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joyfulguy

As one considers retirement

joyfulguy
14 years ago

Someone wrote to ask for some suggestions with regard to guiding/offering suggestions to their parents on their ongoing retirement ... it seems that they're a bit inclined to get in one another's hair.

Here's part of my reply.

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Different people deal with retirement in a wide variety of ways. Before they retire many think of it as giving one much anticipated freedom.

The trouble is that a substantial number of people haven't been used to freedom ... and maybe it becomes boring ... or drives them crazy ... or they drive their spouses (or should that be "spice"?) close to crazy.

Some time ago a lady whose husband had been promoted to management, where he was managing a number of people, wrote to say that, at 55, he was finding it very stressful, and she was wondering whether he should retire.

I said that if he had more than one string on his violin ... and if she could stand having him underfoot (she had thought that the house was hers ... well, during the day) ... and if they'd have enough to live on (and for sure not to forget the ravages that inflation wreaks on the value of one's assets) ... that he should give serious thought to retiring soon.

Some people think that they can think ... but find it hard to actually do it, and on a focussed, sustained and structured basis.

Actually, when one retires, one does have that freedom.

And it's a good time to do some serious thinking about what one wants to do, if one hasn't been doing some of that serious thinking on that issue, earlier.

Many people spend heavily in the first year, or few years, of their retirement - doing that travelling that they've been wanting to do for years. While they're in good enough health to be able to get full enjoyment from it.

On the other hand, my Dad wasn't much for travelling, unless there was someone, usually a relative or long-time friend, that he wanted to see at the other end.

Also, barring serious ongoing illness, often we find that major spending is involved in the last year of life, due to the need to fund various health care issues that may not be covered by one or other kind of medical insurance.

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What suggestioons do you wise folks have to offer with regard to planning and managing one's retirement?

Let's get a good discussion going.

Granted, of course, that everyone's lifestyle, desires and inclinations are different.

Hope you're enjoying good health ... and if not, are able to cope with the problems reasonably effectively.

ole joyful

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