Exploring The Paths of Retirement
I voluntarily left Kantlen Polytechnic University two years ago in August. I have
been preparing to retire for some time, including the creation of this blog and
workshop/seminars including humor, wisdom and retirement and ageism. These can be helpful to both those
doing pre-retirement planning, those who have already have already left work
and employers seeking new workers and managing their business.
According
to Robert Atchley, a highly respected gerontologist, rather than thinking of
retirement as a single event, it can be better understood as series of
adjustments[i]. Not everyone goes through all of
them. See if any of the following
three possible paths may reflect your experience. They are:
1.
The honeymoon path is
a happy time; especially for those with good financial status when a person
attempts to do all the things that he or she never had time to do while
working. Traveling is a frequent
choice.
2.
Another option is immediate retirement routine. Many of us already have activities
besides work. For instance I volunteer and the local
seniors centre and am creating a series of seminar/workshops that will not only
benefit the community but also help me financially.
3.
The last option is rest and relaxation during which individuals sit back,
relax and catch up on their reading. This period may last several years and
then we pick up on our previous level of activity. I approach this by stirring my creativity with painting and
poetry writing.
Retirees
may also experience disenchantment. Honeymoons
don’t last forever. We may miss our work and feel a lack of productivity. Or we
might experience the death of a loved one or be forced to move from our neighborhood
and community. These experiences may last several years before we can return to
our previous level of activity. In extreme cases we may experience depression.
Fortunately the proportion of people who become depressed is reported to be
quite small
The
return to activity is seen as a reorientation period during which we re-evaluate
our situation and become more realistic in our choices. We can then develop more satisfying
routines.
In
planning for retirement it’s important to remember that, as a society we are
increasing our longevity.
Retirement can last a long time. Do any of the above descriptions reflect you own
experience?
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