Thoughts on Retirement

Everywhere I go, people inevitably ask me how retirement is going. I’m amazed so many people know that I retired just before Christmas, but then when you’re on the radio everyday and you’re coming retirement is mentioned over and over, it makes sense that listeners are going to be aware of it. So given all the questions, I’ve decided to write a little about this new phase of life called retirement.
I’ve done a lot of research on the topic. You have to because there’s a lot you need to know and many decisions you must make before taking the plunge. The biggest concern of course is financial. All the literature you read on retirement and the seminars you attend all recommend you find a good financial planner to help your through the process. I wasn’t going to do that because I thought I understood most of the financial implications, but I didn’t. There are so many details, it’s almost impossible to do it all on your own. So I went to a planner and I’m glad I did.
The other important decision you have to make is what you’re going to do in retirement. I can’t imagine just deciding one day to retire because you can and then trying to figure out what to do with the rest of your life. We don’t work that way. You just can’t suddenly stop doing what you’ve been doing every weekday for thirty or more years and do nothing. You need a plan.
In my case I knew I was going to continue working even before I agreed to take over this newspaper. I had a number of projects in the works. Once the River Valley News came into the picture, my retirement became more of a career change than the traditional kind of retirement our parents practiced. There are no winters in Florida or spending time under a palm tree by a pool for me and for many others who retire in their mid 50’s.
Last fall I did a special CBC radio program about retirement. I spoke to retired people from all over the Maritimes who are in this next stage of their lives. Some no longer work but most do. They either do part time work that interests them or they are self-employed. Even those who don’t have a job, spend a lot of time volunteering and helping others. One thing they all agree on is how busy they are. Most of the retired people I know say they’re so busy now they don’t know how they ever had time to work. So far that certainly applies to me.
Since taking over this newspaper at the beginning of the year, it’s been busier than I expected it to be. There’s a lot to setting up a business and so many details that have to be dealt with. There’s a steep learning curve involved when you’ve never done it before. With any business there are frustrations and delays that you’re forced to deal with. So it’s busy, especially in the initial stages of setting things up and making sure everything gets done. I’m sure that will change but even though it’s busy, it’s still a lot of fun. That’s the common denominator I’ve found with all the retirees I’ve talked to.
They’re all enjoying themselves, whether they’re working or not. They look at retirement as perhaps the best time of their lives. They’ve paid their dues and aren’t afraid to say no when they’re asked to do something they don’t want to do. Even if they don’t have as much money as they had before, they’re in control of their lives and their future. Retirement can be very liberating.
A recently retired man about my age said it best. He told me at first he worried about money but soon realized he didn’t need as much as he thought he did. He said those ‘Freedom 55′ style commercials where they say you need a zillion dollars to retire comfortably, are just meant to scare you. He says if you think you have enough money to retire, you probably do and just do it. Don’t worry about it. He says life is short and we all get only one kick at the can. He says there’s more to life than going to that same job you’ve been doing for years. Life is an adventure, he says. Live it and do those things you really want to do. He’s right.