular, despite their pricey menus. I’ve never been a fancy restaurant kind of person. I prefer eateries that are simple, affordable, and user-friendly. So where do I like to hang out in the Orchard City?

In the downtown area, I like the Orchard Valley Coffee Shop, a local institution which serves a wide variety of beverages, meals, and baked goods in a comfortable, community-friendly setting. Aqui Cal-Mex Mexican restaurant is a great place to enjoy some fresh-Mex dishes. Manresa Bread Company offers an excellent assortment of sandwiches, breads, and pastries. Stack’s is a great place to enjoy breakfast, while Sushi Confidential provides a wide array of Japanese menu items. 

I also enjoy perusing the selections at Recycle Bookstore and the Therapy Store, which carries a little bit of everything. And I would be remiss if I didn’t mention my favorite business in all of downtown Campbell — the Campbell Creamery. I treat myself to an ice cream there more often than I should.

Not far from downtown Campbell is the Pruneyard Shopping Center (click the link to see what’s there) and The Garret of Campbell, a fixture in the community since 1970. Their burgers, sandwiches, salads, and pizza rock. 

Yes, being retired is nice. So, too, is having the time and resources to be able to enjoy all that a place like downtown Campbell has to offer.