There are two colors for retirement: gray and silver.
What we assume about this stage of life is often gray. That comes from what happened to mom and dad or grandpa. They withdrew and traveled. They retired and went into woodworking … or quilting … or golf. They withdrew and took a back seat to what was happening in the rest of the world. They withdrew and practically disappeared. The gray is not very noticeable. Or very interesting. Eventually, they left, but usually long after the culture had forgotten them.
Is this approach inevitable? Is it what is happening to people who are retiring now?
Only if they choose it. There are many more options than moving to Palm Springs or playing golf five days a week.
The traditional version of retirement is based on the “golden years” concept that Del Webb gave us as a culture in 1960 as part of the inaugural marketing effort for the first Sun City, a retirement community outside of Phoenix. It was a way to put a positive spin on a very negative situation. At the time, American workers had to retire at a certain age, and once they did, society practically forgot about them. Webb and others turned this invisibility into the idea that retirement was time to play, that retirees have earned the opportunity to have fun all day every day. A 100% leisure life.
For those still working, this sounds like Nirvana, but as a lifestyle, it can be daunting. Not even children play all day every day. Not having a purpose or a way to contribute creates a wide range of health problems, both mental and physical, for the person and deprives society of their talents and abilities.
But this mindset continues because many believe:
* People old enough to retire are frail, in poor health, have no stamina, and are physically unable to do much of what younger people can do.
* They are short-term members of society; they will die or enter a nursing home (and then die) in a few years or even months.
* They are inept – “out of it” the vast majority of the time, with no idea what’s going on in the world and without the ability to do much about it anyway.
* They are irrelevant or worse, a burden: nothing they do has an impact beyond their own lives. Many of them cannot even take care of themselves.
This is the GRAY version of retired life. Lifeless, fading, dull. Also WRONG.
NONE of this is mandatory, necessary or prudent. Most of it is sheer nonsense. The truth about people old enough to retire is much less limiting. But to get where we planned using a better model, we have to adopt a new set of assumptions:
* AT THIS AGE, WE ARE STILL STURDY. The vast majority of those who choose to retire are at the top of their game. Physically, they are in better shape than their parents, even ten years younger.
* WE ARE ENTERING A LONG TERM STAGE OF LIFE. Those retiring now are likely to be at least another fifteen years old and, more likely, twenty-five to thirty. Those who retire at age 55 could easily spend more time in retirement than in the workforce.
* WE ARE AN IMPORTANT SEGMENT OF THE POPULATION. In numbers. In purchasing power. And if we take the time to plan it, in the roles that we assume and the challenges that we face for our families, communities and society in general.
* WE ARE ENERGIZED. The opportunity to do the things we believe in with the flexibility to adapt to all the other things we value is invigorating. This age group has the potential to recharge ourselves and our communities, and whatever else we decide to do. We can have “the good life” and “do good” at the same time. We are in a position to give, but also to take the time to enjoy what life has to offer.
This version of retirement is SILVER – bright and energetic. Retirement, using this set of assumptions, is the time in life when we can truly have it all, do it all, be it all, on our terms.
What color attitude are you going to choose? WHY SETTLE FOR GRAY WHEN SILVER IS JUST A MATTER OF MIND? What attitude are you going to adopt while doing your planning?
