“Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.”
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I talked about the importance of getting out of your comfort zone in a previous post. Now I’d like to talk about being at the end of your comfort zone.
Revitalizing Interests
Years ago, when Tom and I were looking for our second home, we had many conversations about what would work for both of us. This is a must-have conversation for couples preparing for retirement in the next three to five years. Recently, when we began to reminisce about those long-ago conversations, we reflected on our relationship and the past adventures and activities we had experienced together and separately. If you are single, have these discussions with family and friends as a way to sort out what would be best for your life circumstances and to reflect on past adventures and successes.
When Tom and I were first dating, over thirty-five years ago, we rode his motorcycle together on weekends, sometimes getting caught in the rain. I admit I was not enthusiastic about riding a motorcycle, which was beyond the end of my comfort zone, and he found himself riding alone more often than the two of us rode together. Consequently, in 2002, he sold his motorcycle and bought a convertible instead. However, he never lost his love for motorcycles. When we bought our second home in Tampa Florida, one of the first things he did was buy a Vespa motorcycle. If you don’t know, Vespas are the city motorcycle that became popular after World War II throughout Europe and in many of the larger cities of the world. Tampa’s great weather and relatively light traffic compared to northern Virginia reinvigorated Tom’s motorcycle riding. I admit that I now find myself looking forward to being a passenger and seeing all of the interesting neighborhoods of Tampa.
Having become city people for at least ten days a month, we recently bought electric bikes to ride in Florida. We now find ourselves riding our bikes all over Tampa, finding parks to ride in and neighborhoods to explore. Walking and riding our bikes around the city encouraged us to try another form of transportation. Recently, Tom and I rented Segways, another popular mode of transportation, adding to our adventures. That was fun too!
About 18 months ago, I began taking piano lessons again. I missed the enjoyment I got from playing when I took lessons a long time ago. I found it very relaxing.
We’ve also spent more time at our condo in Tampa, enjoyed extended time with family and friends, scheduled a Rhine River Cruise, and spent more time at our beach condo with family and friends. Life does feel more balanced and refreshing when I can work smarter and more efficiently as I expand my personal life activities.
Exploring Possibilities
Discussions about how you might spend your leisure time are always productive. I anticipate that these discussions will continue because you want to keep yourselves from getting stuck in that comfort zone.
What interests do you share as a couple and separately, but have not done in a long time? What have you always wanted to do and never dared try? What causes can you volunteer for as a couple or individually?
If you are single, what interests do you have? What brings you enjoyment and helps you connect with others? What is possible at the end of your comfort zone? Do your friends, family, and colleagues have any interesting ideas to share?
It’s very important to keep these conversations alive and well. I have included some resources to get your creative juices flowing:
• Osher Lifelong Learning Institute National Resource Center
http://www.Osher.net
• Volunteer Match
https://www.volunteermatch.org/
• Next Avenue
https://www.nextavenue.org/
• UN Volunteers
https://app.unv.org/
• The Couples Retirement Puzzle by Dorian Mintzer, Roberta K. Taylor
• Going Solo: The Extraordinary Rise and Surprising Appeal of Living Alone by Eric Klinenberg
• Meet-Up groups
Where will you go at the end of your comfort zone to make your retirement lifestyle richer, fuller, and more purposeful?