Tag: #phasedretirement

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

One of the things people don’t talk about much when you leave a full-time role — whether you retire completely or just slow down — is how different it feels to show up in the same spaces. Many people are supportive, interested, and maybe even a wee bit jealous of your newfound freedom. But…it can also happen […]

Jonathan Clements was a former Wall Street Journal personal finance columnist and author of several books on the subject. He died on September 20th of a rare cancer at the age of 62. He also founded and ran the Humble Dollar blog and, since his diagnosis last year, he was very transparent about how he […]

Retirement is a big change. You’re stepping out of a role you’ve known for a long time—likely your job has been a big part of your identity. That can feel strange. But new doesn’t have to mean wrong or uncertain. It just means unfamiliar—for now. As they say on NPR’s classical music station, “Remember that all music was once new.” The same […]