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Retirement planning

I've finally firmed up my retirement date and begun telling people I'm leaving. It mostly feels good. The awkward thing is that they invariably ask me what my plans are for when I retire, and I don't have a good answer yet.

On the one hand, I'm not too concerned about that. I have a full life outside work so there's little doubt I'll find interesting and useful things to do. After all, my primary motivation for retiring early is to focus more time and energy on things that matter most to me - family, friends, community, exercise, political engagement, creative activity. 

On the other, I can't help feeling a bit anxious about what lies ahead, given the uncertainties. What if Husband and I drive each other crazy? What if I miss my work? What if we don't have enough money to live comfortably as we age? 

I'm determined not to let fear and anxiety keep me from taking the leap. It's possible I've another 35-40 years of living to do and I want to make the most of it. If I start now, while I'm relatively young and healthy, I've a much better chance of doing that.

Perhaps, when people ask what my plans are, I should simply reply that my plans are to be happy, healthy, productive and engaged, and that I'm still working out the details. That's as close to the truth as anything.

Comments

  1. Keith23 October 2018 at 12:33

    The people I know and like, got a response like 'I'm going to enjoy doing the variety of things I enjoy doing." Everybody else got an answer like 'I'm working on trying not to gloat too much about being out and enjoying myself while you're locked in this office.' But then I'm widely known as a curmudgeon. YMMV.

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  2. Janet24 October 2018 at 12:10

    Tell everyone you're 'restructuring'! My standard answer when we downsized and said 'good riddance' to the high-paying, high-stress jobs was "I plan to LIVE." Congrats on getting one step closer to life and restructuring :)

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