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Health & Fitness

What Does Retirement Mean to You?

When we were growing up in the ‘60s, the thought of being older was so far away. Sure, we had grandparents, ancient aunts and uncles, but “older” was something that was farther away than Pluto. We never thought it would apply to us.

But we boomers are getting on in years, and with it comes a whole new set of rules. It’s sobering, to say the least. Hey, I’ve never been this age before. It’s not cramming for a class in college where you can study and soon have all the answers.

Thankfully, I had an early glimpse of seniors while growing up in Studio City. On Pacoima Court, most of our neighbors were elderly.

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These neighbors were wonderful to us, and readily took us under their wise wings when my mom was busy working. We were regularly given brownies, cookies and a friendly pat on the head when we’d visit those seniors nearby. No doubt they were amused by our boundless energy, and our humorous antics.

They seemed cheery, no doubt because they were retired, and away from the slam of corporate life, deadlines, and belligerent bosses. In fact, most older people that I encounter now seem rather optimistic, a characteristic that no doubt serves them well as they advance in age.

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They seem to roll with the punches, and they’ve endured plenty. Loved ones passing, health issues, and economic woes are only a few of the challenges that have afflicted some of my octogenarian friends. Some are also Holocaust survivors, and many have endured the Great Depression.  Still, they soldier on, embracing the essence of each day with optimism and delight. I hope I’m as strong as they are when I’m their age.

But things seem different among many of my peers. Many have not retired, although they dream of doing so.  I hear comments like “I can’t retire until I’m dead, “ and other laments attributed to the economic challenges of today.  Many of my friends are dealing with elderly parents, which makes it especially hard for them to retire.

But then there are those who have rejoiced in their newfound post-job freedoms.  I have a neighbor who sleeps until noon almost every day.

“Why not? Isn’t that what retirement is for?”

Many people discover things they’ve been longing to do since high school.  Some volunteer at local community centers. Others discover a passion for butterflies. Many indulge in whirlwind travel adventures.

Besides writing and photography, I’ve found great joy in trying my hand at improv, and collaborating with musicians around the world on a music forum called icompositions.com. If my knees were still strong, I’d probably entertain skydiving.

Then there are those who don’t have any hobbies and therefore retirement is a scary abyss for them. People like this often retire for a while and then quickly get back to work again.  At the very least, they work part-time.

So what does retirement mean to you? Is it in the cards, or just a distant dream?

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