Life After Retirement

Over the years, we accumulate a lot of stuff. Since we live in a consumer-oriented society, this is probably inevitable. We buy homes and decorate them with furniture. Clothing is a constant source of amusement and distraction as we adjust our style to the latest trends. Then, in our 60s, we suddenly start to think about downsizing. Read More

If you’re in retirement, or fast approaching retirement age, perhaps you’re wondering about where you want to live during this next stage of life. Many women over 60 are reinventing retirement by working longer, dating new partners, traveling and retiring abroad, and otherwise living life with a new level of vitality and purpose. Read More

Retirement is a good time to assess what is important in our lives. By focusing on our priorities and downsizing in retirement, we can make space for the things that really matter. In a literal sense, “downsizing” can mean moving to a smaller house or learning to “traveling light.” For me, it is so much more than this. After a lifetime of accumulating “stuff,” downsizing allows us to create mental space. It helps us to simplify our life on a fundamental level. It all starts with shifting our focus away from “things” and towards experiences and people. Now that I have gone through the process of downsizing my life, I would love to offer some advice to the other women in the community who may want to do the same. Here are a few practical ideas for downsizing in retirement…

If you are winding down your working years and getting ready to embrace life as a retiree, it can often present a surprising blend of emotions. As you approach retirement, it’s natural to feel happy, proud, nostalgic, wistful, and perhaps a bit uncertain or even worried about “what do I do next?” Read More

Women over sixty are redefining the concept of “retirement.” Instead of “aging gracefully,” more women than ever are starting new businesses, working part-time, volunteering, pursuing creative interests, or otherwise finding new ways to make a contribution to the world. Read More

Financial security is an important concern for a lot of women over 60. Many of us are still working and are in the final stages of planning for retirement. Others have already left the workforce and are looking for ways to make their retirement savings last longer. Some are living on pensions or fixed incomes. But, exactly how much money does it really take to find happiness in retirement? Read More

Several years ago, while I was going through a major downsizing exercise, I came across a vision board that my son had created in 5^th grade. Of course, he had no idea what a vision board was at the time, but, it was clear that this was the result of his creative effort. His visual collage was both beautiful and eerily prescient. Read More

Does the meaning of life change after 60? That’s the question I found myself asking, recently, as I sat in a small cafe, writing and preparing for the week to come. As I wrote, teenagers walked past the window, arms filled with shopping bags. Moms navigated the busy street with toddlers and buggies. Women in their 30s and 40s hustled past on their way to work. Some people looked organized and purposeful. Others looked frantic and vaguely confused. But, regardless, they all seemed to be going somewhere. Whether they knew it or not, their lives had a purpose — perhaps a purpose defined by their life stage — but, a purpose all the same. With so many options available, life after 60 feels entirely different. So, the question struck me.
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The feminist movement gave women many gifts. Whatever your opinion about “women’s lib,” most efforts to achieve equality and independence have been helpful. Women can vote, own property and enjoy a wide range of legal and financial freedoms. Women truly have come out of the shadows and chosen to take off their invisibility cloaks. Read More

When I was 12 years old, I spent a lot of time imagining how my life would unfold. I created a wonderful plan, complete with well-defined dots, connected by entirely straight lines. I soon realized that the map I drew in my mind was sketched in pencil, not in ink. Read More