I know about the greatest generation’s retirement and retirement then and now. My dad retired in 1980 at 62 years of age, still a young and vibrant man. His retirement, like many in his generation, was to rest and pursue leisure activities. He had this mindset because few from his generation expected to live more than about 10 years beyond retirement. What a wonderful surprise to find that so many of them ended up living well into their 70s, 80s, and even the 90s in my dad’s case. I don’t think he had any regrets about his 34 years of retired life. In fact, one day we were driving to the beach, and I asked him if he wished he had done more in his retirement. He said without missing a beat, “I’m not supposed to do anything. I let everyone else do the work now.” It was a great summary of the attitude of his generation. This is a generation that had survived the Great Depression and fought in World War II. In 1945, they came home to begin or resume their adult lives. They worked hard their whole lives and in their early to mid-60s, they just looked forward to rest and relaxation. Most of the people in my father’s generation retired to a life of leisure.
The New Retirement
That was retirement then and now, today, the expectation for our generation is so different from our parents’ generation. We know we have 20 to 30 healthy years of life after work. Medical advancements, healthier lifestyles, more education, and enthusiasm for life have kept our generation moving at lightning speed even as we approach our retirement years. We’ve been hearing it for years ”60 is the new 50” along with other variations of that concept. In general, our boomer generation has not been content to just retire to leisure. We want leisure with purpose and meaning. The age of 62 and even 65 comes and goes and here we are, still in the throes of our careers, some of us even into our 70s. Many have left traditional careers and moved on to new careers, volunteering, entrepreneurial pursuits, or endeavors that are less fast-paced and perhaps completely different.
I’ve been reflecting on my own career and how it has evolved over the years. I began by teaching elementary school and then went on to become a high school counselor. After 20 years in the school system, I started my own private psychotherapy practice. Finally, at 55 years old, I embarked on a new career and extended my private psychotherapy experience to include Life and Retirement Coaching for individuals. I’ve written two books and also present numerous workshops and seminars to groups of employees who are approaching retirement.
For most of my adult life, I’d known my dad as a retired person. I’m already many years beyond my dad’s retirement age and have no interest in stopping. I know the retirement then and now options and I have chosen to gradually phase into an active retirement. I do acknowledge that my emphasis has shifted to a meaningful but slower paced, balanced lifestyle, complemented by more time with family, friends, and leisure activities to balance out my life.
I see many of my friends, colleagues, and some family members extending their careers into their late 60s, 70s, and even 80s. I have a friend whose mother, until she passed away in her 90s, still worked as a greeter at a resort hotel in the town where she lived, and she loved what she was doing. Another friend’s husband, who is in his 80s, still works from home for a company who consults with government agencies and loves it. Very impressive! From my experience and the research I have read, one of the most important activities in the aging process is to stay engaged socially and intellectually. That is exactly what these two role models did and are doing.
When you consider “retirement than and now” scenarios, what will you choose?