Stepping off the TREADMILL

RETIREMENT IS NOT ALL DOOM AND GLOOM, SAYS LES ABERCROMBIE, BUT LIKE IT OR NOT, IT HAPPENS TO ALL OF US

Some people dream of retirement, others dread it. But, like death and taxes, retirement comes to us all. And, whether you are a dreamer or a “dreader”, adaptation to the change tends to impact your life in unexpected ways. If possible, it is often a good idea to ease oneself into the change by working part-time.

Many of us are not ready to retire at the obligatory 65 (the new 50) and negotiate with our employer to work on a contract basis for a set wage and days per week. This is first prize – enabling you to have cash flow and free time to start a hobby or play sport. If a contract is not possible, review your skill set and find some parttime work to bring in a bit extra, but again leaving you free time to do your own thing. Alternatively, you may be like me and long for one, last grand adventure. So, when my husband came home from meeting with old colleagues one day and asked if I’d be interested in going to live in Oman for three years, without a second thought I replied, “Yes, of course, but tell me, where exactly is Oman?” And so, at nearly 70, started three of the most interesting and enriching years of our lives.

Unfortunately, there are very few of us who are able to comfortably retire in our 60s, play golf four times a week, eat out whenever the mood takes us, visit children overseas, and travel as often as we wish. Retiring means you suddenly have to live debt-free on a fixed income – and the reality of that only really bites once you are retired. No matter how well you may have planned for your retirement and regularly paid your taxes, death is unpredictable and many retirees end up outliving their income. So be sure, from the outset, to live within your means and limit financial risk.

With all that said and done, retirement is certainly not all doom and gloom. In fact, it’s probably one of the best times of your life.

It’s nice to get out of the rat race, but you have to learn to get along with less cheese

– Gene Perret

You find yourself mellowing, smelling the roses, talking to strangers – you start doing things you’ve always wanted to do but never had the time – be it gardening, learning to play bridge, learning a new craft. You have greater opportunity to interact with your grandchildren and marvel at their growth and development. You also have the time to really play with them – something you may have missed out on in the frenetic parenting process when bringing up your own children.

And then there are the marvellous, complicated road trips visiting little dorpies and places of interest, getting lost and not caring because it doesn’t matter if you get to your destination a day late or delay your return by a week because some new friend has suggested another “must-see” in the area.

You reconnect with old friends and make a few new ones, you adjust to a new rhythm, your hair turns silver, knees start to creak and your laugh lines deepen. So what! Don’t fear age, embrace it. Make this life-stage one of enrichment and joy. Work at keeping physically fit, mentally alert and love unconditionally. And remember, quality beats quantity every time!