Observations

I have had the opportunity recently to spend a great deal of time thinking about retirement lately. Over the last couple of weeks, I have attended retirement functions, spoken to friends who recently retired and read more about the topic. Retirement is a monumental step in our lives. We are stepping away from the teams we have been a part of, into a life where we are not functioning as part of some large brotherhood. It can be abrupt and occasionally profoundly lonely. It is a time of unknowns and uncomfortable sensations after a career that likely resulted in mastering a portion or all of a craft. So, here are a couple of quick things to think about no matter where you are in your career.

Plan your finances and get help doing it. No matter how good you are at saving, investing and taking care of yourself and your family in this regard, this is too important not to get outside help. Find a trusted advisor and start early. People (me included) tend to wait longer than they should to do this and it sneaks up on you. Do it now. Today. Do not wait. When you cross the finish line you want to be absolutely secure in this regard. It will change your life.

Recognize that people who are highly successful in their primary career, are most likely to be highly successful in the retirement chapter. While not always true, I have found it is most of the time. The same drive, self discipline, internal guidance and adaptability that made you highly successful in your primary career will make you successful in retirement. But, that means you have to work to develop those traits and once you have them, you have to continue to exercise them or lose them.

Every retiree charts their own path. The only wrong paths are unhealthy ones. I know retirees who live in their RV, retirees who live at the coast, some who work full time, and some who volunteer some who travel extensively. You chart your own way. This is your time. Just make sure what you are doing is healthy so that you can do it for a long damn time.

If you have been in a first responder career, a military career or a high pressure civilian career, expect that when you retire there will be a period of detox. Some do not experience this, but most that I know do. Your body adjusts to not always being in a stressed state. Not always having cortisol coursing through it. Phones don’t ring at all times of the night, on the weekends, there aren’t SWAT callouts in the middle of dinner etc. Breathe. Relax and expect some of this detox. Breathe.

Finally, for those of you who have read my blog for any time at all you will have seen this before. Make yourself get out there. Volunteer. Join hobby groups. Get a part time job. Get active in your church. Whatever. But do something that gets you out and interacting with other people. There is enormous value in doing that including delaying or preventing dementia/cognitive diseases and depression. Besides, over the course of your career, you have developed incredible skills. There are all kinds of people outside the bubble you just came from who would greatly appreciate those skills in their world.

Retirement is your time. Prepare for it thoughtfully. Make the best of it. Make healthy choices and live the life you want to.

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