There are many ways in which one can view retirement: as a loss – of contact with workmates, of income and, for many, a purpose for living. Or as an opportunity – to pursue interests that were neglected before, to study for a new occupation, to learn a language prior to travel, to make new friends and so on. One could worry about how long this period will be and how it will end, or putting the future aside, live fully and love every day.
I see it as similar to waiting on a platform for a train or at a bus stop. Sometimes it is possible to see your transport approaching from a long way away, and you feel the need to gaze frequently and anxiously into the distance to see the first sign of its distant presence. At other times, your train or bus is hidden by buildings or a bend in the route, and you can only know when it arrives. In the latter case, continuous and futile anticipation is replaced with a chance to read, to talk to fellow travelers, or just meditate on the good things in life. The secret to a rewarding retirement is not to worry about how your life will progress and what the end will be, but to live in the ‘now’ and enjoy every moment.
Renaissance not Retirement 