What to Do in Retirement: Where Will Your Vision Take You?

The sky’s the limit, so start planning now to make the most of every day.

You’ve heard the retirement clichés: you’re just getting started; there’s no slowing you down; the best is yet to come, and so on. And guess what: they’re all true. Retirement is full of possibilities, not the least of which is the freedom to do what you want, when you want. But now that retirement is around the corner, it can be easy to feel overwhelmed by your options. Here, we offer some basic suggestions to help you find activities that speak to your vision.

• Volunteer. Put your wisdom, skills and experience to work helping others. The rewards you’ll get back are worth their weight in gold.
• Learn. Whether you want to learn French or learn to fly, when you go back to class, you’ll meet new people and challenge your brain in new ways.
• Work. Even though you are officially retired, no one says you can’t work. Start a small business, try a new career, become a coach or a mentor. Look into part-time work as a way to make some extra income and stay involved.
• Travel. Go where you’ve always dreamed of going. Or visit old neighborhoods and friends. It doesn’t matter — you’ve got plenty of time, and there’s a whole world waiting for you.
• Move. If you’re a grandparent or soon-to-be, there’s no question there’s nothing like it. But living far apart from family can make it more difficult to share in their daily lives. Not to mention hard to give those special hugs and kisses. Consider what’s most important to you and weigh the pros and cons of either being a long-distance grandparent or one that’s around the corner.
• Relax. This is your retirement, remember? No one said you have to be going 24/7. Spend time with family, catch up with friends, pull weeds or paint birdhouses. The point is to do what you want to do — and have fun.

Your possibilities are endless.

We’ve only scratched the surface, but hopefully you’re feeling a bit inspired. So grab a piece of paper and start writing down your ideas. Anything that comes to mind, put it on paper. Invite your significant other to do the same. Then, compare your lists and talk about how you can make those things happen. Nothing’s too out there. Want to go to Mars? Well, ok, maybe that’s a stretch, but that dream could turn into a trip to Cape Canaveral.

The point is, don’t limit yourself or give up on an idea because you don’t think it’s realistic. A good next step is to talk to your financial professional, who can help you align your dreams with your financial resources.