What does one do after working for nearly 30 years for the State of Alaska? It turns out, quite a lot! Michael Hankins lived in Alaska full-time for 45 years and now splits time between here and Arizona where he enjoys time with his wife, writing stories, and hanging in his ‘man cave’. Over time Michael and his wife Joleen picked up a few tips for the next generation of retirees. Michael says, “My wife and I made it a point to never spend 100% of our paycheck . . . at least 10% each month went into some type of investment.” And about their life now in retirement he says, “Perhaps the biggest thing we had to learn was to readjust our style of living. We closely monitor entertainment expenses for ‘wants’ instead of ‘needs’ and credit cards are paid off monthly.” So what kind of adventures can one have if they are as practical about retirement and Michael and Joleen Hankins?

Here, in his own words, is Michael’s retirement story.

I wasn’t sure what retirement would bring after 27 years of State of Alaska employment. The majority of time (26 years) was with Department of Transportation – State Equipment Fleet. I worked there as a parts person, light duty mechanic, heavy equipment mechanic, and ultimately shop foreman. Before that, 1 year of shuffling license plates for the Division of Motor Vehicles taught me to be extra courteous where DMV personnel are concerned. Up close and personal, I observed how brutal the public can be on those valuable public employees. Whenever I visit a DMV office in any state I make sure to thank the person helping me.

Free time after retirement allows me to pursue writing as a hobby. At first I didn’t know what to write, but once the creative juices started flowing I couldn’t stop. A good many of my manuscripts have been published by select periodicals. Currently I’m working on a book about Christmas cards. My wife advised me to find an alternate means to use my time. She said sitting behind a computer 12 hours a day wasn’t the healthiest activity in the world.

The garage or ‘man cave’ helps soak up extra time not spent at the keyboard. Working on hot rods and similar projects keeps me happy. Many of the skills gleaned working alongside master machinists, fabricators, welding technicians, and drivetrain specialists at DOT come in handy. I can’t say that I miss punching a time clock these days, but I definitely miss the people worked with. At SEF (State Equipment Fleet) we assisted all agencies with their vehicles. I came to know folks at Department of Administration, Public Safety, Fish & Game, Department of Corrections, Natural Resources, Health and Social Services, Labor & Workforce Development, to name a few. Many of these former customers are now my friends. A great number are also retired.

After living in Alaska 45 years, my wife and I decided to spend winters elsewhere. Arizona beckoned after having vacationed there on numerous occasions. I talked to several former state employees and they gave thumbs up to the Grand Canyon State as being a good place to winter. Hawaii was also considered for a brief period, but being constrained to the small restrictive boundaries of an island wasn’t to our liking. Almost all retirees we chatted with agreed on one thing––

“No other state can top Alaska when it comes to adventure!”

I found my share of Alaskan adventure via foot, bicycle, motorcycle, boat, and airplane. Many of the stories I’ve written relate to these trips. Exploring the Arizona desert is now high on my list of areas to tread. That can only be accomplished during the winter months, as it is not unusual in July to find the thermometer topping 120 degrees. Looking for meteorites and antique bottles while out there puts distinct purpose in these explorations. Metal detecting is a favorite pastime and there are plenty of places to do this, especially along infamous ‘Route 66’. Because Arizona was used as a training ground during WWII, it’s not unusual to uncover military artifacts hidden deep within the sand. I have a box full of neat army relics including a pocket watch and Mercedes-Benz emblem found miles from any road.

My wife and I also like to travel. Joleen put in 32 years for DOT and one of her requests after retirement was to experience places she hadn’t been. Thanks to a small RV we’ve been able to do this. There are plenty more trips on her bucket list including Yellowstone National Park and Bryce Canyon. For me, any state having a junkyard full of antique vehicles to drool over is scenic turf.

Spending quality time with family has been one of the brightest sides to retirement. Having 4 grandkids is wonderful and being able to meld with them is priceless. One good thing about living in Arizona is that during the winter months they like to come see us. Joleen and I visit the kids when things turn scorching hot around here.

I’ve been asked numerous times if I’m glad I retired. That’s not a simple question to answer. Some days I am and some days I’m not. My 27 years of state employment flew by so fast that I can’t believe it’s over. A lot of that had to do with enjoying the people I worked around, including loving the state in which I was employed. If I had it to do all over again would I follow the same route? Undoubtedly and without hesitation I say, “You betcha!”

If you would like to learn more about how your State of Alaska retirement can allow you to enjoy a comfortable retirement, please contact the Division toll-free at (800) 821-2251 or at (907) 465-4460 in Juneau.

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