After retirement, what’s next?

“Congratulations,” they say. “You’ve worked hard, you deserve it.” Well, they may be right – certainly everyone deserves rest after many years of labor. But is retirement right for me? I made the choice, but less than a week in I’m calling it a nine-month sabbatical. The truth is, I need to be active. I need to be needed. I don’t fish, I hate golf (or it hates me) and I have no hobbies. Lots of people love the leisure of retirement. I envy them. But I am me – with a tinge of fear about a future lacking the structure and rhythm of operating a business. Purposeful work gives a meaningful dimension to life. As a newly minted nontrepreneur, there is an enormous task ahead: How to replace the meaningful dimension, not to mention the financial comfort, provided during a 45-year career in advertising and marketing communications. I loved writing and strategizing for my employers and clients. I felt pride in being the anonymous articulator (occasionally with attribution) for a variety of organizations wanting to share their stories, brand their business or increase sales.

So why retire from something you love? Two years ago, my plan was to work right through to the end. I had already accepted that I couldn’t, or wouldn’t maintain the same pace of work. That was clear five years ago when I read about the harmful impact 10 hours a day behind a computer was for long term health. I looked for part-time work to keep me on my feet, landing a job as a high school track and cross country coach, which I loved beyond measure.

So what changed? I heard it in the words of two friends and somewhere in the universe. A fellow Corporate Challenge track teammate and competitor suggested I consider joining him in retirement two years ago. In January 2017 at a planning meeting, he was more insistent: “Rick, you need to retire. You are fit now and can do anything you want. The window for active life narrows.”

The second was over dinner with long-time friends. One had recently retired from a successful career as an educator. As she reflected on her career, she mentioned that her entry into teaching was initially blocked by teachers in place whom she loved when she attended that school, but observed that they were no longer giving their passionate selves to teaching. She meant no disparagement. It was just acknowledgement of gravity. Nor was her comment in any way directed at me. Yet it made me wonder: Are long-time clients who hired a younger, more ambitious advertising and public relations professional getting the same level of energy and service as when they first hired me? I could rationalize that experience and wisdom more than compensated for lost youthful vigor, but still,,, I don’t want to become the aging athlete that stays in the game too long and ends up hurting the team.

The clincher was hearing inaudible words from a presence while running on a trail near Mt. Hood last summer. Whether you call it the voice of God, a message from the Universe or by some other name, I received an unambiguous message: “It is time to leave part of your life behind. Enjoy these gifts I have given you. Trust.” I have never had anything but reason to trust, and so I shall as I explore what the future holds for me

So what’s next? For the remainder of 2018, I plan to do a lot of the things people do when they retire: travel, spend time with friends and family, especially the kids and grandkids, read, do some church or volunteer work, get rid of “stuff” in the basement, and enjoy life free of workplace responsibility. I also intend to do a few things most don’t do. One is this blog, the other I will address in a later post.

If you want to join in this journey, welcome along. Feel free to share some of your hopes or fears and what you are doing that’s adding joy or fulfillment to your life wherever you are in the process, but especially if you are in or nearing retirement. And even more especially if you are one of those need-to-be-needed people like me. 2019, I can’t wait to see what’s in store.