Remember, a while back I suggested that I just might have a new, better and novel retirement strategy? Remember that I suggested, I’d provide the details in a follow-up post?
Well, here it is. Here’s my better retirement strategy.
Forget retirement.
No, no, wait! Come back, let me explain.
You’re back? Great, let’s get started.
First off, I want you to think about retirement and, more specifically, I’d like you to think about what you’ll do, post retirement. I ask because, based on my observation (and, believe me, I’ve been observing the sucker for more than four years), most folk view retirement in one of three ways:
1) The chance to finally escape from an unpleasant, stressful (and probably boring) job
2) The opportunity to be on “permanent vacation”
3) The chance to begin pursuing a passion
In all likelihood, those in the last group are the only ones who stand a chance of enjoying retirement (and I’ll explain why in a minute). As for the first two groups? It seems that most in that lot will be in for an unpleasant surprise. That’s because they’re so focused on escaping from their current employment environment, or they have such an unrealistic expectation of what’s awaiting them, that when that magical, supposedly idyllic, retirement arrives, they realize—very quickly—that the retirement reality is nowhere near as great as the the retirement dream.
In a word, I’m describing boredom.
The simple truth is, for many people (but not for all people, I must emphatically point out), retirement is boring.
So what’s the alternative?
Well, an obvious solution is to make sure you align yourself with group number three. That way you’ll, at least, have a plan for what you’ll be doing, all those single days that will make up the rest of your life.
Think about it. Whether you enjoyed the experience or not, that daily employment routine is going to have to be replaced with something else. And watching TV, or visiting the mall, or relaxing in the backyard—each and every day—is not going to cut it. Not by the longest of shots. It’s all going to get real monotonous, real fast.
If you plan, however, on pursuing a passion, I’d say you have a near fighting chance of beating the boredom blues.
And, if you agree with that premise, here then is my way better retirement strategy.
[Beginning of Disclaimer] Do not interpret, in the following public-service message (and/or unsolicited suggestion), that there exists a recommendation that you stop salting money away. It’s always good to have rainy-day money salted away. And here’s the interesting thing, the strategy I am about to describe may actually result in you salting more money away. Why? Simply because you’ll be happier and you thus won’t have to spend money to buy a bunch of stuff that is supposed to make you happier, but which, you soon realize, is just a bunch of useless stuff. After all, isn’t it really all a mistaken belief that such stuff will make you happier anyway? …But I am getting quite off topic now, and this is starting to look like an editorial (OK, a rant), and not so much like a disclaimer at all. So let’s get back to our regular programming… [End of Disclaimer]
Now, where were we? Ah yes, the way better retirement strategy… Here it is:
Deep-six that anticipated retirement day entirely and find a way to begin pursuing your passion right now. Let me say it again; don’t wait for retirement, just do it (whatever your “it” happens to be) right now.
The idea (and it’s not a new or original idea, I will admit), goes like this; if you did, every day, what you loved doing, wouldn’t you want to keep doing it forever?
I’m thinking; yes.
Now here’s the twist. All you have to do is figure out how to earn an income while doing what you love.
Impossible? No. Difficult? Maybe at first. Requires imagination? Perhaps. Takes commitment? That’s an affirmatory.
And, I know what you’re thinking too. You’re saying, “I’ve got responsibilities to live up to, bills to pay.” You’re wondering, “How the hell am I supposed to do that—start pursuing my passion, and earn income?”
Well, sorry if this sounds like a cop-out, but I had to write a whole book in order to explain that (and a bunch of other stuff too). But be assured, the strategy is described in the book. And the publisher is now telling me that we should avoid the pre-Christmas rush and the post-Christmas blahs.
So we’re looking at a February 2010 release. If you’re willing to wait ’till then, be assured that I’m willing to continue blogging–and ranting–until then.
Ranting, after all, is one of the things I do best.
