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| Let's get to the point ... |
Of course, as they say, if you talk you're only telling people what you already know. If you listen, you might learn something new. So if anyone has any advice for me -- about being a Snowbird, about working part-time in retirement, about the purpose of retirement -- I'm all ears. Meantime . . .
What's the Point of Retirement?
by Tom Sightings
For our grandparents, retirement typically involved a brief period
of well-deserved rest after a lifetime of backbreaking work. But for us Baby Boomers today, retirement offers a chance for a whole new life.
If you retire at age 62 or 66 or even 70, you likely have a lot of years ahead of you. But your career is gone, and your family may not be around anymore, so you need to reinvent yourself, find a new purpose for your next couple of decades on earth.
How do you find that purpose? How can you find meaning in your new life?
See What's the Point of Retirement? at U. S. News for all the answers . . . and plenty of other retirement articles as well.
If you retire at age 62 or 66 or even 70, you likely have a lot of years ahead of you. But your career is gone, and your family may not be around anymore, so you need to reinvent yourself, find a new purpose for your next couple of decades on earth.
How do you find that purpose? How can you find meaning in your new life?
See What's the Point of Retirement? at U. S. News for all the answers . . . and plenty of other retirement articles as well.
14 comments:
I've been retired for ten years now with no interest at all in going back to work. Even my volunteer hours sometimes seem like too much to fit into my busy (ha!) life. I enjoy deciding what I want to do with each day, rather than having somebody else make that decision for me. :-)
I have been retired for twelve years now. I did take some temporary jobs for the first few years, but eventually felt i needed to allow others to break into the field and get experience. I still do volunteering in educational programs and I keep very busy with other interests and activities. The one thing I gave up with absolutely no regret is having to wake up to an alarm clock.
Bring a jacket. It is supposed to be cold here for a few days. My FL neighbors are horrified by my tales of adventures in subzero weather and admire my survival skills.
Well, it is 81 degrees right now at 1:40 pm, so we turned on the a/c.
Not all professions/jobs are something that a person loves and wants to stay at into old age. Others love work and should continue. Some people are terrified of a life without purpose and therefore stay at a job when they do not need to and miss opportunities to explore other venues. Some should stay working as long as possible if it is the only networking they have with people. I love exploring new things without having to be tested.
Hi, Tom - I greatly enjoyed your full post in US News. I especially like your point about 'recalculate'. That's great advice for all entering retirement. I believe that 'flexibility' and the ability to adjust/change a pre-planned direction is essential for today's retirees.
Hi Tom! Great article as usual with important reminders. But be careful, now that you are toying with semi-retirement you just might find (like my husband and I) that the right occupation while your retired can provide more benefits than full retirement. And the benefits I'm talking about aren't healthcare and income either. Much of the reading and study I do seems to confirm that the majority of people who really, really want to retire are either physically unable to keep up or do the job they used to...or they are unhappy with it for other reasons. As Confucius said many, many years ago, "Choose a job you love, and you'll never have to work a day in your life." Looking forward to hearing how your snowbird experience unfolds this year. ~Kathy
My dream was always to have two places - one in PA somewhat near my kids and one in Florida. So I downsized from my house to my apt. in PA and bought a condo in Florida. Both are maintenance free and easy to leave. I recently bought a round trip airline ticket for $102. I drove down once but would not do it again so I bought a used car. When one of my preconceived plans do not work I change them. I have lived near the beach my entire life so that was my number one priority. I hope it works out but if not I can always change it.
I've been retired for 12 years, and can't imagine waking up to the alarm, and working a five day week like I used to do! I'm never bored, never regret retiring a couple of years early. Maintaining a home, cooking for two, keeping in touch with my large family, and publishing my blog keep me busy and happy! And bonus, I stay healthy! Thanks for giving me the chance to examine my level of retirement bliss!
I read the full article. I always enjoy retirement articles. Sometimes a writer gives new ideas and sometimes they share ideas that don't work for them but have worked for others. My retirement is trial and error but I keep exploring ways to make it the best.
Great article!! My husband retired last year as a Letter Carrier for the US Post Office and after a year, he found he was getting bored. So since he does the food shopping and always has, he decided to work at Wegman's as a part time cashier since he is there daily any way!! He loves it and he loves being with people!!
I am now following you!!
Hugs,
Deb
Impressive Tom!!
Honestly, for us, it'll just keep on keeping on. We don't want to move, we just want to afford our house and frugal lifestyle. Hopefully, we can. My husband is still working full time for UNFI and will continue until 70 yO. I wish it was different but it'snot.
Great article Tom. Way to go! I've always been an entrepreneur/freelancer so retirement is a pipedream for me. I'll just keep reinventing myself till it's all over.
Loved this Tom and agree whole heartedly! I retired early to spend time with my husband but after a few months I felt lost and without purpose. It certainly was not the retirement I thought I would have. We have travelled and like many I started a blog and have worked out know what I want but the important point is to manage your expectations and to keep involved.
Sue
Sizzling Towards 60 & Beyond
There is no such thing as retirement. Just the cessation of employment. I despise working so I devised a way of living like a rich person as frugally as possible and so far, so good. I'm like anon up above: own two places. one to be near my kids the other at a beach in Florida. I never pay for airfare because I charge almost everything on my airline card (and pay it off ASAP!) and I get around 2 to 4 free airline round trips per year (spouse included). Next year, we have so many points accumulated we might take a long extended holiday in Barbados. For free.
As anon up above, if it doesn't work out, I could always change it.
Toodles.
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