What Happens When You Retire?

The most obvious thing that happens when people retire (or retire early) is that they give up earning a living. However, when people quit working, they give up a lot more than their pay check, and frequently it is the loss of these other things which causes the most difficulty.

First, consider how often people make good friends on the job, and how frequently over the years their families have done a great deal together. When the retired man comes back to the plant it is not only because he misses the job — he enjoys seeing his old friends as well.

The job gives regularity to daily living. As long as people are working they know fairly well where they will be and what they will be doing for eight or more hours each day. Many people miss this regularity after they retire.

More than anything else the job makes people feels useful. Through it people show their ability to be independent and to give their family a decent living.

Obviously, these things do not become any less important after people retire. They still need friends. They still need to feel each day has a purpose; and they still need to be a useful and needed member of their family and community.

Preparing for retirement, therefore, is largely a task of finding retirement activities or hobbies which will give some of the same kinds of satisfactions which were enjoyed while on the job.