Quality Retirement Resources

Redefining Retirement in the 21st Century

Retirement Celebration Picture According to AARP's Methuselah Report, the lifespan of an average person is likely to expand from the current life expectancy of 77 years to 100-120 years by the end of this century. This means that retiring at age 65 will be tantamount to retiring at age 35 under today's longevity standards. Although Baby Boomers may not have read this article, most of them intuitively know that there is still a lot of living left to do as they anticipate retirement.

Oddly, however, few Boomers have given detailed consideration to what the second half of life might hold in store for them. "I don't feel all that old," Boomers are heard to confide in one another, yet, working from the traditional stereotypes about retirement, they are reticent to begin making concrete plans about how they will make the transition from punching a time clock to a less structured existence.

Too Work or Not to Work...That is the Question

Retirement no longer means receiving a gold watch and then heading for a rocking chair, making monthly trips to the doctor's office, and shopping for a mobility aid. Active, energetic, alert Boomers are redefining retirement. Exiting their current career signals a new beginning rife with possibilities.

Merrill Lynch recently conducted The New Retirement Survey which reveals that 76% of Boomers intend to keep working past typical retirement age, but most aim to retire from their current jobs around age 64 and then launch an entirely new career. Of the Boomers who intend to retire and then work again elsewhere, 42% plan to cycle between periods of work and leisure, 16% will seek part-time work, 13% want to start their own businesses, and 6% intend to return to a fulltime job.

Living La Vita Loca

Although most retirees have no intention of vegetating, many are considering trading in their lawn mowers and snow shovels for golf clubs and water skis.

The retired or semi-retired will drive three-quarters of the housing growth over the next decade, according to Clayton Research, a real estate economics consulting firm in Toronto. While some will opt to renovate their existing homes to more aging friendly, low maintenance dwellings, others will opt to liquidate their equity and move to "active lifestyle communities" where people of all ages enjoy life together instead of seeking out a "shuffleboard and bingo" retirement community.

Celebrating Retirement

No strangers to life planning, Boomers are experienced in planning weddings, vacations, families, parties, career paths, and budgets, yet, their planning skills might be tested when anticipating their own retirement.

What do I say in my retirement letter? Do I really want a retirement party? Should I register at local department stores for retirement gifts so that no one buys me a smoking jacket? Will my family and friends go ballistic if I decide to sell my house and move to a resort area? Indeed, these are weighty considerations.

The Baby Boomer generation has always prided itself on its rebellious ways, and true to form, they are breaking all of the rules as they enter retirement. Boomers will not abandon their creativity as they formulate their retirement plans, and can be expected to do the unexpected.

This website has been compiled to assist the innovative Boomer, and those who love them, in addressing the often overlooked aspects of retirement celebration and planning, the fun stuff! From composing an employment exit letter, to throwing a trendsetting retirement bash, you will find a myriad of unique approaches to celebrate this important life transition. Discover both popular and obscure retirement locations, the best states to retire to, and the housing options that exist for busy and bustling retirees.

The best is yet to come, Baby Boomers! Grab retirement with both hands and shake it up a bit!