Your Survival Guy loves to hear about your retirement life. From your family visits to your adventures around the world and even your hobbies and retirement jobs that you do mostly for fun, it’s wonderful to hear about you and your family. A couple of years ago, I explained to you that you need to make a plan for your retirement. I wrote:
Happy September 1st from Your Survival Guy. It’s been quite a summer and it’s not over just yet, but it sure is starting to feel like it. Because the more serious season of fall with kids back in school and vacationers back to work is on the doorstep. In my conversation with you, you’re telling me about your epic summer trips, like golfing at Whistling Straits in Kohler, WI (yes, that Kohler), your time with the grandkids, swimming, gardening, and more.
But you’re also telling me about your health and how you and your spouse are tackling an unwelcome development that is never what one expected. And you’re telling me you’re trying to wrap up a major project before you head up to Maine to help your brother winterize his island home. You, also tell me you’re going fishing for a couple months, and the list goes on.
Which leads me to Your Retirement Life. As one life coach noted this week in a WSJ article, retirees spend more time planning a two-week vacation than their retirement. And I’ve found there’s some truth to that. In my conversations with you, you tell me how tough retirement can be when you first start out. Finding your footing isn’t easy. And I wish there were a one size fits all answer to doing it “right” but there simply isn’t.
I will tell you, though, I’m not a big fan of treating your retirement life like you’re planning a vacation. Vacations and bucket list trips are great. But living your retirement life like that can be exhausting. With the rapid-fire information coming at you 24/7 I’m a big proponent of living in the day-to-day, not in fast forward.
It’s OK to be bored. It gives you time to think. It helps you recharge. You didn’t get to where you are today by always taking trips. You put one foot in front of the other and lived the miracle of compound growth proving slow and steady wins the race. You got this. I believe in you.
Action Line: You don’t need to set the world on fire. You don’t need the pressure of living a “purposeful” life if it’s not enjoyable. If you’re doing what you want to do and if you’re around those who love you, you’re giving the gift of being present. Don’t feel like you always need to be doing “something.” Just being there is oftentimes just perfect. If you need help making a plan to be present, click here and we’ll talk.
Action Line: If you’re already a client, your family members are welcome to join even if they don’t personally meet the minimum. Membership is a family affair, and it has its privileges. If you have children or grandchildren who want to build a plan for their retirement life, email me here: ejsmith@yoursurvivalguy.com.
