One of my regular e-mail correspondents wrote to tell me he was retiring after 27 years in the fire service. We've had our share of opinionated e-mails, and I will miss seeing his address poping up in my in-box. In his last e-mail, he told me that one of his firefighters asked him, "When do you know its time to leave?" He told him:

1) Not in the back of an ambulance (hopefully alive);
2) While you still have your wife and kids to share time with (we give the fire service the best years no doubt);
3) When your retirement check is 60% or more of your current salary with health insurance paid for life;
4) The guy wanting your position deposits 20K in your secret bank account! (Ha ha! I wish!);
5) A rookie looks at the time of service pin on your shirt and says, "I was in diapers when you came to work at this place" and his buddy says, "I wasn't even born yet!"

Last month, during the International Association of Fire Chiefs' Fire-Rescue International conference in Dallas, I saw many reincarnated retirees actively involved in all sorts of jobs and projects. It also became obvious to me that "older and wiser" isn't necessarily a label that is awarded to all at a certain age. While everyone gets older, not that many people get the wiser part. I ran into several senior "statesmen" of our industry at FRI, who could be considered older-and-pompous and an older-and-pessimistic. It really struck me that we can choose how we will be referred to as we get older.

Mayor Dennis D. Parker, Collegeville Borough, Pa., joined the fire service in 1951 and was a fire chief for 23 years. I remember hearing long-time FIRE CHIEF editor Bill Randleman talk about Chief Parker as a mover-and-shaker in the mid-'80s.

Parker thought the Department of Homeland Security's Secretary Tom Ridge was a good governor of Pennsylvania because he was able to control state-level government, but Ridge's control is more difficult at a federal level because of complex political forces. Parker was optimistic and said he still had faith in Ridge. It was a pleasure to chat with Parker, who was so positive and upbeat on this topic.

Another elder statesman is the patriarch of a family-owned business that manufacturers pumps and trucks. Bill Darley has more energy than most 30-year-olds and is one of the warmest, most-involved retirees in this industry. His international efforts and history with the fire service industry put him in a unique position to speak out without fear of consequences. Enthusiastic and upbeat, I always learn something from Bill. He is a pleasure to be around.

It was tough to catch up with Chief Monroe Smith, retired chief of Gary, Ind., and Compton, Calif. Chief Smith participated in the inauguration of Chief Ernie Mitchell as president of the IAFC. Chief Smith, a participant of the D-Day invasion, was involved in mentoring many African-American firefighters and officers, as well as many others over the years. He told me the best way to be a mentor is to be a role model. Chief Smith's energy and enthusiasm was contagious.

So how will you be received at trade shows when you retire? It's your choice as the years go by. Older and wiser or older and -----?