So, you’re thinking about retiring or trying out semi-retirement. It’s not an easy choice to make. Your friends and family might not agree with your retirement choices, and your finances must be in line with your on-going lifestyle. However, retiring is very personal choice and it’s your decision. Though it affects others, their opinion should not sway you away from your retirement dreams.
Once you decide to take the leap, add one of these to your rear window, and enjoy a less rigorous schedule, less demands on your time and less of the rat-race we tend to all fall into, you might be surprised at the adventures you take, the ways you find to continue pulling in an income, and the people you meet along the way.
What’s The First Thing You’ll Do When You Retire
When you retire, it’s exciting to think about all the fun you’ll have and the things you’ll do when your schedule is your own and your time is unlimited. However, it’s also a solid time to be realistic about your time, money and personal choices to ensure your retirement is as fulfilling as you want it to be.
Before you jump into exotic travel (when COVID-19 allows it) or start booking cruises or golf tee- times, take another good look at your finances. Talk with your financial advisor, if you have one, to set a realistic budget that you can stick to and still remain retired, or semi-retired. Having financial peace of mind will allow you to fully let loose, enjoy your time and relax comfortably. It’s vital to have a firm understanding of how much money you’ve got to live on, realistically understanding how many years you’ll likely live. “American males born today have an average life expectancy of 76 years and females 81 years. That means that half of males born today will still be alive at age 76 and half of females will still be alive at 81.” Jun. 28, 2019 by Carla Fried. You need to be confident that your money will last as long as you.
Will Your Partner Retire With You
By now you’ve talked with your partner about retirement and have likely included them in your plans. If you haven’t, do it NOW! A retirement study by Fidelity Investments found that 1 in 3 couples aren’t on the same page when asked to describe their expected lifestyle in retirement. If they don’t plan to retire when you do, it can get complicated. Will you shift your household duties to accommodate you being more available and them continuing to work? How will you plan your travel? Are there expectations placed on social time with friends? There may be some resentment built up if you’re constantly playing and enjoying your freedom while your partner continues to get up early, work all day and come home to a messy house, a home full of friends or you never around. Talking about these issues before you leave the office and having expectations set prior to your retirement may alleviate the pains that could result from differing lifestyles while still in a relationship.
If your partner plans to retire with you, chances are it won’t be all fun and games. The laundry still needs to get done. The yard still needs to be mowed. Chores will still exist, so determine how they’ll get done so it doesn’t become an angry issue when you should both be enjoying your freedoms. You’ll also potentially spend more time together than you ever have throughout your relationship. Some topics to consider planning in advance include:
- Travel-how often and where will you go
- Time together-do you both need your space and freedom to pursue separate hobbies, volunteer activities, playtime with friends or are you a couple that can’t wait for more together time. What will that look like for you to both be comfortable?
- Who’s going to manage the finances? Will it be a joint effort or will one of you take the lead.
Friends and Family
Though you’re the one retiring, your friends and family will insert opinions, try to get you to travel with them or join the old geezer golf league. They may be more demanding of your time than ever before. Or they may expect that you’re busy doing your own thing and stop calling. If you’d like to participate in their retirement activities, be vocal about it and talk with them about it. If you’re interested in joining a bridge group they belong to, ask what their feelings are. When you find yourself having too much social interaction, be truthful about it, just as you should if you find yourself bored or lonely. Talking openly with your peers will prove to be beneficial for everyone. Your needs will be met and you won’t be overwhelming or alienating anyone in the process.
Your family may expect that you’ll spend more time with them, be more available to babysit grandkids or watch the dogs. Family members may stop by unannounced, believing you’ve got nothing going on. Again, if you can address some family parameters before uncomfortable patterns arise, you’ll all be better off. It might be kind of fun if you can laugh and joke about the expectations, like showing up for dinner in some cool retirement gear that explains how you plan to get through it. However you approach it, let it be known that you plan to be available with advanced notice, or drop ins are fine.
Retirement has so many wonderful perks, but they’ll be even better if you communicate before and during your retirement years. Don’t assume everyone views retirement the same ways or has the same expectations. Talk to those who matter most to you, and who will be affected by your new lifestyle. It will make the transition easier on everyone and will help you all enjoy your liberated lifestyle so much more. Whether you retire or choose semi-retirement, communication is key to making is spectacular.
The H.A.R.D. apparel line, HARD-Wears, made its debut in Daytona Beach, FL. And for the classy, beautiful women, the ones you dream about, a Dame and Dudette apparel line is also in the works. But we are about more than just looking good. H.A.R.D. is a mindset, an attitude. A lifestyle that asks, reflects and answers HARD questions like:
The creation of Half Ass Retired Dude was initially geared towards the Baby Boomer generation – the 78 million people born from 1946 to 1964. These are people in early retirement or those who will be retiring in the near future. However, as we began to ask these questions of ourselves, we realized we shouldn’t just target people our age. H.A.R.D. does not advocate quitting your job, but it encourages you to evaluate what you want and need. In most cases it just asks you to look at life differently. This is also something you shouldn’t do alone. Before making any hasty decisions, seek some advice, get a mentor, pray. A wise person always seeks counsel. Learn more about H.A.R.D. at https://www.hard-wears.com/ or contact us at customerservice@hard-wears.com.
