FROM: Steve

In my last blog I told you the story of my Dad and his dreams of retirement—what “retirement” meant to his generation.  But let me tell you the rest of the story. 

For years my Dad relished the thought of his retirement.  But unfortunately he did not take care of himself very well.  He did a lot of hard workin’ along the way, but he did a lot of hard drinkin’, smokin’ and eatin’ too with large amounts of sedentary TV watching in between.  I remember during his 65^th year he was counting down the days left until his birthday—his retirement day!  And then the big day came.  He said good-by to his friends and returned home from work for the last time.  Ten days later he suffered a stroke and died.

To say the least my Dad was not prepared for retirement.  I don’t begrudge him his dreams of a “life of leisure” but the changes caught him unaware.  Two hundred and fifty years ago the Greek historian, Herodotus, warned us that “Illness strikes men when they are exposed to change.”  The “change” of retirement struck my Dad like a Mack truck! 

So now, I am 63 and am looking forward to living longer than my father.  I actually have been preparing for many years.  What am I doing to avoid the tragedy that he suffered? 

1.  As I mentioned in the previous blog (Retirement 1: To retire or NOT to retire, that is the question?) I don’t intend to “retire.”  I am only 63 and I intend to “Live and full, happy, healthy life until I’m 100.”  I intend to keep busy everyday with fun, fulfilling, and mentally challenging activities.
2. I intend to be physically active and fit (see my blog 3 Steps to Fitness!).
3. I intend to eat a heathy, well-balanced diet every day.  I recommend any of these three eating plans (find them on the internet): 1. The Mediterranean Diet; 2. The DASH Diet; or 3. The Zone Diet.   
4. I intend to deal with daily stress by practicing periods of Conscious Breathing and the Relaxation Response (Meditation).  See previous blogs Take a Deep Breath and Take a Deep Breath 2.
5. I intend to continue cultivating happy, healthy Conscious Relationships with my wife, Suzanne, and all those around me.  See previous blog Take Charge of Your Relationship in Six Co-Commitments.

So these are some of the activities that you can do to take care of yourself and make the rest of your life the best of your life!

FROM:  Steve

So you’re approaching 65 and you’re wondering “Retirement?  What the heck is that all about?”  Well, if you’re like me and have changed careers and/or jobs several times throughout your adult life, retirement is not as promising as it was once thought to be. 

I remember growing up in the late 40’s, 50’s, and 60’s listening to my father and my uncles talk about retiring when they got to be 65 and dreaming of leisure time to do anything but the back-breaking work they did in the factories day after day after day (and nights sometime).  They were amassing pensions and social security payments that were going to guarantee never having to work again.  Working for 45 years for the same employer assured my Dad that a steady income would continue from his 65^th birthday until his passing sometime after.  He was “in like flint.” 

 I did not have the opportunity to earn a pension.  I changed careers and jobs and moved several times over the years.  That seemed to be the norm.   In fact, as the decades went by through the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s the idea of “pension” itself disappeared from the workplace (and in some cases so did the actual money—remember Enron?).   So pensions seem to be “out” and the future value of Social Security continues to be debated as well as diminished.  So the opportunity for a “life of leisure” realistically has all but disappeared for many of us. 

 But I enjoy what I am doing for work these days and I’m not sure I want to stop.  I feel challenged, fulfilled, happy.  I continue to have fun doing what I am doing.  I am happy and healthy and that is a pretty fine place to be.  So like a lot of you I think I’m going to hold off on dreams of “retirement.”  Life is good and besides there is a lot of recent research on aging that shows that keeping active every day is beneficial to one’s health, happiness, and longevity.  Let’s get on with it!!