Retirement is Another Lifetime
When I announced my retirement there was a distinct divide in the reactions from my colleagues. Some were happy for me and a little jealous, while others told me I would be back to work in six months. This last statement puzzled me until I dug deeper.
For a start, all these comments were made by men. When I queried why they thought I would return to a job I loathed and found mind-numbingly boring, they said I’d get bored at home just like they did. They told me they could only play so much golf (we have a short summer in Alberta, Canada), and the list of odd jobs around the house didn’t take that long. When I asked if they had other hobbies or socialised with friends, for the most part their answer was “not really,” and the same went for travel. They enjoyed a few trips, but health concerns and costs limited those opportunities.
Reflecting on their comments, I realized that planning for retirement is so focused on the financial aspect that the day-to-day experience is largely ignored. The refrain of “How will you fill your time?” was repeated to me often in the month before my departure. I always answered the same way.
“I will be actively writing and publishing more, extending my author and freelance reach through conferences, workshops, and networking, as well as connecting to the writing community and writing organizations. In addition, I’ll actively engage in my social life, seeking new adventures and experiences with friends. I’ve even started a Life List (not a bucket list!) of things I want to do before it’s too late.” In case you are curious, that list includes a hot air balloon ride, a tandem parachute jump, and a zip line adventure. I will also travel extensively through Italy, my favourite place apart from my homeland of England.
Colleagues were shocked at my statement and made comments like “Wow, you have it all figured out,” and “How did you come up with all that?” To which I answered “It is the culmination of five years of planning up to my retirement date.” Of course I had the financial aspect to plan, but as we can live another thirty to forty years after retirement, I knew I really needed to consider what I wanted to do with all that time. After all, it is literally another lifetime! I wasn’t going to sit in front of a screen and vegetate (This would be hard for me as I don’t actually own a TV).
Maybe I was the exception among my erstwhile colleagues, but I wanted to ensure I maintained my health and happiness well past my working life. This required sitting down and really considering what I wanted to do with my new lifetime. I considered what I enjoyed doing the most, places I would love to visit, how I could foster relationships—new and old—and how I could supplement my income. I made a conscious effort to be open to new experiences to support my mental and physical health.
Retirement Planning
When I researched my retirement, I found out several Scandinavian countries support a gradual retirement that enables the retiree and their replacement to work together, making the transition much smoother. The retiree’s hours reduce gradually giving them time to adjust, rather than “You’re full time on Friday and retired on Monday.” This makes so much sense that I don’t understand why every country doesn’t do the same. Unfortunately, in other Western countries, over time retired people (particularly men) suffer depression, declining health and ultimately an earlier death. The reasons include decreased physical activity as well as lack of mental and social stimulation.
So pre-planning for my other lifetime has served me well. In the year and a half I have been retired I have been busier than I ever thought possible. My calendar is full of freelance projects, road trips, and all kinds of events, some social and others writing-related. I have written my eleventh novel and contributed to a couple of anthologies. In addition, I have taken on new part-time roles as a condo manager and as a scouting manager for a media company. Successful retirement is all about saying YES and exploring new ways to live and enjoy life.
Of course, sometimes I yearn for a day off; when can book a day of reading, walking and relaxing, I guard it ferociously. All in all, I would not change my retired life for anything else. I am living my best life and welcome new adventures and experiences with open arms.
As I mentioned my eleventh book comes out this year in July. As a multi-genre author I love delving into new genres all the time. This latest novel is a western romance with a love triangle, entitled Willow Tree Tears. My future plans are extensive, and I don’t see myself slowly down anytime soon. Long live retired life!
One Response
My husband and I are retired and living in Europe. We did that for the ease of expenses, better health care, and overall way of living. In the US, working because you need the income is a treadmill many are on. The life they have, requires more than their social security check brings. However, that being said, living in the States, if you choose to, can bring a different kind of joyful retirement….if you look at all the things you want to do and couldn’t because of work restraints. Finding purpose, no matter where one lives, is one of the main ingredients to longevity. Happiness has to be searched and discovered. Happy Trails!!