Retirement Talk for Boomers, Seniors, and Retirees

Social lives can become narrow when we leave our jobs. We may have to reach out into new areas for contact. But retirement offers us an opportunity to reach back into our past and touch former friends. We can reconnect. We have time.

At sometime in life everyone dreams of exploring, discovering and going to exotic places. As we grow older we realize that sometimes we don't have to go far. New vistas may be just outside our door.

Retirement brings a host of issues to mind. Money is only one. What we do with the rest of our life has more to do with values: values that are beyond money.

Do doctors know something the rest of us might wish we did when it comes to dying? A recent report would seem to indicate they do. A quick and painless death might get derailed by good intentions.

Possessing a sense of who we are is important. We need to know what ties our family together. It gives us a sense of identity, esteem and self control. Our story shared across generations has special value.

Retirement and birds: how do they fit together? When four birds were killed by flying into my windows glass during breakfast, it got me thinking. Retirement may be a great time to speak up on behalf of birds. However, this retirement podcast is not just for the birds.

It is easy to fall into the habit of uttering the cliche, "would've, could've, should've". Where does that lead? Retirement gives us an opportunity to do what we really want. The old cliche should be put to rest. We are free to choose.

Sometimes we just can't make a move. We just don't know which way to turn. What to do? When this paralysis hits we may need a bit of help - or special resolve.

Family Day is a new National Holiday in Canada. I was there for that occasion. Perhaps many of us could use a little prompting and encouragement when it comes to family relationships.

Reading and retirement seem like a perfect match, like wine and cheese. We have time to read for shear joy. Can there be anything more pleasurable? Perhaps. But it is hard to beat.

Regrets can ruin a day for anyone at any time. They can certainly ruin retirement. Regrets can turn a retirement into a purgatory of inaction? Is there anything we can do about it?

Limits are with us all of our lives. Retirement and getting older only bring different ones our way. How can we adapt to these new parameters? We will have to adjust. This may a good time to become imaginative.

Giving meaning to our life is a solo pursuit. We can't buy it or have it given to us. We have to find our own if we want it to be ours. It really isn't that hard. We just need to be aware and accepting.

Giving meaning to our life is one of retirements main challenges. Parents, teachers and bosses no longer dictate our behavior. We sometimes find this a new and difficult position.

Falling down can change all retirement dreams. We might be well advised to slow down just a bit. As an old Alaskan told me when I headed out for a backpacking trip in the mountains, "If you want to get there you had better slow down."

Change is slow but it can happen. Retirement is not a time to give up on long held dreams. As long as we keep moving in the right directions we can find happiness. That is what Spinoza believed - and so do I.

Do we really need so much? So much of everything. Perhaps living with less might lead to a bit more happiness. Just what is it that will make us happy?

Some folks don't know what to do with retirement. "What should I do?" is a common question I hear. Retirement calls for us to take charge of our own future. Imagination is vital. We need to reach out with our minds and reconnect with childhood abilities to fantasize and dream.

A road trip has a romantic ring to it. I have always found it to be so. There is something about driving down the driveway and taking that first turn. Here are some suggestions that enhance such trips for us.

We have good days and bad days. Part of moving into the retirement zone is that we have experience at both. We have learned to adjust. At least, we should have learned to adjust.

Sometimes our gumption just doesn't want to function. We just can't get going. Maybe that is the time to enjoy the other side of life and just accept tranquility. Nothing wrong with that.

Retirement brings new thoughts into one's mind. My wife recently asked me what I wanted done with my ashes. I laughed it off and then...

When we launch into a story about our past do we remember what really happened? We all look back on occasion. We also like to tell the truth. How often does our memory bring us the truth?

We don't stay a child forever. And we don't work forever. Neither one would be good or desirable. Retirement is another phase of life that calls for change. We need to make the adjustment.

Rugged individualism is held in high esteem. Working with and depending on others - not so much. By the time we are retired we have experienced enough of life to know that there is much to be said for working together.