Take time to ‘rehearse’ retirement

Tom was undecided. Although he was eligible for retirement, he wasn’t sure he was ready for it or if it was the best decision for him to make.

He knew he wanted another job, should he decide to retire. He had developed skills over the years that could be applied to a variety of occupations. He just needed to match them to a new career. He debated about a change of location, perhaps to a milder climate. He wondered what it would be like to spend hours at home with his spouse. In good and honest humor, he admitted he never trespassed in that domain. He didn’t even know how to load the automatic clothes washer.


Tom isn’t unusual. More than 80 percent of future retirees want to stay active and productive. They sometimes lack the courage or are deceived by the myth that they should take it easy after they reach that magical age. But the average man of 60 will live to be almost 80 years old, and the average woman has a life expectancy of 84. That is reason enough to try to find a second fulfilling vocation notwithstanding the fact that economic reasons dictate that extra income is often needed.

After talking with Tom, I told him that planning for retirement required at least a year of rehearsal. He should practice what it would be like to live on his retirement income and see himself in a new role. I advised him to:

 Take a vacation in his hometown to discover what was available in the way of employment, recreation and senior citizen benefits. He should ask the librarian, county agent or chamber of commerce to help him.

 Make a list of places he wanted to see if travel or relocation was in his plans. Rent a motor home before buying one and give it a trial run. Try Florida in the summer and the mountains in the winter before making a decision. Discuss real estate investments before selling his home. Make new friends n new places before deciding to relocate.

 Visit his family physician. Feeling good and living the boundaries he would set would be invaluable. He also needed to check his health insurance.

 Be frank with his spouse. Get her to express her expectations about his retirement. What did she think would affect her the most? Would he be willing to help her with household duties? As a new phase in their marriage, Tom and his wife could expect change, but hopefully a pleasurable change relieved of the busy years of family responsibilities and cushioned with savings. Tom and his spouse needed to be realistic and make plans for the surviving member. If the home was sold, and they were separated from family and friends, would they have plans for this time?

 If Tom wanted to be involved in volunteer work, the newspapers listed many opportunities where he could enjoy interaction with people and find self-fulfillment by helping others. He needed to think about the little man in the television commercial who wondered how they ever got along without him. If he wanted a new career he could see a vocational counselor for testing and advisement. He could match his skills to new interests. Without the responsibility of ownership or the stress of climbing the corporate ladder he might enjoy the thrill of sales and commissions.

 For the rehearsal period, I suggest Tom make a budget for the amount of his retirement income, practice making ends meet on that amount and get financial advice about investments.

 I reminded him that he needed to expect change, be flexible and daring enough to try a new role, have confidence that he could handle it, communicate his hopes and needs to his family and friends, be committed to his decision and get on with his life. He needed to practice visual imagery and visualize a happy and productive retirement.