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Life After Real Estate

By
Industry Observer with Optician

Some of my AR friends have been asking where I have been and what I have been doing.  

Real Estate was a wonderful career for me with the added benefit of allowing me the opportunity to connect with so many wonderful folks on the ActiveRain platform.  I put my real estate license on ice in 2022 and have not looked back.

My husband and I have explored many corners of the world by jumping on our newest favorite ride - a cruise ship!

In February, we sailed to the Eastern Caribbean with friends and had a wonderful time. 

In September, we cruised from Vancouver, Canada to San Diego and enjoyed walking across the Golden Gate Bridge.

 

We are getting ready to board another cruise ship over Christmas week and head south to Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta. 

On warm Colorado days, we try to take in a fun round of golf.

Playing hard is not free which means I do still work (part-time) and my husband still runs his IT company.  Since I love to work with people, I decided to go a different route and went through training to become an Optician. 

I love helping people figure out their vision needs by suggesting frames, lenses or contacts.  The ladies I work with are so much fun and the customers are a hoot.  

  I especially enjoy working with kiddos who are receiving vision correction for the very first time.  When their glasses arrive and they try them on for the first time, their little faces brighten up like they are seeing the world for the first time.  

Needless to say, I now have a rather large collection of glasses for my own use. 

 

I will try to keep you posted with the latest and greatest as time permits.

For now, I am very grateful for the wonderful life I have and the cherished moments with loved ones.

Happy Thanksgiving to you all!

 

 

 

 

 

Comments(18)

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Doug Rogers
RE/MAX Coastal Properties - Destin, FL
Your Real Estate Resource!

Enjoy your travels! 

Nov 25, 2024 11:04 AM
Belinda Spillman

Thanks so much Doug Rogers .  Life is short - take the trip :)

Nov 25, 2024 12:38 PM
Dorie Dillard Austin TX
Coldwell Banker Realty ~ 512.750.6899 - Austin, TX
NW Austin ~ Canyon Creek and Spicewood/Balcones

Good afternoon Belinda Spillman ,

Good for you! Glad to hear you are enjoying life and having fun and have a new career! Will Hamm mentioned you the other day and I thought Wow! I haven't heard what you are doing now! Thanks for posting!

Nov 25, 2024 11:21 AM
Belinda Spillman

Thanks Dorie Dillard Austin TX !  Glad to see you are doing well!  Happy Thanksgiving.

Nov 25, 2024 12:38 PM
Carol Williams
Although I'm retired, I love sharing my knowledge and learning from other real estate industry professionals. - Wenatchee, WA
Retired Agent / Broker / Prop. Mgr, Wenatchee, WA

Hi Belinda,
I have followed a few of your adventures but I was surprised with the optician reveal. I think that's awesome, especially working with kids. Good for you!

Nov 25, 2024 12:13 PM
Belinda Spillman

Thanks Carol!  It is fun - most of the time.

Nov 25, 2024 12:33 PM
John Pusa
Glendale, CA

Hello Belinda Spillman enjoy your traveling, and have a Happy Thanksgiving.

Nov 25, 2024 02:29 PM
Anna "Banana" Kruchten
HomeSmart Real Estate - Phoenix, AZ
602-380-4886

Hi Belinda and it's so great to see you here in the RAIN!  I bet many folks don't know that you were one of  the first moderators for BananaTude!  And we miss y our sense of humor so it's great to see you back!   I do enjoy seeing your posts on FB on your travels and it would be even better to experience them here with lots of photos and the back stories!  Hope you make it down to PHX this winter!  Gary is always up for golfing!

Nov 25, 2024 03:25 PM
Belinda Spillman

Thanks so much Anna "Banana" Kruchten .  I miss you guys.  We do have a Phx trip planned for September 2025.  See You Then!

Nov 29, 2024 12:15 PM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Hi Belinda- I loved it when Will Hamm mentioned you the other day and I was keeping my fingers crossed that you would do just this!!!!  I love that you are having a wonderful life outside of real estate. I'm also excited that you have become an Optician!!!! You get to do what you enjoy!!!  Come back and share your travels with us, 

Nov 25, 2024 04:48 PM
Belinda Spillman

It has been such a change - and when I'm dont for the day - the customers dont keep calling me.  Love it.

Nov 29, 2024 12:16 PM
Endre Barath, Jr.
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties - Beverly Hills, CA
Realtor - Los Angeles Home Sales 310.486.1002

Good for you that you put Real Estate in the back burner... I have been to San Diego many times and loved it, just as I have been to San Francisco many times and loved it... I have been busting my you know what still in Real Estate and have been successful still in spite of interest rates, pandemic etc... Endre

Nov 25, 2024 10:45 PM
Belinda Spillman

Hi Endre Barath, Jr. . I have seen your post on Facebook.  Looks like you are busy busy busy!!!   Make hay while the sun shines - but remember to stop and smell the roses :)

Nov 29, 2024 12:17 PM
Brian England
Ambrose Realty Management LLC - Gilbert, AZ
MBA, GRI, REALTOR® Real Estate in East Valley AZ

I love that you and your husband are cruising around the world, thank you for sharing the photos!  Happy Birthday!!!  I hope that your special day will be the best!!!

Nov 26, 2024 03:20 AM
Belinda Spillman

Thanks so much Brian England 

Nov 29, 2024 12:17 PM
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Hello Belinda - Happy Thanksgiving Week.  It's nice to see you on the AR blog roll and whenever you find your way to ActiveRainLand.  While I don't visit FB or other social media sites as often as I once did, I have caught some of your adventures there as well as the wedding of Erin Bates.  

I, too, was surprised to "see" that you have added optician to your always growing skillset.  My niece and her husband are both optometrists with their own business and a three-year old who keeps them busy.  

Good luck with everything.  Be sure to stop in whenever you can.  Happy Birthday too.  🎂 Happy Cruising this Christmas and whenever you set afloat.  🛳

 

 

Nov 26, 2024 03:33 AM
Belinda Spillman

Thanks Michael Jacobs .  I know it is a strange shift from real estate but oh so rewarding.  Thanks for the birthday wishes too!!!

Nov 29, 2024 12:18 PM
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Real Estate Broker

Good morning, Belinda... so great to hear from you. And I'm delighted you are enjoying retired life and looking forward to a new career. You are proof that there is life after real estate!

Nov 26, 2024 03:49 AM
Belinda Spillman

Thanks Nina Hollander, Broker .  Glad to see you are still doing great!

Nov 29, 2024 12:20 PM
Kat Palmiotti
eXp Commercial, Referral Divison - Kalispell, MT
Helping your Montana dreams take root

Thank you so much for the update! I am glad to hear you became an optician and are enjoying it, and that you are both able to enjoy so many cruises. Isn't it so much fun to embrace a new life journey? Enjoy!

Nov 26, 2024 05:05 AM
Kat Palmiotti

I see what you did there!

Nov 30, 2024 05:09 AM
Belinda Spillman

Hi Kat Palmiotti - It is fun to take a shift in life and see things through a whole new pair of glasses.  lol

Nov 29, 2024 12:19 PM
Novella Marshall
FDC - Andrews, TX

Thanks for sharing here.

Nov 28, 2024 11:50 PM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Nov 30, 2024 07:11 PM
Belinda Spillman

Thank you Kathy Streib .  That is so nice of you.   I have missed my AR friends

Dec 01, 2024 09:31 AM
Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Oswego, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

Good morning Belinda. My wife and I retired and left Florida for Chicago to be closer to our son and the grandkids. Not what we really expected from retirement but what its us to a tee. That said, we try to get a few cruises in a year. When sailed more often when we lived in Florida. Enjoy your new career in retirement. 

Dec 01, 2024 04:41 AM
Belinda Spillman

Quite a weather change I am sure Wayne Martin .   Family is so important as we become more mature :)

Dec 01, 2024 09:32 AM
Lise Howe
Keller Williams Capital Properties - Washington, DC
Assoc. Broker in DC, MD, VA and attorney in DC

In October I went on my first cruise in many years - Viking River Cruise up the Danube - it was wonderful and we are going to do the Christmas Markets on the Rhine next December - can't wait.  and yes - playing is expensive - I don't know if I will ever fully retire.

Dec 01, 2024 06:14 AM
Belinda Spillman

Wow!  That sounds amazing  Lisa.  Good for you

Dec 01, 2024 09:33 AM
Dr. Paula McDonald
Beam & Branch Realty - Granbury, TX
Granbury, TX 936-203-0279

Congrats on your retirement and living your best life! Blessings to you on these journeys.

Dec 01, 2024 03:25 PM
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Hi Belinda:

Such fun to hear about what you have been doing since leaving real estate. I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Jeff

Dec 02, 2024 04:57 PM
Nick Vandekar, 610-203-4543
Realty ONE Group Advocates 484-237-2055 - Downingtown, PA
Selling the Main Line & Chester County

What an encouragement to others to hear you learn something new and for it to give such joy. There is hope for all of us that when we grow up we can discover something that brings joy as well.

Dec 03, 2024 12:24 PM