Rick Castro was a librarian at the University of Guam for more than 20 years. Since retiring in 2013, Castro has remained active, including going back to his old workplace.

Castro began working at UOG as an intern at the Micronesian Area Research Center in October 1991. It wasn’t until 1992 that he was hired as a librarian at the RFK Library.

While retirement may seem like simple living to some people, Castro doesn’t think like that. “Lots of people think that it’s fun and games, and heaven and bliss, but in reality, life goes on,” Castro said.

Castro has some word of advice for everyone thinking that retirement is about nothing. “We still have to get up in the morning and still have to do things that make us make feel worthwhile.”

Although he no longer works at the RFK Library, he still manages to find time to spend a couple hours there every Friday to talk and interact with past colleagues.

“I consult with my former staff at the RFK library in the cataloging and technical processing department,” Castro said. “It’s kind of for the fun of sticking it to the whole practice of separating faculty and staff.”

With all the time that Castro has had since retirement, he still finds it hard to choose a single project to work on. Castro has several projects lined up now that retirement has freed him up of several obligations.

“You never know what opportunity might unveil itself,” Castro said. “There’s always some projects and things that I have waiting on the shelf so to speak.”

Now that Castro is retired, he has plans for several projects that he has been thinking about since before retirement. “I have a book that I have been working on and off for some years that I’ll pick up again.”

Other than books, Castro also hopes to get into more recreational things such as fishing. “Getting into deep-bottom fishing with my fishing mates” said Castro.

Will Castro return back to the workforce? Considering that he already has his own projects as well as other activities, he thinks that he has been busier than ever.