(CNN) -- Choosing to step down from a top job can be an extraordinary decision, whether the person is a pontiff or a politician. But George Pataki, former governor of New York, says making the switch from public figure to John Q. Public wasn't difficult for him. 

"I made up my mind that I was never going to let my public title become my personal identity," he says. He embraced what he calls a sense of normalcy after he left office, going to movies and basketball games. 

A year or two after he left office, Pataki went to Madison Square Garden with a group of friends to see the Knicks play. And he wanted to stand in line to get himself a hot dog -- something elected officials tend not to do. 

"I loved it," he says. Even though fellow fans recognized him and offered to let him jump the queue, Pataki waited in line for his hot dog with mustard and sauerkraut. "I felt really good about the fact that it was just comfortable for me to be on line with the rest," he says. 

Pataki decided in the middle of his third term in office that he would not seek a fourth term. He left office in 2006, after 12 years as governor. 

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"I had no doubts that this was the right decision for me, for my family, for the team that had worked so hard with me, and for the state," he says. 
Who said the switch from public life to private wasn't hard for him?
What position did he have?
What kind of decision did he say it often is?
Did he confuse his personal/professional identities?
What did he embrace instead?
By doing what?
When did he go to Madison Square Garden?
Who with?
Why did he go?
What did he stand in line for?
Is this something politicans usually do?
Did he enjoy it?
How do we know?
Did others recognize him?
What did they offer to let him do?
Did he accept?
What did he get on his hot dog?
Did he enjoy waiting in line?
How many terms did he serve?
When did he leave office?
George Pataki
George Pataki
governor of New York
governor of New York
an extraordinary decision
an extraordinary decision
no
I made up my mind that I was never going to let my public title become my personal identity
a sense of normalcy after he left office
 a sense of normalcy after he left office
going to movies and basketball games
going to movies and basketball games
A year or two after he left office
A year or two after he left office
a group of friends
a group of friends
to see the Knicks play
to see the Knicks play
a hot dog
a hot dog
no
something elected officials tend not to do
yes
"I loved it," he says.
he said "I loved it,"
"I loved it,"
yes
Even though fellow fans recognized him
jump the queue
jump the queue
no
Pataki waited in line for his hot dog
mustard and sauerkraut
mustard and sauerkraut
yes
"I felt really good about the fact that it was just comfortable for me to be on line with the rest," 
Three
Pataki decided in the middle of his third term in office that he would not seek a fourth term
2006
2006