Enjoy Life in Retirement
(The Palm Beaches)

One of the pleasant rewards for a lifetime of work is the anticipation of retirement. No more commutes, no more meetings, no terrible bosses, no more child care, and no more stress. Welcome to your dream retirement.

Well, folks, it’s a lot more complicated. I have been giving retirement advice to friends who are about to enter that stage of life.

This is not about financial advice. I’ll leave that to the “so-called experts.”

Let’s go over some basics.

You need to take care of yourself. Lose some or a lot of weight. See your doctor. Recognize that you are no longer 25. Living your “golden years” in poor health is not fun, and some of these issues are things you can work on.

Gentlemen, your wife can tolerate you in small doses. She doesn’t want you following her around all day like a puppy. Give the woman some space, brother.

Fun with Grandkids
(Source: REI)

Now is the opportunity to be a great grandma and grandpa. If you failed as a parent, this is your chance to reinvent yourself as a super grandparent. I have six grandkids and two great-grandkids. I love them beyond words. Maybe you don’t like kids. Fake it. They may melt your heart.

Occupations/Avocations in Retirement

Before you get that gold watch or “don’t let the door hit you in your backside” farewell from work, FIND SOMETHING TO DO. It doesn’t have to be just one thing, but you have to have something to get excited about. The possibilities are endless.

• Volunteer
• Age Appropriate Sports
• Both Group and Solidary Activities
• Hobbies – the opportunities are nearly infinite.
• Travel
• Teaching and Mentoring

Retirement Ideas

Here are some suggestions from Copilot.

Hey, post some of your own ideas to help your friends and family.

My Experiences

I became a student of the American Civil War. My wife and I visited over 150 Civil War sites. I launched a web page to share my many photographs. My travels led to writing a biography of a Civil War general. Now I have completed five novels and seven non-fiction works. Not too shabby for a chemical engineer. Then I began taking art classes. I’m not that good, but I find it relaxing. My wife and I like to travel, and we have taken many trips with Road Scholar. Some days, our great-granddaughter visits us. She leads me around by my nose, and I become a student, patient, and even a prince. Yesterday, we painted with acrylics. I am not sure whether there was more paint on her three canvases or her. Crazy fun. You can learn a lot from your grandkids and explore new worlds with them.

Carpe Diem

Seize the day! Don’t put off that activity or trip until you are 95. Do it as soon as possible.