Retire by Degrees

Last time I wrote about “life expectancy” and the likelihood of living longer – and hopefully – healthier lives.    Today’s article explores a bit about our national pension, which is not really called “social security” at all.  It’s formally known as the “Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance” program, or OASDI.  It’s administered by the Social Security Administration and is a federal social insurance program established in 1935…

Retirement is often painted as a time of freedom—travel, hobbies, and relaxation. But for many, it’s also a time when social circles shrink unexpectedly. Your family might still be working, your closest friends could retire at different times, and the daily interactions with co-workers come to an end. Much of our casual socialization happens at work, and when that’s removed, it’s easy to feel isolated.  Research suggests that strong social…

Last week I wrote about “phased retirement” contrasted with “phased working” and wondered how to perhaps shift the focus from “being done” to continuing to contribute and have a purpose. A growing trend seems to be reshaping how we think about “retirement”: more people are choosing to work well into their later years. And it’s not just about financial security—increasingly, older adults are working…

At a recent class reunion, I noticed a clear trend: many people were already retired. Some were financially comfortable and eager for less stress. Others were relying on a solid pension. Quite a few were counting down the days until they could finally stop working. But one conversation stood out. I spoke with an attendee who still works full-time—and doesn’t…

Here’s a little secret I’ve recently uncovered about retirement: all those things we set aside for “someday”? We may never actually get to them.  For years, even decades, I’ve tucked things away for “someday”: books from as far back as college, a box of old VHS tapes to digitize, and a long list of hobbies I hoped to explore.  There’s this mystique of retirement as a magical time when the calendar clears,…

This week, I was up and out early one morning to attend a local service organization’s weekly meeting. One agenda item was a reminder to recast our goals throughout our lives (I suppose having a defined set of goals in the first place is a given). Our goals at 18, or 30, or 50 may look very different. And I realized that it’s important to reframe our…