The Villages Daily Sun

WILDWOOD — For two years, Villager Barbara Hewlett has beamed her sunny smile at patrons of the Wildwood Post Office, but today will be her last.

Hewlett, 64, plans to retire after working for the United States Postal Service for two decades. With the extra time, she plans to enjoy the lifestyle that has tantalized her for two years.

“I’m just going to enjoy The Villages,” she said. “I’ve been working so hard I haven’t had time for hobbies.”

Working 10 hours a day, Monday through Friday — and six hours on Saturdays — has left her little time to play golf with her husband or take the exercise classes she’s been watching from afar. She once enjoyed painting and working with ceramics, but that hobby has faded into the background of her working life.

While working at the counter in the Wildwood Post Office, the gregarious Hewlett has enjoyed listening to daily gossip as she helps customers navigate the mail system. She has even put on her detective hat on occasion to help locate customers through postal records.

“Maybe I watched too many Sherlock Holmes movies,” she chuckles.

Hewlett’s career began in Georgia as a dental hygienist, but she was lured to the post office by the stability, benefits and higher salary. January marked 20 years for the postal service career that was meant to become a part-time role years ago.

When she transferred from the post office in Atlanta to Wildwood, it was only to work a few hours a week, Hewlett says, but the post office was short-handed and Hewlett decided to fill the gap.

When she does retire, Hewlett will be taken care of through the Federal Employment Retirement System, civil service retirement and a thrift-savings plan.

Then, she just may start line dancing with the rest of The Villages residents.

Christine Giordano is a reporter with the Daily Sun. She can be reached at 753-1119, ext. 9071, or christine.giordano@thevillagesmedia.com.