The survey says that 75% of retired people are happy with their retirement. Almost all say their relationship with their families is better, 76% watch their diets and exercise, and 88% see their doctor regularly.
But what about the 25% who say their retirement is not good? Who are they and why are they so unhappy? I wondered if a great many of these people were unhappy with their lives before. See, we all know that not everyone is just thrilled about each new day. Some people are never happy. Depression, dissatisfaction, life's circumstances, education, and health issues can take a toll. I have always said that retirement did not change much in my life. I am a wife, mother, grandmother and educator. I just kept doing what I had always done. I just did all those things at my own pace. I was happy with my life then and I am happy with my life now. But then that is just me. I will admit that it was harder for my husband...but then that is another story.
Being realistic about our situation is always a good thing. Not everyone will move to the beach and sit in the sun all day, every day, day after day, 24/7! In fact, like working at the candy store, it would get old after a while. The trick is to work a little and play a little. It could be that we will all work a little more. Does that mean a dark cloud should hang over the sun? I just don't think so. It could be that people might find a way to retire and use their retirement as an opportunity to work at a job of their own making—one that they love.
We have a friend who was a teacher in wood shop at the school. When he retired he started a handyman business and even employed his children. Another woman taught piano and yet another tutored.
I have been retired a long time. My husband and I have worked at this retirement thing and let me tell you, if I had known then what I know now, I would have done it differently. But, isn't that the way life is? Where is the fun and adventure of knowing how it will end before you have even begun? As I have said many times before, retirement is good...you get to decided how you go about it...the decisions are up to YOU. Maybe that is why many people are unhappy...maybe they just aren't looking within themselves for the answers! The trick is to live within your means and keep busy. The tradeoff for a smaller lifestyle is the fact that your life is your own. I think that is a very good thing. But then that is just me—I am part of the 75% who are very happy!
Article comments
1 - Sunie Levin
Retirement can be lonesome without friends. Old friends die or move away, yet you are never too old to make new friends.
Studies reveal that making new friends can help you live longer and better.
2 - RetireInStyleBlog
You are absolutely right Susan. I think that is one reason seniors are attracted to communities of age mates. The study showed that seniors valued communities with accessible health care, low crime rate and easy availability of necessities like groceries. I think that friendships probably are very valuable too.
Thank you for your comment.
Barbara (RetireInStyleBlog)
3 - Pat Mallett (GraceinAZ)
I love Barbara's attitude. And, that's the key - our attitude towards retirement is what makes it good or not so good. Being around other active, like-minded retirees is good. Keep up the good life, Barbara! And, don't stop blogging about it! We are all still learning! Hugs, GraceinAZ Growing Old With Grace
4 - RetireInStyleBlog
Pat, I appreciate the kind words but most of all I appreciate the shared attitude. If the morning is a little cloudy, a good weather man says it will be partly sunny today...be careful how you choose you weatherman. Retirement is like that!
b
5 - Arch Conservative
In another 15 years this article will be a moot point as no one with less than half a billion dollars in the bank will be able to retire at the rate this country is going.
We will all just drop dead at the workplace well into our seventies. That is unless you don't get killed by an illegal alien drunk driver while crossing the street before then.
6 - Christopher Rose
Personally, I plan not to retire at all. Retirement is boring.
I also think there should not be any such thing as an old age pension. Except for the mega-rich, who arguably don't need one, neither the state nor a private pension can provide enough funds to keep a person in anything like a lifestyle worth living.
People should work until they are physically or mentally unable to and then the state should help make their final days a dignified passage to extinction that doesn't impoverish their families.
7 - Arch Conservative
Gee Roger does your plan for retirement come with a nifty little tatooed serial number....like the ones that Adolph and the boys came up with not so long ago?
I know you're British but you can't be serious.
How about this. People should work until they don't feel like working any more and it's pretty much their own damn business. As to the funding of whatever lifestyle they choose in retirement...well that's their own damn business too.
8 - Arch Conservative
I called you Roger when I meant to say Christopher.
9 - Arch Conservative
I meant to write Christopher, not say it.
10 - Igor
Christopher,
I planned to NEVER retire since I always did work that I enjoyed, and since it was mental (engineering) I always figured it was a lifelong possibility, but age prejudice by hiring punks ended that.
Plan B was to make a pile of money, but business crooks are pretty good at stealing the fruits of an ordinary guys labor.
Plan C was to marry a rich and beautiful woman, which I did, but eventually even that loses it´s charm.
Plan Z was the best: keep good health and never sacrifice it for The Company. And NEVER believe the false promises of businessmen or politicians. I ALWAYS took my lunch hour for vigorous exercise and refused to eat the unhealthy communal business meals at McD and various overpriced restaurants (even famous ones).
Now I´m 74, healthy (no need for medicare), ingenious, flexible, well-read, etc., and live on half my SS mite alone.
The best thing we can do for our retirees is defend SS and medicare, and provide lifelong Universal Healthcare (Single Payer) along with active health promotion in the interest of public health and disease control.
11 - Christopher Rose
Arch, I know you love to splutter and bluster a lot but if you actually thought about it, what you wrote boils down to the same thing I wrote.
I didn't say anything about compelling people to work.
Please try and engage your brain before operating your keyboard...
Igor, age discrimination is illegal now, so what happened to you should be a thing of the past.
Glad things are working out for you though.
12 - roger nowosielski
My goodness, Igor, your posts are vibrant and full of energy and don't in the least reveal anything close to your chronological age.
Keep on plugging.
13 - RetireInStyleBlog
If I were to go out on the street to find a group of people that exemplify the attitudes that determine how people choose to live the last part of their lives I could never find a group like the people commenting above.
It is wonderful when you can find a job niche that will allow you to work forever. Good health is a wonderful gift that needs to be protected and nurtured. As for the attitude that we will all be sunk in a few years...well it is very possible that if you think that is true then it will be.
As for me, I love retirement. Living "beneath" our income has paid off for us.
Igor, you are an inspiration. I am coming up on 70 and life is very good.
Thank you all for your input.
b (retireinstyleblog)
14 - Igor
¨Igor, age discrimination is illegal now, so what happened to you should be a thing of the past.¨
Ha ha ha. Sure.
Maybe the 15 yr. old HR manager they hired last week has finally quit discriminating against 40 yr. olds. But to hang onto this job (which he got after 6 weeks as a Burger King manager and sucking up to the boss) he will quickly reflect the moods and fantasies of his boss, whoever that is, because he feels so insecure himself, knowing that brown-nosing is his only real skill, but enough to get him his next job at McD or Home Depot, or whatever.