Retirement means to cease doing what you are currently doing. In other words, you have to figure out what you’ll be doing instead. As I take time to dream and imagine what I’ll be doing, I look to examples of other women in my life.
My maternal grandmother worked every day on the farm alongside my grandfather. Her retirement was jumpstarted with my grandfather’s passing. She sold the farm and moved to town and “retired.” While she gave up doing chores and helping with planting and harvesting crops, she continued to enjoy many of the activities she had always done: planting a large garden, canning or freezing her produce She had retired. This was my first example of seeing someone retire.
My mother spent her career taking care of others. She worked in home health care, a nursing home, and many years as an LPN at a hospital. In her personal life, she took care of Dad, my five siblings and me. She retired at 62 and it was amazing to see what she did next. She began volunteer driving. She gave rides to people in need of additional support. Often her passengers were seeking chemotherapy or other treatments with specialists and she was feeding her need to continue to care for and support others through volunteer driving. She learned to paint, she learned to wood carve and she spent Winter seasons in warmer weather areas. She retired again at 85. Her 23 year encore career was on her own terms. She volunteered most days during Spring, Summer and Fall, and took off days when needed. She took Winter season off to enjoy friends and learn new activities.
I have no idea what it means for me to retire. Part of the 10-year plan to retire in 2028 is to figure it out. I plan to work. I hope what I do will allow me to work on my own terms. I plan to spend time with family. I hope to travel. And I plan to continue to learn.
We’d love to hear from you. How do you define retirement?
Retire With Us - 2028 