What Does a Vacation and Retirement have in Common? It's Not what you Think!

Have you ever gone on a vacation? I’m sure most people have gone on a vacation once or twice in their life. When you decided that you wanted to go on vacation, what did you do? How did your go about making plans?

There are 5 key elements I’m sure you covered. The first four may not be quite in this order – you decided when to take vacation, where you wanted to go, what you wanted to do/see and how you were going to get there.

Were you vague about these aspects or were you very specific? For example, did you decide to take vacation some time in November, and go some place in Florida to do and see something?

Or were you very specific – I’m going to on vacation November 19 –26, staying in Ft. Lauderdale at the Hilton Hotel, I’m going to swim and visit family and have Thanksgiving with them and I’m going to fly Delta Airlines.

What was the reason for being so specific? Well, if you’ve ever gone on vacation without planning it is a lot more stressful and I imagine less enjoyable. Also, being specific helps us address the last element – How much is it going to cost?

Being specific you can fairly well figure out the cost of the trip. Once you have those numbers you can decide if you have the funds to support the trip. If you do, you can set things in motion.

But what if you see your funds are short in supporting the trip? Do you forget about the vacation? Perhaps. However, I imagine you would re-examine the vacation plans to see if there was some modifications that would bring the vacation in line with your budget.

Kimberly and I did just that in a vacation we’re planning for November. Originally, we were going to fly into Ft. Lauderdale to meet family for Thanksgiving. We had the date to leave all set – that is until we found out the cost to fly!

Airfare was outside of what we wanted to spend for this vacation. Canceling the vacation wasn’t an option for us so we needed to re-examine our plans. One option was to drive. The thought of driving 12 hours wasn’t exactly appealing yet cost wise it was. Then we hit on the idea, if we took off a few days longer, we could stop half way. This would put us in Savannah, GA - a city we’ve had on our list to visit.

Even stopping in Savannah for two days and driving we were well below just the cost of airfare. So our trip is on and we’re looking forward to what we’ve set up.

So, what does this have to do with retirement? There are several issues, but before I get to them let me ask you another question. Have you ever skipped the first four elements of the planning a vacation? If you did, did you have the same results as a planned trip?

Chances are you may be saying it’s crazy not to plan for your vacation. How would you know if you had enough money? Besides, if I didn’t know where I’m going, how would I know what to do or see?

Exactly! So, what is the reason that 60-75% of those retiring don’t plan for their retirement? Most of us have a financial retirement plan in place before we even know the when, where, what and how!

By doing the financial planning first aren’t we putting the cart before the horse? How do you know that you’ll have enough money for retirement? How will you know when to retire? How will you know if you have money to do what you want to do?

Surely, this is not the way to win the retirement game. Without a game plan you’re setting yourself up to sit on the bench or worse yet in the bleachers. We spend more time planning for vacations – a small slice of our time – than we do our retirement – 20-30 years of our life! What would compel you to leave this large chunk of your life to chance, yet spend hours planning for a vacation?

If we take basically the same approach we do for planning vacations to plan our retirement we would feel much better about our approaching retirement! Once you’ve clarified what winning looks like, what you want to do, how you’re going to get there and when you want to retire, then you can find out how much you need.

A financial advisor can do a much better job in forecasting what it will take to get you where you want if you have established a game plan. If the numbers don’t support your plans then you can adjust your plans until you have a working solution.

If you have a financial plan in place without a game plan all is not lost. Begin developing your retirement strategy today. Then go to your financial advisor with it and see what modifications will need to be made in both plans. Keep reviewing both plans as you approach retirement. Your financial advisor should review any changes you make in your non-financial plan to make sure the financial plan is still on track. I encourage you to spend more time in planning for your retirement than your vacation. Be the 25-40% who have clarified what winning the retirement game looks like and will retire happy, wild and free! Put YOURSELF in the winner’s circle!

Is Your Environment Supporting a Winning Retirement Game?

What does your environment look like? Is it helping you win the game? To play the game and win you must have an environment that will support you. You may need to make changes in your environment in order to succeed in the game.

What do I mean by your environment? Literally, it is everything – your home, books, family, friends, colleagues, music, spiritual practices, clothes and even your body. Our environment is a reflection of who we are on the inside. It reflects the games we’ve played in the past.

What you need to ask yourself is:

1. Is my environment inspiring me?
2. Is it creating the opportunities for me to play my best?
3. Are there obstacles that interfere with my practices?
4. Are there items in my environment that support habits that no longer support me?

Retirement is not unidirectional – travel or relocating, or financial – rather it is multi-faceted. It means looking at all these elements, develop or restructure them so the environment supports you.

I know this may go beyond anything you’ve heard or may have learned about retirement. My goal, through this newsletter, is to shed light on what it will take for you to have a winning season and a retirement that sizzles that you may not find elsewhere! Planning for your retirement is going to take commitment, courage and dedication. By doing so, you will retire happy, wild and free!

Here are some environmental elements I would like you to consider and work on. They are spiritual, physical, financial, relationships, body, and self. Let me define each briefly for you so you understand what I’m talking about.

Spiritual

– connection with your inner spirit, with a Divine power, connecting with spiritual aspects of life such as through meditation

Physical

– our cars, home, furnishings. The physical environment is a clue to what is going on in your life. Is there clutter, too much noise, broken items? All are indications of our thoughts, energy and behavior

Financial

– what are your beliefs about money and prosperity/abundance?

Relationships

– Are there close relationships you need to mend? Are there ones that need to be re-established? Do you have close friends who you can call on any time and know that they’ll be there?

Body

– How do you look – your hair, skin, posture, health and energy? Is your physical body reflecting what you want others to see? Is your appearance reflecting a positive image?

Self

– What are your strengths, talents, values, passions and unique assets? Who is it that you want to be?

In each category ask yourself – “What am I tolerating that is limiting my ability to reach my goal?” Yes, this is going to take some courage and honesty and digging into uncomfortable areas. The answers will help you discover barriers that could hinder you from a winning season. So go for it! You CAN do it!

Let me give you a little more guidance. Is your spiritual life rich and are you living a peaceful life? Are you taking excellent care of your physical health? Is your clothing, hair style and eyewear updated and a reflection of who you are? Is your home, office and car clutter free?

If you’ve said no to any of these questions then you need to ask yourself what is preventing this from happening. What barriers are getting in your way? What do you need to do to improve this part of your environment? What steps will you take and when will you begin?

If you need more guidance I recommend getting my book “Age of Fulfillment – Your Retirement Defined! This will be your portable coach in helping you design a game plan for a winning season.

To have a winning season requires that you have a supportive environment. You can stack the deck in your favor by aligning your environment to retire happy, wild and free. It does take time, courage and commitment. Retirement is a time of jubilation and celebration! Go for it! Let’s get you into the winners circle!

Are You Planning to Win the Retirement Game?

Are you playing the retirement game to win? Do you know what it will take to win? Do you know what the rules of the game are? Do you know all the aspects of the game? If you’re not playing the game to win then how will you have a retirement that SIZZLES?!!

Retirement is one of life’s more difficult transitions when compared to the death of a spouse, more then the adjustment to marriage or having your first child. Without direction you may fell rudderless, stressed, unhappy and confused in the 20-30 years of your retirement life! You can minimize the stress of transitioning into retirement if you have a well thought out game plan.

To win at the game of retirement you need to know what winning looks like for you. What is it that you want to do? Who do you want to be? Now that you can do as you please, what is it that you’re pleased to do? Knowing the game and developing a “play book” will give you a feeling of confidence, fulfillment and a sense of balance as you play the retirement game.

It is said, “ The one who writes the rules wins the game!” Are you writing the rule for your game so you’ll win? One thing about retirement is – there are NO rules!! This means YOU get to write the rules or you can let someone else write the rules for you!

So when should you start planning for your retirement? This will vary from person to person. Peter Drucker said this about managing this part of your life. “You must begin doing so long before you enter it, generally up to 5 years before you plan to retire.”

You may think this seems a bit soon, however, early planning will give you time to review your plan, take early actions and alter your plan as circumstances come up as your retirement time approaches. Also, there are many parts to the retirement game to consider – financial, spiritual, relationships, physical and self.

Another reason to begin planning early is it will help you figure out how much money you’ll need. Without a game plan you will not be able to have a financial plan that accurately reflects what you want to do in retirement.

A lot of us who started retirement planning focused solely on the financial aspect. This is putting the cart before the horse! By just focusing on the financial component you are narrowing your options. You’ll put yourself in an insecure place not knowing if your financial plan will support your envisioned retirement outcome. With a well thought out game plan you and your financial advisor now can come up with a financial strategy that will support you to win the game.

In any game, you’ll need to determine what skills you’ll need to play and to win. Do you have the necessary skills already or do you need to acquire new ones? If you need new ones, where are you going to you learn them and how long will it take? It may mean going back to school or taking lessons.

Here are some suggestions to help you win your retirement game.

Keep your plan flexible. This allows you to maneuver more easily as situations change and new opportunities arise

Make sure your game plan is YOURS.This is your time for jubilation and celebration. Your game plan needs to reflect what will be fulfilling to YOU not your significant other, friends or children.

Get a Coach. Like a personal trainer for fitness, a coach works with you in developing a game plan, helps you identify needed skills, is your cheerleader, and someone who will get you to reach higher then you would by yourself.

Retirement is a time to celebrate! A time for jubilation – your reward for years of hard work! To do this you must be able to play the game to win! Planning early, writing the rules and being actively involved in the game are your keys to a winning season!

How do you choose to play your retirement game? - As an active participant? Sitting on the bench or worse yet sitting in the bleachers? To retire happy, wild and free means you need to get out onto the field and play!

How Well Will You Negotiate the Ebb and Flow of Retirement?

Are you emotionally prepared for your retirement? Your emotional side will be dependent on how well you make the shift from work to your retirement activities.

Through our life we traverse numerous stages in our development as humans. Each progressive stage of life requires us to negotiate changes that are associated with our newly defined status.

Seniors typically have a very high failure rate when it comes to coping with retirement. This major life transition seems to wreck havoc with its unsuspecting victims. How will you negotiate the ebb and flow of retirement? Studies have shown that only about 20% of employees realistically address the fact their work life is nearing an end.

Executives, male and female, in particular have major problems adjusting to this transition since they have invested so much in their careers. Their identity is intimately linked to what they do!

Once, though, you’re faced with the reality retirement is going to happen you need to start getting ready for it! It is the Pre-retirement Phase where you need to begin your preparations. Many who disregard this initial phase set themselves up for a rougher road ahead then need be!

Planning your retirement activities and goals will help calm some of the anxiety you may feel with retirement being imminent. It is during Pre-retirement where you can focus on income, health, daily life while you still are working. You can start preparing yourself emotionally and spiritually for this major change in your life.

It is in this phase where you decide what you are going to do when you grow up. Will you pursue another career/? Will you start your own business? Will you go back to school? What about those life long passions you have? Is now the time to explore them? Will you travel; move, seek new hobbies or enrich the ones you have?

Once you’ve transitioned into retirement you begin the next phase –the Honeymoon Phase. It is here where you’ve thrown off the frustration of work, you have a greater sense of freedom and you’re into a new invigorating lifestyle!

But wait! You just left a full-time career and now need to adjust to leisure activities. You may be embarking on a personal creative adventure or need to find a part-time job. You will be without the familiar ego satisfaction work brought you; no more familiar routine and your old identity will be gone! All this will take adjusting to even with a good plan in place. However, those who have a well thought out clearly defined plan will fair better in the first year.

Allow about a year in the Honeymoon period to make a safe passage into the Fulfillment Phase. For some it may take even longer especially for those who refuse to close the door to work and leave the excess baggage behind. It is important if you have a significant other that you express your feelings with them - now is not a time to hold back on letting them know!

One word of caution as you enter into the Honeymoon phase – pace yourself! When in this phase many retirees respond to whatever comes up and react without a real plan. If you do this too often you may burn yourself out. Remember retirement is for the long-term; you want to be able to have the energies and inclination to go the distance.

The Honeymoon phase will eventually transition into the Fulfillment Phase. Here is where you do your thing- pursue your life long passions, start a new career or take those trips.

If you haven’t set any goals for retirement, anticipate drifting until you find something. Understand without goals you may miss the boat because you’ve spent this time doing unfulfilling and boring things! Those who fail to identify interest, or consider who you want to be when you grow up and what daily retirement life will be like will more than likely be the ones in emotional trouble in retirement.

With better health, earlier retirement and better financial planning this phase could last as much as 20 years! Plan well and you will be rewarded with a happy, wild and free retirement! It is during this time you get to decide how things will be and not settle for the way they have to be! Moreover, you’ll have a sense of expectation, start looking at different aspects of life you’re discovered in your travels and explore new ideas, relationships, interests and activities.

Alas, life will eventually slow down as we get older and you’ll enter into the Quiet Phase. We will have accomplished much of what we set out to do and now it is time to slow down. When we hit this segment of life, we find we need to self-pace ourselves differently and balance our involvement in activities we’ve participated in.

Now I’m not suggesting that you stop everything you’re doing! What will happen is you won’t go after things with your’ pants on fire! This is a slower, softer approach that is a blend of activity with more quiet times.

For example, you may have a quiet dinner with a friend at your home rather than a bash at a fancy resort. Or you may prefer a drive though the country instead of a whirlwind tour of Spain.

Let me offer some suggestions in being successful in having a happy, wild and free retirement.

1. View retirement as a journey, not a destination
2. Get a life while you are still working – develop other interests
3. Be prepared to leave work – it will happen sooner or later. Adjust your work pace as retirement nears
4. Take time to adjust
5. Renew and rediscover relationships on your journey
6. Make the most out of your retirement life.

Retirement does ebb and flow through many stages. Transitioning to retirement requires planning to successfully traverse the phases within retirement. Those who do plan in the pre-retirement phase and approach retirement optimistically will set themselves up for a happy, wild and free Age of Fulfillment!

http://www.lifesbridge.com

Suddenly Single and Retirement – What do I do now?!

Whether you’ve lost your significant other through a death or divorce it is emotionally traumatic. You’ve made plans together about retirement, had great hopes and dreams and now all that has evaporated. Now – you’re single with retirement approaching and without your partner. What DO you do?

The loss of your significant other, either through divorce or death, will have a huge impact on your life. Understand that you will experience certain common stages of grief. Each person will mourn the loss differently and for varying amounts of time.

There are 5 stages of grief you may go through:
Denial Stage – This isn’t happening to me
The Anger/Resentment Stage- Why is this happening to me?
The Bargaining Stage – I promise I’ll be a better person if….
The Depression Stage – I don’t care anymore
The Acceptance Stage – I’m ready for whatever comes next

Remember as you go through these stages while the pain felt is real and strong, in time, this shall pass and you will smile and enjoy life again! I know because I’ve been there. Go easy on yourself and feel the real emotions. It is normal and healthy for you to have these feelings. Give yourself time to feel better. Lastly, treat yourself well. You have spiritual and emotional needs along with your physical health that needs taking care of.

You and your partner may have planned well for your future but becoming suddenly single is emotionally challenging as well as financially challenging. Women have a greater likelihood of being divorced or widowed at some point in their lives then men.

For women following divorce, the standard of living drops 45%, while for the senior citizen the effects are more devastating – 75%! For this reason, be proactive now in the financial arena if you still have your partner. Develop a plan that incorporates your short–term and long-term dreams and goals. Get involved with the process! Know what is happening with your finances.

If you haven’t established a financial plan and are faced with being suddenly single, I would recommend a financial advisor. The advisor can tell you where you are financially and what strategies would help to improve your position – now and into retirement.

Hopefully, you have made non-financial retirement plans – plans for yourself and plans involving your partner. If you have, then, at least, you will still have something in place that may only need to be modified.

Is all lost if you don’t have a plan now that I’m suddenly single? Hardly! Just don’t put it off any longer! It may actually be therapeutic in the healing process by establishing a retirement plan. It will give you hope and help you see a brighter future does await you!

Those of you who still have a partner should ask this question – If my partner were to pass away or seek a divorce would I be prepared? If your answer is no, then you have some home work you need to get busy with! This is something you shouldn’t put off – be prepared! Being suddenly single in retirement will add to the emotional stress without having plans to fall back onto.

Becoming single can simplify and complicate the issues of retirement. First, you now only have yourself to think about – no in-laws to worry about, no worrying about your partner’s health. You basically can do what you want to do!

Conversely, you now don’t have a partner to share things with or for emotional support. It means being deprived of the comfort of a partner and possibly may mean isolation and loneliness.

Do you need to build a stronger network of relationships? Is there some one who you can share your thoughts, feeling and experiences with? If not, should there be? Do you have enough close family members, friends or others who you can depend on for emotional support? If not, perhaps now is the time to start developing them.

Men and women who have chosen the career path that dominates their life may face the most difficult transition to retirement. It is this group of people who spend less time building their relationships that are in a more vulnerable position when suddenly single than those who have built relationships during their career.

Who would you turn to for help and support if you were suddenly alone in your retirement? Solitude can be an oppressor. It is extremely important for divorced and widowed retirees to get out and meet people. You must learn to be a joiner. What can you do to reach out to other people to build your future?

Remember – being alone doesn’t mean being lonely.

When you reach the “Acceptance Stage” of grief you’ll start to realize that you still have a wonderful, exciting life ahead of you. One filled with many new opportunities that can be fulfilling, rewarding and satisfying. Make plans to take advantage of the life that is ahead of you. Get out a big canvas, bright paints, and your brushes and start painting the most glorious picture of your new life!

Marriage and Retirement – Do they mix?

Have you thought what retirement will do to your marriage? If one is still working while the other is retired, how will that work? If both are retired, will you get on each others nerves?

Think about retirement in marriage – two people who are together and independent will change to two having one life together. Studies have shown that only a small proportion of marriages go sour in retirement. Yet many will undergo stresses as one or both partners retire.

“The transition to retirement is particularly stressful, especially when one spouse retires before the other. During this time, couples fight much more and are significantly less satisfied with their marriages. Once both spouses are settled into retirement from their careers, however, marital satisfaction rebounds and couples report the highest level of martial satisfaction with the least conflict, compared with their peers.” Cornell Wellness and Well-Being Study

Consider that when working there is a balance between independence and dependence. In retirement this balance is shifted. When working each has their own routine that doesn’t involve their partner. In retirement, the two are together disrupting that pattern. How will you deal with this shift?

Retirement does have some pitfalls for couples. Yet it does offer opportunities. Couples can find ways to make their togetherness exceptionally rewarding. You may even find a new and deeper intimacy!

Some keys to a successful retirement marriage are: honesty, empathy and anticipating the changes that will happen in the household routine. This means couples need to start planning well before each partner retires to minimize the conflicts that may arise.

What habits do each of you have that is going to be difficult to change? How will you address large and small matters? How will each accommodate their partner for the sake of the relationship?

In early planning partner’s can figure out critical issues. For example, where you will live, how you’re going to spend vacation or who is going to decide what you can or can’t afford? All this will take tact, openness, sensitivity and, at times, negotiation.

The key is planning ahead of time so each knows the game plan and what to expect. Otherwise, you’ll be putting undue stress on your relationship - one that can be avoided.

Some critical points that partner’s need to learn is to talk openly and frankly about sensitive issues. Now is not the time to be quiet and laid back! What will the emotional impact be if the husband retires while the wife continues to work? Or visa versa? What will be the changes in expectations when one retires? How will the household routine change?

How successful you traverse this transition depends on how well each communicates their needs and express their ideas, how well you listen to each other and how well you both manage the conflicts that will arise. It is going to be a time of flexibility and openness to growth.

When you individually plan for retirement you develop your vision of retirement, to identify your needs and wants. Bring your plans to the table. Then plan your retirement as a couple putting these individual issues out in the open.

You then can figure out how your separate plans will integrate into your marriage retirement plan. And yes, you should have a retirement plan for yourself AND as a couple!

Just realize, your marriage retirement plan requires recognizing your spouse’s point of view, feelings and needs. After all it is a two-way street.

Retirement is the end of one phase of life and the commencement of a new adventure. It necessitates early planning – individually and as a couple. Couples, who have built a strong relationship, have planned early and who see themselves as a team, have an excellent chance of making retirement the best years of their lives!

Planning for your Age of Fulfillment

Have you made a plan for retirement? Is it detailed and does it really excite you? What? You’re too busy to start planning? Oh, you still have a few years to go before retirement so there’s plenty of time! Perhaps you need to re-think about putting off your plan!

Like many of you, I was led to believe that if I have the financial aspects well planned my future would be taken care of! No need to do any other planning. Now how many of you really believe that little ditty?! I found out I needed to do more in the non-financial realm– and fast!

The Baby Boomers will redefine retirement as our parents know it. We still have lots to do and give. Besides, we’re just flat out too energetic to sit on the front porch in a rocking chair! We have longed for dreams to make a reality! We have activities that have been put on hold that we want to now pursue!

We should not lose sight of the fact as we approach retirement we have a wonderful chance to re-evaluate our lives, careers and future. We are freed from many obligations such as children to care for, educate and launch. We may choose to mix and match work, education and leisure in a different way.

Planning does mean you’ll need to ask some tough questions. It will mean looking at who you really are – asking what is my life’s purpose! It means being honest and true to yourself making sure your answers are yours and not someone else’s. This will be your plan not your significant other, not your friends and not your children’s. It is time to take off the masks we’ve worn to maintain our jobs, our civic position and our reputations!

This is YOUR journey to discovery! Your renewal phase! How does this sound to you?! Does it begin to paint an entirely different portray of retirement for you? Are you seeing the need to plan now?!

Let me share with you some of the questions I asked myself in my planning process that I feel will help you understand the depth of questions that needs to be asked to come up with an exciting plan.

Am I ready to seek the truth that I’m more than my work? Do I know what my key motivators are that will need to be satisfied when I retire from my present job? What will I be giving up when I retire? Do I see myself arising in the morning during retirement with the same anticipation I experienced when working? What IS my life’s purpose? What is it I’ve always wanted to do yet didn’t have the time to go after? Will I start a new career?

The answers didn’t come easy and some were down right uncomfortable because I truly didn’t have a good answer. Yet I kept at it for several months to come up with a draft that would give me direction in my Age of Fulfillment.

One area that I feel is important to go a bit more into is about motivators. Why? Motivators must be identified and incorporated into your retirement if you want a rich and fulfilling retirement. Your motivators have been a part of you for a long time and will be with you when you retire. We cannot be easily separated from what our work gives us!

You need to make different choices in retirement about fulfilling these motivators the rest of your life. What activities will give you satisfaction? Maybe your motivator is to be a part of the action or to be with intellectually stimulating people or to pursue a passion or to be recognized.

Why DID you choose your work or career besides money? What is it about your job that attracted you to it? What areas are not being satisfied by work?

Inner motivators help guide us to life choices to bring us personal satisfaction. If you ignore these motivators, you are bound to flunk retirement!

Here are just a few examples of motivators to get you started. I’m sure you can come of with a bunch more. Accomplishment; competition; challenges; action; friendship; interaction with people; problem solving; making a difference; being THE expert.

What is on YOUR list? What does each motivator you’ve identified mean to you? For instance, if you have competition on your list what exactly does that mean to you?

Take your time coming up with a list. Reflect on your answers. Set the list aside for a few days. Then – look the list over. Are they truly your motivators? Are there more that you need to put on the list?

Remember this about retirement – many of the activities providing you with a sense of purpose and fulfillment will end. Knowing what your motivators are will now give you direction. Your task, then, is to find what activities will fulfill them! Next, make a plan how it is going to happen. Refine your plan over the next several months until you’re really excited about it!

So - when will you start making plans for your “Age of Fulfillment” to be successful, enriching, enjoyable and fun? If you fail to plan, plan to fail! It isn’t too late to start so - start NOW!!

The Age of Fulfillment – The Next Phase of Your Life

Have you thought about your retirement and the role it plays in your life now and in shaping your future?

Retirement is merely another phase of our life. Even though you’re retired it doesn’t mean your life stops! Your life will continue to change. You will continue to grow! Consequently, your journey through retirement doesn’t really have an endpoint or a final destination.

Have you ever dealt with a management challenge? Life is some times this way. First, you need to figure out where you want to go. Second, you need to decide how you’re going to get there!

Retirement is deciding how you’re going to spend your time. You certainly will have the means to do as you want. The question is - have you set the goal? Without knowing where it is you want to be can spell boredom and unhappiness in a time of jubilation!

You need to look at where you are now and then where you want to be. This means asking yourself some tough questions. For example: what would you like to achieve in the years ahead of you? What is really important to you? Are you living the life you want to live or are you following someone else’s plan for you? Are you using your time wisely? What is missing from your life now?

These are not easy questions. If you whip out the answers in 5-10 minutes perhaps you aren’t serious about the quality of your retirement. Give these questions lots of thought. Make sure the answers are yours not your partner’s, significant other, your children or friends.

Remember, retirement is another phase of your life that can last 15-25 years or more! You have a long life ahead of you and this fact may be too big an idea to deal with. How will you organize your time to address such issues as household chores, interests, and new career? Perhaps working on smaller issues can help your chunk down the larger topic of retirement.

The road of retirement has many forks in it just as there were prior to retirement. There are new interests waiting for you to discover. To decide which fork to choose will require some vision. Having a vision of where you’d like to be can assist you in providing you direction.

Establish a list of things you want to do, give each item a priority rating and then decide when you want to do these items. What you are going to do next is similar to what a house designer does. A client describes to the designer what they envision their dream house would look like and have.

The designer thinks about what house style and layout would meet the goal. Then a rough draft is made and eventually the details are filled in as the planning continues. Back and forth the designer and client will go until the end result is as close to perfection as possible.

By planning our retirement choices you will map out a direction to take you down the road of fulfillment. How well you plan will determine how exciting a journey it is for you!

As with any journey there will be things, sites and side trips you hadn’t anticipated. Stay flexile- decide if going off the main road will add or subtract the quality of retirement. Be willing to explore because there is a whole world out there for you to discover!