Life After Retirement

Walking through Vienna, Joel noticed an elderly woman sweeping the streets. His first instinct, shaped entirely by the culture that raised him, was pity. She was old. She was still working. Surely something had gone wrong.
His father corrected him gently. Nothing had gone wrong. She was valued here. She was useful…

Whether you’re approaching retirement, recently retired, or simply starting to ask “what comes next”… this phase of life can feel more complicated than expected. Many of the women I speak with tell me: “I thought I’d feel happier than this.”

A few years ago, I began thinking about how I would choose to live if I could live any way that I wanted to. The plan that evolved centered around a small age-restricted “village” of a dozen or so cottages or patio homes arranged in a rambling circle with their backyards facing in around a common area and a community building…

A woman once told me something I hear often, but rarely so honestly: “I want to enjoy my retirement… but every time I spend money, part of me wonders if I should be saving it for my children instead.” She wasn’t being pressured by her family…

For most of my life, I couldn’t imagine living without a car. During the week, I had a lengthy commute. On the weekends, I zipped back and forth to the mall, collecting “things” that, in hindsight, I probably didn’t need. Then, in my 60s, something happened that completely changed my perspective on owning a car…

I have a cart full of art supplies to the right of my desk. To my left, there’s a stool with more supplies precariously balanced on top of it. And, front and center on my beautiful mango wood desk: my monitor, keyboard, mouse, and laptop…

Your 70th birthday is a big one! I experienced it already, so I know. The inevitable question is, “What gift would you like?” It will come as no surprise that my first wish was to have my sons and grandchildren all together. Like so many women…

What traditions do you celebrate with family and friends? Traditions have an important place in our lives, and as I grow older, I value them more than ever. This month, I took part in a decades-old tradition with friends and created a new one with a family member…

The other morning, I was sitting in a bath at 11 o’clock on a weekday, coffee already cold on the edge of the tub, and I had a very strange thought. I should be somewhere. For most of my life, I always was. Wake up early…

Over the past few years, I have heard a quiet observation repeated by many women over 60. Nothing dramatic has happened. Life is still good. Yet something subtle begins to shift. Activities and commitments that once felt natural start to invite…