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Enjoying Work After Work
From the Late Summer '03 Issue
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Don’t Contribute to the “Brain Drain”
So now that the fiscal aspect of your retirement is set, what do you do
with all of that free time?
A growing trend in America is semi-retirement. Eight in 10 baby boomers have
plans to work at least part time during retirement according to the AARP. And
it’s not just the extra income that appeals to the boomers. These empty nesters
are different from their parents in that they are more active, healthier and
have more energy. Jobs for their parents tended to be more labor intensive and
harder on the body. Therefore, parents of boomers really needed to retire at
60-65.
This is not the case for the upcoming generation of retirees. They are living
longer, healthier, more active “golden years” and seem to want to spend those
years working – at least part time.
This is good news since we will have a shortage of skilled workers as this group
begins to reach retirement age. Boomers continuing to work at least part time
will help with the “brain drain,” a according to the July ’03 edition of Readers
Digest referring to the demographic reality of 76 million baby boomers over the
next 20 years as only 46 million Gen-Xers and Gen-Yers enter the workforce to
take their place.
Semi-retirement can either mean working at your current job at reduced hours or
starting an entirely different career part-time.
A few ideas for your semi-retirement:
Change your working environment. If you’ve been stuck in an office for the
majority of your working years, but love gardening, try getting a part-time job
in a greenhouse or in another field that complements a hobby you already have,
and is completely different than your previous job.
Work part-time for a nonprofit organization. To do a little research online log
onto www.idealist.org – a
network of 35,000 nonprofit and community organizations. They have listings for
help wanted in both paid and unpaid positions all over the world. Some of the
volunteer groups offer room and board, transportation, and even medical
insurance to participants.
Turn something you love into something you can sell. If you enjoy working with
your hands, make jewelry to sell. Enjoy sewing? Take in some side work doing
alterations. Love animals? Set up a doggy daycare in your neighborhood.
If you don’t have to work and decide to do so anyway, make sure it’s something
you love. After all, the key is to take care of yourself and enjoy life so you
can live it longer and with joy.
And remember this: “If I’d have known I’d live this long, I would have taken
better care of myself,” said Eubie Blake the great jazz musician, at age 98.
—Andrea Clark
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