Today’s retirees are a completely different breed. Gone are the days of wasting away our final years sitting in a rocking chair that overlooks the neighbourhood. Now we’re looking at exciting and fulfilling ways to spend our retirement years. Part of the change is due to the decisions made by many people to take early retirement rather than working until they are no longer able. Another factor is that better healthcare is enabling more people to not only live longer but to remain healthier and more active during their final decades.
The switch from working full-time to retirement can be challenging. After looking forward to years of freedom and quality time with our grandkids, we can quickly find ourselves at loose ends. These had led many of us to begin actively seeking ways to make the most of our retirement days. Here are ways to get your retirement onto the right track.
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Give Back
If you’ve spent your working career concerned about the bottom line and your annual budget, you might love being able to contribute without watching the clock. There are countless ways to contribute to your community or elsewhere around the world. From helping at a local soup kitchen to traveling overseas to provide safe drinking water to poor communities, there is no shortage of ways to give back.
Habitat for Humanity is one example of an organization that provides ways to contribute locally and around the world. You can see tangible results from your efforts as you help to build houses for people in need.
Running for office or getting involved with political causes can be another way to remain active. Volunteer at your local school or library. You have years of experience (and probably plenty of entertaining stories) that you can share to help young people in your community.
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Add New Skills
Retirement doesn’t need to mean an end of learning. You can go back to school to complete a degree, start learning a whole new field, or improve your skills in a hobby like painting. Study English in London as a way to combine a travel with learning. Going to school in a different country or city allows you the time to truly experience that location and get to know the locals (http://languagelink.co.uk/). This is completely different than the experience of the typical tourist who typically spends a few days in a location, never venturing much beyond tourist areas.
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Hit the Road
Adventure awaits! The classic retirement strategy of piling into a recreation vehicle may seem old fashioned but it can actually be a wonderful way to combine travel with the comforts of home. This type of adventure allows you to travel at your own pace. You can spend months at or whole seasons at one location or spend your time traveling and exploring.
For some retirees, their favourite way to travel is by water. A cabin on a cruise ship can allow you to travel all around the world without having to pack and unpack. For many people, having access to full services like a hotel while getting to visit new places is ideal.
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New Home, New You
It can be difficult to transition from working full time to retirement, particularly if you are still living in the same home and community. If you’re surrounded by couples and families still working full time jobs, it can seem odd to enjoying a leisurely coffee in the morning. You may also lack friends who are available to socialize on a regular basis.
This is why so many retirees take advantage of their new freedom to move to a different location. Resort areas or retirement communities can provide better year-round weather and access to golfing, swimming pools, and other recreational activities. Once you’re surrounded by other retirees, you’ll no longer have to wait until the weekend to have partners for golf or bridge.
Moving to a retiree-friendly area doesn’t need to be boring. Many people buy a retirement home in a busy waterfront area, in an exotic local, or in a city that is filled with culture, entertainment, and restaurants.