Retirement Is As Good As Winning The Lottery

Retirement is as good as winning the lottery.  Most people would argue with that, but I am very serious when I say that there’s a lot of truth in that statement. It’s especially true if you’ve saved for your golden years but, even if you don’t have millions in the bank paying you interest, you have the freedom of your time.  For my forty plus years of working for Corporate America, that is something that I never had, and I couldn’t wait for the day when my calendar would have no meetings, conference calls or business trips.  I absolutely love retirement and the freedom that it gives me.

I retired on the last day of the year about eight years ago and, after packing up all of Christmas decorations, my wife and I set out for warmer temperatures.  The freezing cold of New York actually stayed with us for a while because we encountered a blizzard during our stop in Charleston, but we pressed on and made our way to our first stop which has now become one of our favorites: Jensen Beach in Florida.  It’s a bit quieter than the other cities on the east coast of the state and we had a gorgeous view of the crashing waves for the next two weeks before moving on throughout the rest of the state and then over to New Orleans.  We couldn’t believe how much we enjoyed doing absolutely nothing.  We knew right then that retirement is as good as winning the lottery.  Coffee on our balcony was our favorite ritual, and it still is nearly ten years later.

Retirement is as good as winning the lottery because of the free time that it gives you.

You don’t need the money if you appreciate the time and that is what retirement gives you.  You don’t have to eat out every day because cooking can actually become a hobby.  And, for those who don’t like to cook, don’t underestimate the quality of some of the frozen dishes that are out there.  There are some quality meals from Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods and from take-out restaurants that are surprisingly good.  I can just hear the groans from the gourmet chefs out there and there’s a part of me that understands that because my wife and I both like to cook and no one will ever beat her chicken cutlets, meatballs, pumpkin bread or homemade soups that she has such a talent for.  You don’t need to eat frozen dinners but I’m here to testify that they’ve come a long way from the TV dinners of my youth.  If you have the time to explore, you can find some great meals and that’s why I say that retirement is as good as winning the lottery.  You might not get all the money attached to a Powerball ticket, but the freedom of your time is something you cannot buy.

Retirement gives you the freedom to travel, start a hobby or rekindle an old interest.  We know a couple of people who have started writing, painting, sewing and even woodworking.  Their days whiz by and when they talk about their hobby or interest, you know that those activities are what keeps them young and active and engaged.  They finally have time to do what they were meant to do.  So many people have a dream that they abandon because they don’t think they can earn a living doing what they love.  The post-working years are the time to re-visit those dreams and that’s why I say retirement is as good as winning the lottery.

This website is something I started because I like to write but I don’t want to be limited in what I write about.  With this little business I can write about the things that interest me like travel, food and wine, sports and history and I can relate it to my all-time favorite topic: retirement!  This is the best time of my life, and I never get tired of waking up with no job to go to.  Retirement is as good as winning the lottery.  You can make your retirement years into anything you want.

If you think that money is a problem, why not look for ways generate some income?  Many retirees have started a little business on the side, and some have made more money than they did when they were working for a living.  There are many ways to turn writing into an earning potential and keep in mind that over the decades you’ve on this earth, you’ve probably become an expert at something.  Why not start a little business related to that interest.  Do you know how many seniors have started websites that offer reviews of different products or restaurants or travel destinations?  Why couldn’t that be you?  Retirement is as good as winning the lottery because it gives you a second chance at life and to live your day the way that you want to – not how an employer wants you to.  Be bold and make something happen.  It’s time to Enjoy Retired Life!

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