My dearest Times News readers, there are going to be some really big changes in Linda's World. That's because I am officially a new member of a big club called Retirement. Yesterday was my last working day at the Times News.

I have been extremely blessed to work for the Pencor Services Inc. corporation for 23 years. Thank you, Pencor!I don't know how many of you are fortunate to be able to say, "I love my boss," but I am one of those. My first boss I call my Fairy Godmother, because Pattie Mihalik gave me a chance to do something I love and yet call it a job. She made so many dreams come true and even gave me some I didn't even know I had. I will be eternally grateful the day she came into my life and for becoming a very dear and treasured friend.Fred Masenheimer, the Times News publisher and Pencor executive vice president, has been nothing but a strong supporter over the years and deserves my undying gratitude for allowing me to work for him.I've had the privilege to work for Bob Parfitt and Bob Urban, both talented and amazing editors and gentlemen. And as I told Marta Gouger, my young and energetic current editor, it has been fun working with her this last year and interesting to see her trying to teach this old dog some new tricks.Now, for better or worse (you decide) I will continue writing Linda's Letters every other week. So for the time being, you're not quite rid of me yet. When Fred and Marta asked me to continue with the column, I was very hesitant. I told them I didn't think I could possibly have anything worthwhile to write about anymore and you would all get tired of reading about me sitting on my big behind eating bonbons all day.Marta seems to think I plan on doing a lot more exciting things than that in the future. I don't know. How interesting could it possibly be to write about training for a climb up Mount Everest or being a passenger on the next trip into space?Just kidding!No, in reality, my immediate plans include nothing quite that exciting. Unless you consider the following exciting: stripping wallpaper off the home-office walls, giving the house a good room-by-room cleaning, finishing a novel I've been working on, and painting. I'm hoping to open a beginner's tole painting class in the very near future.My biggest goal? To be Harry's faithful sidekick in whatever we do ... while trying to keep our sanity.I'm sure those of you who have made the giant leap to retirement found it to be exciting, scary, fulfilling and a bag of mixed feelings and blessings. A friend sent me an email with a list of people who continued doing what they loved well into later years with advice on how to stay young and be happy. They made me feel hopeful for the future. Here are some inspirational quotes from some extraordinary people. (With my own little interpretations.)Dolly Saville, 100, the world's oldest barmaid, says it's better than sitting around. "I meet lovely people." (Ahhh, but can they stay sitting on the bar stool?)Montserrat Mecho, 80-year-old skydiver, windsurfer, skier and swimmer: "If you dream about something enough, it can come true. It happened to me." (So if I keep dreaming about winning the lottery, I'll win?)Dame Gillian Lynn, 88-year-old award-winning choreographer, says the secret to staying young and being happy is "Loving what you do and loving the person you are with. It's as simple as that." (Then I guess I'll be living forever!)Constance Reeves, 102-year-old cowgirl: "You just don't let that rocking chair take over. You get up and go even if you don't want to." (It isn't the rocking chair that threatens my "get up and go," it's the recliner. It's evil. Once it has me in its grips, I'm at its mercy!)Harriet Anderson, 79, the oldest female to finish the Ironman World Championship: "I used to think 50 was old. I was wrong. Not even close." (She's so right because 65 is now the new middle age. Well, in Linda's World it is. I'm not even going to make mention of her Ironman Championship because that's got to be a misprint.)Ida Keeling, 99, world record holder: "Eat for nutrition. Not for taste. Do what you need to do. Not what you want to do and don't leave out your daily exercise. Love yourself." (I hate Ida. She's stupid.)Ardith Bruce, 84-year-old barrel racer: "Why stop doing what you love?" (I love Ardith! She's smart.)Barry "MaGoo" McGuigan, 85: "I've never been scared of old age and I'm not scared of it now." (That's right, Barry. There are a lot of scarier things, like ObamaCare, higher taxes, running out of Coke, losing my car keys ...)James Henry Arruda taught himself to read at 92 and wrote and published a book at 96: "I said, if he can do it, I'm gonna try." (My new mantra ... if James can do it, I'm gonna try.)Yvonne Dowlen, 88-year-old figure skater: "As you grow older, if you don't move, you won't move." (I don't know. I can't get past the image of an 88-year-old woman taking a nose dive on the ice. Ohhhhh, not pretty.)Linda Koehler, 64, columnist, says she doesn't have the secret to staying young and being happy ... she just is.