Retirement: Is it Right for You?

Retirement is one of those things that we work our whole lives for. After so many years of working hard to take care of our families and ourselves, we reach a point where we are ready to stop hitting the snooze button early in the morning, stop being forced to finish our lunch in a half hour and stop sitting in that 5 O' clock rush our traffic.

We wait and wonder what it will be like to retire, and everyone has a different goal in mind for what they are going to make of their retirement. Some say they will travel, some will take up volunteer work in a field that interest them, some will spend more time with their children and grand children and others will do absolutely nothing. What will you do when you retire? Have you ever stopped to think that maybe retirement isn't right for you?

My mother just retired January of 2009, she has worked practically since she was old enough to hold a real job. She dedicated years of service to the Los Angeles School District, and 20+ years of service to the County of Riverside in California. All my life I can remember my mom always being at work, same routine every day up at 6 am, and home at 6 pm off on the weekends. I got real used to not seeing too much of my mom unless it was on the weekend. For 42 years her life has consisted of getting up to go to a job every day. Now she is able to stay at home but is it satisfying?

As I look at my mother, it makes me ponder should people retire? I mean, I find it hard to imagine doing the same thing practically my whole life and then one day that's it, all done, no more! I understand what it is like to work and feel as if you need a serious vacation, but retirement is a permanent vacation and something I feel requires a lot of thought. My mom now wakes up and goes to the gym in the morning for about 2 hours, comes home and eats lunch, spend a few hours reading a good book, then watches TV I can assume that it is relaxing for her, but how soon before she becomes bored? I can see now why when ever I go to Mc Donald's or Walmart there always seems to be older men and women greeting or cleaning. They are retired and bored out of their minds. Not to mention the fixed income that you are on. My mom says that she is enjoying every minute of being retired but I don't think that it will last.

Have you thought about retirement? Have you thought about what you will do? How you will spend all of that free time? If not, it's never too early to start thinking about how you will spend your retirement. Since that is the time in your life that is supposed to be so rewarding make sure that you have all your duckies in a row. Remember that if you get bored, you can always pick up some volunteer work doing something you have always wanted to do. Most places will need the additional help anyway. Your local recreation center should also have activities and classes that you can take, whatever your pleasure just be aware of making the most of your new found freedom.