Why Are Some Boomers Happily Retired While Others Are Not?

To many people, retirement is a shock and doesn't seem to be quite what they expected. Not having planned ahead, they don't know what to do with themselves. Time drags and they feel they have no purpose and wonder why they retired. This doesn't have to be the case.

Many realize after retirement that their social life was tied up with their professional life. This is particularly true of men who sometimes don't have close male friends. As a result they are lonely and have feelings of isolation. Planning for retirement is necessary for mental, psychological and financial reasons. But often people spend more time planning a two week vacation than they do for their retirement.

Crucial to retirement is to have a social network, a purpose, to continue lifelong learning and to have interests and/or hobbies. It will be vital to cultivate friends to do things with, i.e.: golfing, walks, playing bridge or just socializing. Social interaction is the main difference between enjoying retirement or not; or being happy, healthy and active.

Some delay retirement because of insufficient retirement funds, or at least the fear that there won't be enough money to live as they want to and perhaps be able to travel as well. Planning to be financially comfortable in retirement should be started young - in your late twenties or early thirties at the very latest.

The retirement phase of life is a different lifestyle. How do you handle leisure? Do you get bored easily? What can you do to derive satisfaction from your retirement years? Some couples find too much togetherness in their relationships can present problems. Both should develop their own interests. It is necessary to be involved in life so time doesn't drag. Those who are the most satisfied in retirement have found things to do outside the home that are meaningful to their life. And they are the ones who are maintaining a healthy lifestyle by being physically active.

For those who have planned for their retirement and are financially secure, travelling can be satisfying and educational. Travelling is being actively involved in life and it is meeting others who have similar interests. There are many different types of travel options - enough to meet all individual tastes and styles.

Others who have planned for their retirement and have looked forward to it, are enjoying a lifestyle where they have freedom and time to spend with their friends, to enjoy activities they previously had little time for such as pursuing educational interests, learning an instrument, a new language or becoming more physically active. Perhaps they have always wanted to run a marathon - maybe now is the time to do it. Possibly they wanted to volunteer, spend more time with grandchildren, write their memoirs, get involved in genealogy, plant a garden or have more time for reading. There is no limit to what you can do if you have the time to do it.

A successful retirement depends on being adequately prepared. It is also necessary to determine what you want to do in this phase of your life that will give you purpose. But before you take that step, ensure that you have a strong social network in place. After that, enjoy your retirement and all the things you'll be able to do with the extra time you have. Retirement should, and can be, a very happy phase in your life.

Boomers and Travel

Many boomers consider travel as part of life and not just a luxury. And for this reason, many travel often.

Boomers' parents saved their money to make their one big lifetime trip. But many boomers began travelling as students so now as experienced travellers, they look for exotic experiences. Many have already done what they consider the mundane, i.e.: exploring the United States, most likely by backpacking, so a bus trip across the States does not appeal. With a been-there-done-that type of attitude, they're now looking for adventure that is either challenging or at least intellectually stimulating.

Growing up with the attitude of being young forever and not wishing to trust anyone over thirty, many even now, don't want to associate with seniors or anyone older than themselves when travelling. They don't see themselves as old no matter what the calendar may say. They feel young and often act much younger than their chronological age. Their preference would be to travel with people younger rather than older than themselves.

When travelling, boomers want options where they can feel as if they have some control over their travel experience. They don't just want to sight-see, they want to sight-do like going gold panning, river rafting, on a safari, walking the high arch of the Harbour Bridge in Sydney or even bungee jumping, as one seventy year old recently did.

Boomers like luxury at a bargain price but with the assurance of good value. But there are also boomers who stay at hostels around the world. No longer is it just the youth who backpack; boomers are returning to the things they enjoyed in their youth. Perhps it is a denial on aging. And does it make any difference whether it is or not?

Boomers are travelling with friends, family or are taking their grandchildren on special trips. There are also theme trips such as golf holidays to specific areas, spa trips to luxury resorts, wine tasting trips or educational trips with the intention of learning a language through total immersion with the land and the people. There are also volunteerism trips where part of the trip is spent helping at a school or an orphanage, eco-tourism trips which includes nature and environmental excursions to see waterfalls and bird watching. Adventure travel is also popular which includes hiking, snorkeling, scuba diving and skiing. And of course, cruises have long been popular choices.

RV travel is popular with boomers also. It offers a variety of experiences, control about where you go and where you stay and allows complete flexibility. It is a free spirit way of travelling. It can be used as a home base for visiting historic sites, local points of interest and tourist attractions. It is a home on wheels without the necessity of packing your suitcase with every move you make.

As boomers redefined young adulthood and retirement, according to statistics they are also redefining the travel industry. Because of their numbers, their travel demands are determining what the industry offers. Boomers want new experiences, not the same-old, same-old. They are more interested in adventure and international travel than were their parents. They want educational and experiential travel, i.e.: a cargo ship cruise or a trip to the Galapagos. And many are looking at their bucket list when they consider places to travel.

Many boomers believe that 'To travel is to live' which is a quote by Hans Christian Andersen. And they are doing it in large numbers.