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Endings can be tough to get through, but for the most part, they’re also new beginnings. And it looks like that’s more true than ever for General Hospital‘s Maurice Benard. Because while he’s been playing Sonny for 33 years, it sounds like he’s been thinking quite a bit about what’s coming after the mobster takes his final bow in Port Charles.

It all came out on his State of Mind podcast while talking with Kelly Thiebaud. She got into her own General Hospital exit and recent return, but it was when talking about honing their craft that Benard spoke up about his own plans.

Thiebaud shared how she started acting class in her 20s, and it’s something she’s kept going ever since. That’s when Benard dropped the tantalizing question: “So you’ll come to my class?”

Who wouldn’t?? But by that, he meant his future class. While he’s not yet an acting teacher, “I will be. I’m going to do it when I leave GH.”

“Oh boy,” Thiebaud was a bit taken aback, asking if he wanted to talk about it.

But, Benard responded, “Not yet…I gotta wait.” He didn’t say how long he has to wait, but one thing is clear: Benard has been thinking about retirement more and more. The good news is that back in October, Sonny’s portrayer said he didn’t see it happening before he was 65. That means we’ve got at least a few years left, barring some major surprise.

And honestly, why leave now? Sonny and Justine are just heating up, Michael’s in a whole boatload of trouble and Sidwell and co. are threatening not just the don and Laura, but pretty much all of Port Charles. Still, we have a feeling the time will come to say goodbye to Sonny sooner than we’d like. But in the meantime, we’re going to enjoy every last minute of this crazy ride.