Re-visioning Retirement
pubished in the Fremantle Herald, 28 February 2004
We are entering a new retirement era, and for a very simple reason. Retirement was never meant to last for 30 years.
When old age pensions were introduced in 1920, a 65-year old recipient would be lucky to enjoy the benefit even for a year. The average life expectancy was 65.
But life expectancy has stretched out incredibly. People who reach the age of 60 today are expected to live at least till their mid-80s and it is confidently predicted that half the children born today will live to 100. What's more, those extra years will be healthy years.
The question then is: what do we do with these bonus years post mainstream work? If we call them 'retirement years', what kind of retirement is it?
In the 1960s and 1970s retirement was to be the Golden Years of life. we thought of it as an entitlement. "It's what you deserve after working hard - sit back and take life easy."
That might be fine for a while, but for twenty or thirty years?
Many people find they become bored and would rather be working - not full time, but doing things they find useful and meaningful - without the pressure they had when they were ambitious for advancement.
Some find satisfaction 'gifting' their time as volunteers. Many more want to re-invent themselves. They want to try new things or pursue dreams they had put on the shelf.
The realisation that the decades of our 60s, 70s and beyond can - and should - be an active, fulfilling time in our lives is an idea whose time has come.
More organisations are offering services to help retirees or up-and-coming retirees find or create new opportunities. If you are interested, you can search the Internet or enquire at your local Council Offices or library.
One good tactic is simply to talk to people you meet, of any age, about the things they do that interest them.
While there is considerable assistance to help people plan their financial future, the opportunity to receive guidance in thinking imaginatively about the possibilities for post-career careers has been very limited.
Last year we - that is colleagues Anne Butorac, Jane Figgis and Ann Zubrick - decided to experiment with how such guidance might most effectively, and enjoyably, be structured.
Part of our interest in designing this workshop assistance is that we ourselves are part of the group of people 'transitioning' to a new career. Six years ago we formed a consulting business - a new direction for us. It has proved successful and has increased our optimism that there are many new ventures and opportunities out there to be grasped by people in the age range of 50 and beyond.
We are running a series of workshops starting in mid-April. The program is a balance between structured processes and flexibility to meet the unique ideas and interests of participants. The courses are highly appreciated.