Three Absolutely Essential Questions You Should Answer Before You Retire

By now, everyone knows the statistics. 10,000 Baby Boomers retire in the U.S. alone each day; many of us will spend more time in the Retirement stage of life than in young adulthood, adolescence and childhood combined. We will spend much of that time in good mental and physical health because of scientific and technological advances.

All indicators are that Retirement is a powerful life transition and can be the doorway to the most creative, enjoyable time of our lives.

Yet the subject of retirement is one of the last great taboos. We may dread it or look forward to it – but, in our culture and in our families, we almost never talk about it. We certainly don’t plan it. We sit back and let it happen.

Chances are, you will have spent more time researching and planning your last vacation than you will spend sitting down together as a couple and ironing out the details of your retirement.

To help you on your way, here are three absolutely essential questions you must ask yourselves, as individuals and as a partnership, before you retire.

Where Will I Live?

The answer to this question will not be a point on a map. Do you want to live in a City with a political culture, museums, coffee shops you can walk to, an artistic community, a local Junior college? Do you want to be able to walk your dog near your home, play golf nearby, grow vegetables, be out of earshot of any neighbors? Do you want a small town atmosphere? Do you want the hustle of nightlife? Do you need to be near an airport? Do allergies or medical conditions play any part in your decision? What do you want to see when you look out of your kitchen window in the morning nursing your coffee – a beach, mountains, friendly neighbors, trees?

Who Will I Live With?

Do you want to live near the kids so you can see them on weekends? Do you want to live in another State so you don’t get stuck with unofficial babysitting duties each weekend? Do you want your friends and neighbors to be Liberals, Republicans or aging hippies? Is a Faith-based community important to you? What kind of church or temple would you like nearby? Do you want to live within a community with a wide disparity of ages? Do you want to live in a Seniors Only Community? Would you like to live in a creative community; an outdoorsy community?

How Will You Live?

Will you garden or are you done with yard work forever? Will you volunteer, mentor local kids, start your own business or consultancy? Will you golf every day? Are yoga classes, neighborhood associations, Book Clubs, availability of part-time employment important to you? What will you do all day?

If you are retiring as a single individual, answering these questions can be crucial, but fairly simple. If you are retiring with a spouse or lifetime partner you may be surprised at the disparities that may crop up. Your spouse may have been harboring a secret desire to live in an upscale urban condo after 20 years of suburban tract living. This puts a crimp in your desire to take long walks in nature every day. One of you will have to give. Both of you may have to compromise. This can be done with deliberation and consideration if there is time to discuss, negotiate and search for alternatives.

Let the mantra for your Non-Financial Retirement Planning be:

Awareness and Communication (and don’t forget that often the most important part of communication is truly listening).