Since you were young, you must have looked forward to retirement as the golden age of life: a time without worries and responsibilities. Life as a retiree was the ultimate goal that you strived for, the finish line of an unending and testing marathon of life, the time of reaping the rewards.
You always envied your grandmom, who had no worries other than knitting sweaters and scarves for her grandkids before Christmas dinner. You might also have looked begrudgingly to your grandfather, who had no compulsion for waking up early in the morning other than catching up on the morning news.
When you were young and far from retirement, life as a retiree seemed idyllic and fantastical. However, the picture is not as green from a closer perspective. Old age comes with its own worries and challenges that can weigh on you after you retire.
Hence, here are three things that your retired grandparents want you to know so that you can prepare yourself in advance and not walk into early retirement with childish gullibility, just to have all your dreams roughened and toughened up with a cruel dose of reality.
1. The worry of money remains
Many people wrongly believe that if they religiously amass a healthy retirement fund, they will be liberated from the worry of money for the rest of their lives. This is not true at all. The worry of not having adequate money will always plague your mind.
2. Succumbing to life in retirement is not easy
As pleasurable as it seems, retirement life can be boring and unrewarding. There is no paycheck at the end of the month to reward you for your struggles throughout the month.
There is no recognition or bonus reward to goad you on and deliver a sense of achievement, no mountain to climb and conquer. This life of aimlessness can make on restless, hence, you must pick up a hobby and make it your passion.
3. Your social circle will shrink up
It may sound very pessimistic, but the coarse truth is that once you leave your job, and become retired, all your friends may disappear. There will only be a few of your closest friends left to you who will not be bothered by your financial status. Do not get sad because it’s a phase of life, and you surely do not need any fake friends in your old age.
After all, what significance will life hold if it is all smooth and flowery? What significance will the day hold if it is never preceded by night? What you can do is prepare to face the worst.