| Many young people today have two impressions of | | | | Continuing some exercise routines is recognized as |
| retirement, i.e., that it will be "fun times of lazy, | | | | important to maintaining one's health, although aches |
| happy days and lounging around" or it will be "years | | | | and pains, more meds and eating less is reflective of |
| of sadness filled with financial and health issues." | | | | this stage. Stage 2 typically lasts 10-15 years, and is |
| Neither picture is accurate and creates a false sense | | | | often experienced by individuals in their late 70's or |
| of what will be in store for most of us. | | | | early 80's, into their late 80's or early 90's. Sometimes |
| Retirement life has been changing rather dramatically | | | | this stage arrives earlier but rarely does it last into |
| in recent years. Charlie Davidson wrote in "In the | | | | the late 90's. |
| Service of Baby Boomers: A Seismic Mind Shift for | | | | Stage 3: This stage is often associated with how |
| Financial Service Providers" that retirement for most | | | | retirement used to be viewed, a time of limited |
| of us can really be dissected into 3 stages: | | | | activity, with some level of infirmity and/or a greater |
| Stage 1: Individuals seek fulfillment and are in good | | | | reliance on others for care and sustenance, i.e., |
| health. This phase varies in length by individual or | | | | shopping and food preparation, housekeeping, etc. |
| couple, but typically lasts from several years to as | | | | Individuals tend to slow down, nap more, and find |
| many as 15 or more years. During this stage, the | | | | themselves living the sedentary life. They will venture |
| individual seeks to achieve many previously unfilled | | | | out for occasional trips to see friends or relatives, |
| goals. Examples include travel, time spent visiting | | | | the theater, attend religious services, etc. Sharing |
| friends and family, attending or participating in sports | | | | stories and observations, or recalling earlier life |
| events, theater and so forth and/or working full time | | | | events, bring moments of great joy. Watching TV, |
| or part time in an occupation that could be built | | | | playing cards, reading books and newspapers, mark |
| around a passion (like consulting, writing, mentoring, | | | | the passing of one's days. Some like to continue |
| or helping others.) This stage is not to the exclusion | | | | being creative through small woodworking or arts and |
| of working for a living, particularly in these tough | | | | crafts projects. Journaling and writing memoirs are |
| times. Nevertheless, it typically reflects the | | | | also fulfilling at this stage of life. Certainly happiness |
| opportunity to apply skills and competencies to new | | | | can be found at this stage if one takes care of one's |
| challenges that will provide fulfillment to each individual | | | | self, or even if one needs the help of a caregiver. |
| on his/her own terms. | | | | The simple pleasures of feeling reasonably healthy, |
| Stage 2: This stage is earmarked by the | | | | having a pleasant day and communicating with friends |
| encroachment of a sense of "been there, done that," | | | | and family make life worth living. |
| meaning that there is less need to travel or | | | | Each stage requires different funding for that |
| participate in accomplishing something, volunteering, | | | | lifestyle. Stage 1 requires money for travel, housing |
| helping others, etc. There is less a sense of having to | | | | and fun. Stage 2 requires money for entertainment, |
| be out and about. At this stage, the individual begins | | | | medical care and maintaining one's lifestyle. Stage 3 |
| to lack the energy for big initiatives, like overseas | | | | requires money for occasional entertainment, more |
| travel, lengthy walks or hikes, hours on the golf | | | | medical care and possibly caregivers. |
| course or a tough game of tennis. Individuals at this | | | | So what's the bottom line? Life in retirement comes |
| stage would still continue to get out, shop at the mall, | | | | in phases or stages, but there is a consistency with |
| head out to dinner and the theater, attend religious | | | | each stage continuing to be focused on freedom of |
| events and so forth, but would relegate their | | | | choice, fulfillment, friends and family and enjoyment. |
| activities to those close to home. Spending time | | | | Let's hope this is what your future holds, because, |
| simply talking over a meal, watching TV, puttering | | | | honestly, nothing could be better for each of us than |
| around the house, reading a good book, and | | | | to experience the full extent of all of these stages. |
| gardening appears to make life feel complete. Living | | | | © Donald C. |
| the simple life seems to be the way to satisfaction. | | | | |