Purpose

As I age, I run into many people who have preceded me into retirement. At 78, I still carve and run a small TV operation. Many wonder why I’m not relaxing, spending my retirement, and getting up late. My reply is that I don’t get up particularly early,. And I’ve “right-sized” the stress and reward sides of my life’s equation. I also monitor my stress levels carefully.

I’ve spent time figuring out how much work and stress I want from employment, and I’ve mostly managed to get a rough balance. I am also still adding to my retirement accounts, so I feel that I am doing well while doing well.
Working also helps solve an issue that many of my older acquaintances have: social isolation. While I work, I interact, meet people, and have conversations. Like others my age, my old address books are full of the names of the deceased. Going to work helps keep me involved and in contact with events and people. I feel it would be foolish to retire before it is time.

But getting back to the issue of relaxation. Many older people I know have more than a touch of ennui about relaxing. They are bored – Senior center, grandkids, card games, and sports or Soap Operas. How much of this can you take?

Our state has a program allowing seniors to work at town and city offices to pay off some of their property tax. Others run youth sports programs and work part-time as teacher aides or lunchroom attendants. Many others keep the wheels of local government spinning by serving on town committees like planning boards and conservation commissions.

Eating lotuses in retirement is vastly overrated. Find purpose in retirement. It will make relaxation that much sweeter.