Let’s enjoy our older years

Five Issues Giving Me Pause in My Older Retirement Years

Adjusting to the inevitable twists and turns as we age.

I’m nine years into my retirement. I’m amazed at what troubles me most: Am I doing this retirement thing the right way?

I retired in 2013, the year, Parade Magazine published an article on what retirees miss most. I see it as relevant to this day. The magazine list five things retirees miss most.

The first is most interesting to me. It’s the loss of social connections.

1. Diminished social interactions

Extrovert to an introvert in nine short years. We change, I know I did.

If you haven’t experienced the change in social interactions yet, get ready, because over time change will knock on your door.

In my position as a missions director for our church, my wife and I traveled the world. We flew on planes before steel doors kept you from seeing the airplane pilot. Even here in the States, I traveled, meeting with ministry leaders — that was then, not now.

What I missed most was the social contact with people. Not the airline flights. Now as retirees we must make those social connections happen.

2. Where’s my income?

The second thing retirees missed most, according to Parade, was a reliable income. There is no reliable income. The reality is that your take-home paycheck can fall through the cracks.

I’m not wealthy by any stretch of your imagination. But, one thing my wife and I began doing in our forties was to put money into a retirement savings fund. We now draw some funds from our retirement savings each month to keep us stable.

Another significant sidelight. We’ve adjusted our financial living standards to sustain a modest lifestyle. My word for this year is: Adjust. Look, it’s simple. If you don’t have the cash to upgrade your kitchen, don’t. You’re retired now, and there are expenses you do not need to incur. For most retirees, adjust we must if we’re going to have a stable retirement. We’ll have to separate our whats from our needs and know the difference. I should teach a lesson on adjusting in retirement. I’ll think about it.

3. Lack of purpose

The third thing most retirees miss, according to Parade Magazine. We retirees are no longer involved in work goals. A loss of purpose.

Not feeling needed is natural for many of us.

How do we compensate?

I read this some time ago, if you are what your job is, when your job isn’t, what identity do you have? My identity was never a problem even though I valued my job; I placed a higher value on my family and friends.

Jobs and careers end. But, families never.

4. Staying mentally alert

Fourth on Parade’s list of what we retirees miss is the lack of mental stimulation. What? My mental acuity is my job.

If we live relying on others to stimulate our brains, we’re in deep weeds in retirement.

I’ve always believed reading books or articles, like on Medium, is to know we are not alone. Many are traveling these hills and valleys of older age. So, we must read. I always have two or three books I’m reading to keep my mind alert. Keeping your brain active and alert is job number one. Stay curious.

5. Health issues

Fifth, our employer’s health insurance is on Parade’s list of what we retirees miss.

The loss of employer health insurance coverage is a big one.

Some, not all, face declining health in our older years. Which can be overwhelming. Most of we retirees will live longer than the previous generation.

My brother, seven years older than me, told me.

“Richard, they, meaning the health providers, don’t let us die anymore. They keep us living and drain our bank accounts.” Brother Joe.

His saying was rather morbid, with a ring of truth.

My wife and I have Long-term-care insurance policies. We bought these policies in our forties, so the premiums are less than if we had waited to buy in our sixties. Of course, health insurance is necessary for our older years.

The biggie, Acceptance

In our retirement years, money and good health are tangible assets. But, even more so is acceptance.

Whatever your lot is now, it is far better to accept and adjust as best you can. It is never good to compare with what others have; what matters most is how we will adapt.

One parting note:

Stay positive by being thankful for what we do have.

Change your thoughts and you change your world. Norman Vincent Peale.

Believe me. Optimism wins over pessimism every day.

Thank you for reading, Richard.

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