The Decision

Am I ready for this?

I grew up in a family with very little money. Having no financial cushion as a youngster left me anxious about retiring. Given my family history, I never really thought I would reach retirement age.

Starting as a teenager, I had worked hard my whole life, and was enjoying a successful career. But I was still nervous. How could I be sure I would have enough money to live on? What would happen if I fell short?

Then there was the question, did I want to stop working? I had always had a place to be, a job to do. Lucky circumstances meant that I enjoyed my job and most of the people with whom I dealt on a daily basis. My health was good, and my employer didn’t mandate retirement.

And yet… my life kept me so busy that there wasn’t time to experiment with hobbies I had always wanted to do. My profession was a full-time commitment, and I loved helping the non-profits close to my heart.

My husband and I have two sons; one with a wife and children who lived a twelve-hour drive away. We managed to see them every other month, but it was hard to leave when it was time to return home. When your granddaughter says, “Nana, please don’t go,” your heart breaks a little bit. Our son and his wife had asked us to move closer to them when we retired, for which we were grateful.

After much contemplation, I reached my decision. I would retire to take advantage of the chance to spend more time with family, and to try some new experiences.

Mind you, I am a research geek by nature. I consulted with our family financial planner, read up on my benefits, and chose an optimal date for me to retire. My personal situation left me with options that others do not, and I am thankful that I could make that choice.

The decision was made!! Step one. And now, all I had to do was to implement what I began calling “My Great Adventure.”

Next: Moving hundreds of miles away from your home of forty years