Talk of The Villages Florida - View Single Post - Decision time, retire or don't retire that is the question.
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Old 04-26-2021, 04:49 PM
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zendog3 zendog3 is offline
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I will not second guess your financial advisor's projections. And, I would not know which of the readers of this list to trust for financial advice. But, I have some thoughts on when and where to retire:

Some people "live" their work. Without their work, they have no direction in life and tend to be unhappy in retirement. Many people in TV work for the joy of working. Gate guards, golf course workers, etc. One of my friends does handyman jobs because he loves "to keep busy." I met a fellow who built neuclear submarines but no drives for The Villages transportation system, just to have something to do. So, work in retirement is an is an option. For the rest of us, several things make for a successful retirement.

Research shows that the single greatest predictor of happiness in retirement is a network of friends. People who do not make friends easily are often advised not to retire and move to a sunny place. Most of us know someone in TV who is not happy and it is usually because they lack a network of friends. Those people often move back "home" to be closer to their kids. Fortunately, TV is a great place to make new friends. You will be surrounded by friendly people who share your interests. If you are at all social, that problem is easily solved.

Another important thing is to move not away from work, but to something. Is there something you have always wanted to do. For me, it is writing and golf. What interests do you have that will take up your time. If you don't know, you should think seriously about it. Lastly, and I think this is underrated, you need a responsibility. I chair a writers group and I have a dog that depends on me. I am not terribly important, but I am important, and that gives meaning to my life.