All of life before retirement is viewed in terms of our development. We learn through our childhood and adolescence and through further education and employment. We strive to advance to better jobs and use our experience to seek higher levels of responsibility and income. However, for many, retirement is seen as the time when one can relax and give up the need for further progress. A time for being entertained, and for indulging in all the activities which were part of life before, but which were restricted by attention to work and family. Previously I occasionally enjoyed golf/bridge/fishing/films/cruises etc, so now I can do them all day, every day.
The question is, given that our faculties and physical abilities are bound to deteriorate over time, can we maintain the same level of interest and will we continue to achieve the same satisfactory performance in these activities? For perhaps 25 years? This seems unlikely. There are two aspects which could be considered. Firstly, why abandon the idea of development or progress during retirement? There is much satisfaction in learning new knowledge and skills, and in exploring new areas of interest. This is the time when you can fulfill that previous yearning to speak another language, to do Yoga, to play a musical instrument, to make pots, or to help refugees. Secondly, there are plenty of activities which would be more appropriate to retirees with weaker physiques and limited finances.
Instead of viewing retirement as the time when all that was previously important will fade away, why not see it as your third era of progress. Not downhill into the valley of inactivity, but uphill towards the sunny uplands of achievement. How about working towards a degree – a 90 year-old was awarded a PhD last year. How about learning to become a mentor for young people? How about writing your first novel? How about taking up photography, or life drawing, or flying? Retirement is your opportunity to make progress.
Renaissance not Retirement 