Article View
| Report This Article | Share With A Friend | |||
| Other Works [Books] [Stories] [Articles] [Poetry] [News] [Reviews] [Press Releases] | ||||
|
||||
| Way back in the mid-1990’s, management gurus Dr. Michael Hammer and James Champy brought terms like “reengineering†and “downsizing†to the forefront of the big business world. One of the consequences of corporate America’s obsession with downsizing was a lot of people suddenly embarking on second careers in mid-life because they weren’t prepared to retire. Those folks are now approaching the traditional retirement age, but show no signs of slowing down. When past generations retired, they kicked back and took it easy. Traveled a little, spent time with the grandkids, watched a lot of TV, maybe played a little golf or bridge. It was what they’d worked for their whole lives, usually for the same company, and they’d earned the right to relax. If they planned ahead and put money into a savings account “for their old ageâ€, they may have traveled a little, but they lived pretty frugally for the 7-10 years between retirement and the great beyond. Some may have only survived a few months after retiring and losing their purpose in life. Whether it’s today’s fast-paced lifestyle, longer life expectancy, the changing corporate culture, or the rising cost of living, a surprising number of “retirees†these days are doing anything but taking it easy. Surfing, running, swimming, dancing, acting, kayaking and skydiving are only a few of the activities today’s retirees are taking on. Others embark on sailing adventures or volunteer in the community to find fulfillment. Still others pursue college degrees, sitting alongside kids in class who are the same age as their grandchildren. Some use those degrees to start their own businesses, after having worked for others during their “first†careers. Others use them to top off their careers by teaching others the things they’ve learned in a lifetime of experience. It seems that “retirement†no longer means, well…retiring. Agencies who serve seniors have noticed the trend, too. “About six years ago, our board of directors anticipated this boom in active retirees here,†says Cathy Brown, executive director of the St. Johns County Council on Aging. 27% of the population in St. Johns County is now over 60. “They decided that we shouldn’t just be some place where people come to play bingo and shuffleboard. We made a commitment to the philosophy that everybody needs to be the boss of themselves, and live every day of their lives. The effects of loneliness, isolation and depression can be devastating to retirees.†The council’s six-acre campus in downtown St. Augustine features outreach programs that allow seniors to travel, learn new things and volunteer in the community. Their Coastal Travel Club took a trip to Alaska this summer, and has a total membership of 1,400. Retirees who volunteer at the center deliver a thousand meals each week to those who are unable to leave their homes. The council’s Life Long Learning classes allow seniors to take classes in subjects like ballroom dancing, yoga and t’ai chi. They also have a film festival and a book club. Children are a big part of the council’s programs. Home-schooled children are given opportunities to do volunteer work at the center to help them with socialization skills and keep them safe. A group of ladies is building an herb garden with the help of local Boy Scouts. These programs benefit both the children and the retirees by allowing them to interact and learn from each other. Phil and Donna Sheik retired to St. Augustine in 2004, moving to the area from Rockford, Illinois. They moved into Coquina Crossing, an over-50 community. “There’s as much or as little to do as you want to do,†says Phil. “We’re more active here, with more friends, than we ever were up north.†Sheik has spent his entire career in sales, and intends to continue in it after a brief detour to conquer lung cancer. “Age means absolutely nothing in sales. The opportunities in this area are unbelievable. And companies are looking for more experienced employees. I’d even be interested in helping other seniors find careers of their own,†he says. Coquina Crossing is typical of the area’s active retirement communities. There’s no time to sit around with concerts, speakers, trips, classes and recreational activities abounding. Volunteers are being trained this summer to staff the facility’s clubhouse if it serves as a storm shelter. Clubs meet for social and community service activities. Musicians can participate in the community’s chorus or band. Gamblers have poker and Bunko nights. There are Bible studies, investment clubs, a veterans’ group and dances of all types. A weekly potluck social draws 65-100 people. Their travel groups take Caribbean cruises, gambling and other land trips, and are even planning one to eastern Europe. “Being active keeps both their minds and their bodies fit,†says activities director Renie Lyniuk. Up in Duval County, retirees with some time on their hands can get involved in the Retired Senior Volunteer Program, or RSVP. “What a wealth of opportunities exist for those who view this time as one of re-invention,†says RSVP program director Sally Robson. “People know who they have been, now they can decide who they want to become.†Robson’s program includes nearly 700 volunteers, all age 55 or more, who last year donated 213,378 hours of service to the community. Opportunities exist in art, music, books, community beautification, helping children discover the joy of reading, keeping the community safe, making toys that comfort sick children, “and the list goes on,†she says. Many volunteers learn new skills, like computers, and pursue interests they’d set aside when working full time and raising children. “For a lot of the people who choose to retire early, finances are not an issue,†says Herb Helsel, executive director of the Duval County Council on Aging. “They’re saying ‘I want to do the things I’ve always wanted to do.’ Programs like RSVP give them the flexibility to do things like take a trip if they want, without worrying about issues such as vacation time or work schedules.†Other early retirees are starting their own businesses instead of spending their time volunteering. That can be a risky option, but if it’s a dream they’ve had, they figure it’s finally time to pursue it. “If they want to go that route, it’s usually safer to work with somebody else in that business for a little while to see what it’s really like before buying in. What started out as a great pleasure can quickly become a burden if you’re not careful,†advises Helsel. Some have made a business out of helping seniors move into a less sedentary retirement. Jeffrey Helms is a Certified Financial Advisor who takes a holistic approach to retirement planning. Financial planning is only one aspect. “You could eat dinner for free every night in Ponte Vedra, going to all these financial planning seminars,†said Helms. “But financial planning throughout your life is sort of like a pyramid. The strategies are not the same at the peak as they are on the lower levels. The things you did when acquiring wealth earlier in life don’t work the same way during a long period of retirement.†Helms uses the example of someone who has saved $200,000 for retirement at age 60. If they draw 5% per year from that retirement fund, they will absolutely run out of money before they’re 90. Living on Social Security alone is not an option for seniors who want to remain active and maintain their pre-retirement standard of living. “You can count on needing 80% of your pre-retirement income to maintain your lifestyle after retirement. That’s a rude awakening for many people. But once you’re retired, you have 40 extra hours a week to fill up, and you want to pursue the things you didn’t have time to do when you were working. Those usually cost money. We focus on your distribution planning. Our goal is to make sure you expire before your bank account does.†The holistic approach to retirement encourages people to think about the things they want to accomplish in their later years and plan accordingly to allow them to pursue those dreams. “During our educational stage of life, we have things like grades, goals and graduation to measure our progress. Once we start work, those are replaced by promotions, raises and performance appraisals. But when we get to retirement, there are no more milestones to mark our progress. When you plan the activities and set the goals for things you want to accomplish in your retirement years, you develop the same kind of structure that has made you feel comfortable in the earlier stages of your life.†To start planning your own retirement years, examine what you enjoy doing. What natural talents and interests do you have? Is there anything you always wanted to do, but never had the opportunity? What would you regret not having done by the end of your life if you didn’t do it now? What are you still able to do, physically? Do you have any health issues that may limit your mobility or activity level? Answering these questions is the first step to finding fulfillment during the golden years. Whatever you’ve always wanted to do, you can pursue it during the retirement phase of your life. Planning, both financial and lifestyle, is the key to having this kind of freedom. Have your leisure hours turned into a drudgery? If so, it may be time for you to reimagine your retirement and discover your purpose for this time of life. For More Information Elder Helpline, serving the entire northeast Florida region, 1-888-242-4464. First Coast Financial Advisors, Jeffrey Helms, CFA, 904-824-4349, www.reinventingyourretirement.com Retired Senior Volunteer Program, 904-630-0998. St. Johns County Council on Aging, 180 Marine Street, St. Augustine, www.stjohnscoa.com Too Young To Retire: 101 Ways To Start the Rest of Your Life, by Marika and Howard Stone, $13.95, www.2young2retire.com |
||||
| Website Thompson Writing & Editing | ||||
| Other Works [Books] [Stories] [Articles] [Poetry] [News] [Reviews] [Press Releases] | ||||
| Reader Reviews for Re-Imagining Your Retirement: Retirees Explore Alternatives To the Rocker | ||||
|
||||
| Other Works [Books] [Stories] [Articles] [Poetry] [News] [Reviews] [Press Releases] | ||||
