When I broached the idea of retiring young-ish with my wife, she pushed back a little… ok, but you need to find something productive to do. Retirement can’t be just sitting on the couch and withering away.
Fair enough.
I know I’ll be very busy writing and speaking and investing my time in people. Because I’m already moving in that direction. I have a plan.
But most people don’t have a healthy plan for retirement. Maybe travel. Or, if they’re near family, babysit grandkids. That’s the extent of what I usually hear. I think everyone should make an intentional plan, starting a couple years before they get to financial independence.
If the plan is to keep working at the same job, I’d ask why? If it’s a place that helps your life feel more meaningful, great. But, too often, our role becomes wedged into our identity so strongly that we just don’t know who we’d be without it. Not a healthy reason to keep working.
This may just be me, but I’ve noticed the word “retirement” has shifted in meaning over time.
In the middle of my career, retirement felt like something to look forward to. It was all about freedom, more time, and a reward for working hard and saving.
Now that I’m actually retired, I still stay active and spend my time on meaningful things, but the word itself feels different. It carries a subtle negative connotation, like I’ve stopped being productive or I’m somehow slowing down.
Words matter to me because they elicit feelings. And it’s interesting how “retirement” used to feel energizing, but now feels like a bit of a letdown in a weird way.
Maybe I’m splitting hairs, or maybe it’s just my way of processing getting older. I find it fascinating how the same word hits me so differently now than in my younger years.
This really hit home for me. Thank you! I work for a big company and in the one more year cycle. I really enjoy the work and choose to do it. Maybe this is my version of retirement.
I like these concepts, but it’s a slippery slope to words being meaningless to redefine retirement this way. The old definition works fine: you can be retired and not rich or rich and still working. It’s ok to want to be financially independent but still choose to work: executives and celebrities have done this forever. But we don’t need to struggle to redefine basic concepts. To retire means “to withdraw, typically by leaving a job or career permanently due to age or choice. It also means to go to bed, retreat from danger, or take something out of use, such as equipment or money.” You can retire FROM MEDICINE and still choose to work as a writer/speaker/whatever as a second act. I am a retired banker, but at 42 I hope and expect to continue to contribute to the world, and even earn some more money. But crossing an imaginary “I have enough” money line and continuing the same employment is not retirement. Which doesn’t mean you don’t still get a gold star. You can win and keep playing. But don’t pretend you actually quit yet.
Thought provoking essay, thanks!
When I broached the idea of retiring young-ish with my wife, she pushed back a little… ok, but you need to find something productive to do. Retirement can’t be just sitting on the couch and withering away.
Fair enough.
I know I’ll be very busy writing and speaking and investing my time in people. Because I’m already moving in that direction. I have a plan.
But most people don’t have a healthy plan for retirement. Maybe travel. Or, if they’re near family, babysit grandkids. That’s the extent of what I usually hear. I think everyone should make an intentional plan, starting a couple years before they get to financial independence.
If the plan is to keep working at the same job, I’d ask why? If it’s a place that helps your life feel more meaningful, great. But, too often, our role becomes wedged into our identity so strongly that we just don’t know who we’d be without it. Not a healthy reason to keep working.
This may just be me, but I’ve noticed the word “retirement” has shifted in meaning over time.
In the middle of my career, retirement felt like something to look forward to. It was all about freedom, more time, and a reward for working hard and saving.
Now that I’m actually retired, I still stay active and spend my time on meaningful things, but the word itself feels different. It carries a subtle negative connotation, like I’ve stopped being productive or I’m somehow slowing down.
Words matter to me because they elicit feelings. And it’s interesting how “retirement” used to feel energizing, but now feels like a bit of a letdown in a weird way.
Maybe I’m splitting hairs, or maybe it’s just my way of processing getting older. I find it fascinating how the same word hits me so differently now than in my younger years.
The distinction between obligation and choice is powerful.
But what’s interesting is what happens next.
Even when work becomes optional, the structure that used to shape the day often disappears with it.
And without that, freedom can feel less clear than expected.
It has to be rebuilt.
This really hit home for me. Thank you! I work for a big company and in the one more year cycle. I really enjoy the work and choose to do it. Maybe this is my version of retirement.
I like these concepts, but it’s a slippery slope to words being meaningless to redefine retirement this way. The old definition works fine: you can be retired and not rich or rich and still working. It’s ok to want to be financially independent but still choose to work: executives and celebrities have done this forever. But we don’t need to struggle to redefine basic concepts. To retire means “to withdraw, typically by leaving a job or career permanently due to age or choice. It also means to go to bed, retreat from danger, or take something out of use, such as equipment or money.” You can retire FROM MEDICINE and still choose to work as a writer/speaker/whatever as a second act. I am a retired banker, but at 42 I hope and expect to continue to contribute to the world, and even earn some more money. But crossing an imaginary “I have enough” money line and continuing the same employment is not retirement. Which doesn’t mean you don’t still get a gold star. You can win and keep playing. But don’t pretend you actually quit yet.