7 Misconceptions About Retired Life

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A lot depends on where you live and what interests you have. I am 65 years old, I retired at 60 due to ill-health and for three years, living in an inner-city apartment, I found out what loneliness and isolation meant. Then, on doctor's advice, I moved away from the city two years ago. It was a total upheaval, a tree-change and a sea-change. I wish I'd done it earlier. I am now part of a small demographically mixed community. I joined groups that interested me, made friends, I've taken an educational course, volunteered my time and mental resources and although my health is not improving, it's not getting much worse either. I feel freer, more contented and at ease than I've ever felt. While I worked, I lived what some people thought was the "high life", with travel and social status included. Along with that went high stress levels, heavy responsibilities and endless hours of work that left little or no personal time out.
Now, if I want solitude, I have it. If I want company I have it. If I want to be idle, I can be. If I want to be busy, I can be. It's a state of mind, a new level of living. Those who imagine they're going to do things in retirement that they wanted to do in their 30s had better adjust their thinking. Return to the basics, grow some roses and then smell them when they bloom. The French call retirement "making their soul". It's a pretty good description for this phase of life. Overblown expectations lead to morale-breaking disappointments. Keep as fit and healthy as possible and keep your brain engaged and alert. Sure, there are downsides and down days, but mostly it's upswing and upbeat days. Can't ask for better.

B. Treetoyou 12:41AM January 24, 2012

you will need more than you think...your health will decline no matter how hard you try to delay the eventual outcome....so just enjoy every day like you did when you were working....just think of it as an extra long weekend off from work and all will be ok.

annie of CA 1:37PM November 05, 2011

Not so, for me and my wife (64 and 66, respectively). MUCH less stress, for sure. Tons of hobbies and passions. Traveling? I write this while visiting family in the gorgeous state of Vermont (we drove from Philly). And we exercise regularly with walks and trips to the gym together. Eating? Without the stress, we do far less "nervous eating" and have time to prepare truly delicious and healthy meals (no McD's for us!).
Having a social network, several passion-based activities, living frugally, and keeping a positive outlook and sense of appreciation for all of the above are all keys to savoring that wonderful phenomena of retirement.

Banjo Steve of PA 6:45PM October 19, 2011

Instead of traveling, why not choose to live in an interesting place? I now live in Kansas, but with retirement looming my wife and I are talking about relocating to someplace with trees, mountains, and water. . .perhaps New England. It would also have the advantage of being more accessible to France, for which we share a passion.
Retirement community? Who wants to live around a bunch of cranky old people constantly complaining about their ailments and bragging about their perfect grandchildren?

Mirakel46 of KS 11:01AM October 12, 2011

This is partially correct for me. I knew that SS was not going to cut it and I had no pension. The same for my husband. Our decision was to leave the US and go to a developing country. Despite the recession and the fall in the dollar we are doing much better financially than we would have had we stayed. We have been able to build our own house and enjoy doing the finishing details as a type of hobby. We do travel less but this is due to having taken in animals that no one else wants or can care for. We never exercised (as in actual routine) before and don't now, but the work finishing the house is plenty of exercise. My husband now bicycles and walks a lot more than before. Health? Not too bad considering our ages and the fact that healthcare here is much, much less expensive. Stress? Somewhat minimized since we have organized our lives to avoid some of it. The happiness of our marriage has had its ups and downs due to the change, but in general is better. Was retirement a choice made when we felt ready to do it? Yes. What did I leave out? I recommend moving to a cheaper and less hectic place if you are a couple or person for whom change is possible and/or desired.

Minsy of NY 1:24PM October 11, 2011