Design Your Own Retirement
Most people don’t realize how much control they have over their lives. The average person spends decades working forty, fifty or even sixty hours a week working for some company and being told what to do. They spend years having their priorities and assignments handed to them and, sadly, many become quite comfortable in accepting that as just a fact of life. They get to retirement and find out that they’re staring at a blank canvas, not realizing that you have to design your own retirement. No one is going to tell you what to do and you’re going to have a lot of hours to fill your day that used to be filled with work. It’s a radically different existence and one that many people haven’t prepared themselves for. I looked forward to retirement from my first day in kindergarten so had decades of daydreaming about what I would be able to do if there was no one around telling me what had to get done. That was the definition of complete freedom to me, and I couldn’t wait to get there. The year before I retired, a retired police officer made the comment to me that retirement isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. He said he was bored out of his mind and was considering getting a job. I couldn’t believe it. On our first “winter escape” after I stopped working, I met other people who shared that same belief. That’s when the idea for this website occurred to me. Retirement should be the best part of your life, but you’ve got to do things to make it work. It won’t happen by itself.
Design your own retirement.
Don't let anyone else do it for you!
You’ve got to design your own retirement and the lifestyle you create needs to be a unique plan that reflects who you are as an individual. There’s never been another person exactly like you (DNA proves that to be a fact), so you can’t just go out and live someone else’s retirement plan. You’ve got to know what makes you happy, brings you fulfillment and will maintain your interest as well as that page-turning novel or suspense movie that will keep you up way into the wee hours of the morning. It’s mapping out your retirement DNA, and it may take some time to create your perfect retirement plan. It will take thought and some effort, but it can make a huge difference in how you spend your day and whether your retirement is good or a dream come true that exceeds even your wildest expectations
As you begin the process to design your own retirement, I strongly suggest you take the time to look back on your life and recall all the things that were important to you at different times in your life. What were your greatest accomplishments and your happiest moments? What were your hobbies and favorite subjects in school? Is there more to learn in any subject that you have an interest in? Are there places in the world you want to visit or an experience that you want to have? Don’t rule out anything. Whether it’s sky diving with a parachute or underwater exploration, write it down and don’t dismiss any possibility. Let it “marinate” in your brain for a while and see whether the thoughts take on a life of their own. Don’t ever accept the premise that it’s “too late” to do something. With a little creativity, you can get closer to your dreams than you think. You may not be able to be in the starting lineup for the Chicago Cubs, but you can still have a great time as part of a team in a senior’s league. The real satisfaction is when you overcome obstacles to make your dream a reality. Many people worked for someone who wouldn’t take “no” for an answer. No matter how unreasonable a deadline might be, they asked you for a way to make it happen. When you design your own retirement, you need to have that same mindset. Plan it and execute it. Do you want to sail to Greece? Put it on the calendar and make it happen. Do you want to experience the Wild West? Go out to Tombstone and get started. Don’t have enough money to do any of those things? Draw up a budget to cut costs, get a job to make more money or start a business to fund your lifestyle.
You only live once and retirement is a time to make things happen, not to spend your days sitting around with regrets. You are the only one who can design your own retirement, and no plan is too large or too small. If playing cards or mahjong is your passion, that’s perfectly fine. Just don’t take the easy way out by denying there’s something else that you really want to do but are hesitant to try. Everyone is different and it’s those differences that make each of us unique. I have been known to bring up some historical fact because I think it’s pertinent to the conversation and am very used to people groaning and telling me to “get a life”. But there are other people who ask a question and we end up having a conversation for the rest of the evening. That’s part of the design process. Find people who share your interests who can not only support you in your little passion or interest but will challenge you to go further with it. Learning is a lifelong process and, when you design your own retirement, if you’re not learning new things along the way, I would suggest that you might want to rethink your plan.
Life is too short not to explore new things. As you design your own retirement, make a list of all the places you’d like to see as well as the new things you’d like to try. Become a master chef or write your first novel. Don’t miss out on reliving your dreams. It’s time to Enjoy Retired Life!
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