This more traditional notion of retirement may conjure up images of rest and leisure activities, more time with family, travel, adventure, getting around to that list of home tasks that have been under the fridge magnet for many years, and access to that pot of gold called Superannuation.
This perspective on retirement as a destination does, however, strike fear into the hearts of many – the thought of leaving behind a lifetime of what defines us can be daunting and this fear can often result in workers staying in roles they don’t enjoy as a way of preserving their identity, at the expense of their own fulfillment.
The prospect of a leisure based retirement can also be challenging for some life partners who have been known to belatedly modify their nuptial vows to:
….. for better or worse - but not for lunch!
The good news is that the changing world of work over the past 10-15 years and the abolition of a mandatory retirement age have created limitless possibilities for the modern retirement experience, including:
- 3rd age careers
- Seachange/treechange
- New business
- Part-time and/or portfolio careers
- Tailor-made leisure and holiday opportunities, e.g. s.k.i. holidays
- Lifelong learning, work, leisure and volunteer activities
In fact, the word retirement as a concept is also up for grabs – we can create our own definition. The experience will be as unique as each of our circumstances.
Henry Thoreau invites us to “live the life we imagined”.
How we achieve that may be food for thought as we start the new year with fresh reflections our Christmas break when we can reflect on our achievements and our preferred way ahead.
“Do not go gentle into that good night
Old age should burn and rage at the close
of day
Rage, rage against the dying of the light”
Dylan Thomas
No comments:
Post a Comment