Reflections on My First 30 Day of “Non-Retirement”

It’s now just over a month since I wrote my love letter to the printing and publishing industry and feeling grateful for all the well-wishes that continue to pour in.

Many of you also asked what I was going to do now since I alluded to not entering into “traditional” retirement so I thought I’d reveal more about my plans. I also want to reflect on this first 30 days (let’s just say, it has not as I expected!) and encourage everyone to begin working on your “Plan B”, regardless of your life-stage.

My Initial Plans

Although I left an industry I loved, I said I really wasn’t entering into traditional retirement since that is just not my style. After 23 years with the same company and a 40+ year career in the same industry though, I was ready for a change of pace.

Ahead of my decision to leave, I had worked for nearly 3 years on my “pre-tirement planning project” so my wife and I could make any decision when we wanted; not when one of us was handed the proverbial pink slip. We wanted to get ourselves ready financially, emotionally, physically, and spiritually to any major life change that we knew was inevitable. Someone told me recently, this seemed very “prophetic” given all that has happened this year but I am feeling very fortunate that we thought ahead.

I also wanted to have time to help my kid's with their business ventures and to create more space for some of my personal interests.

Help Grow an Agency - My oldest son and his wife have a boutique digital marketing agency called Intigress that focuses on SEO and digital advertising. They always joked that "if this whole print thing, doesn't work out" that I could sell for them. I'm excited about helping them build their business. Of course, I appreciate any referrals you may have for them too! 

Rising EDM Artists - My twins are rising EDM (Electronic Dance Music) DJs and producers branded as Birthdayy Partyy. I plan to help manage the finances of their growing music career (while they also keep their day jobs that actually help pay their bills!).

Personal Interests - I will also continue my volunteer activities and have more creative mind space to finish writing my book based on my personal blog called God-Buddies. This is a concept about the need for deeper, more authentic friendships that I developed in our church's men's group. I may even work part-time at the local golf course to help offset the expenses of my golf addiction! 

My Reflections

Let’s just say my pre-tirement planning did not include everything that happened in the last few months!

Shortly after I announced my decision internally at the end of February, COVID-19 reared its ugly head and canceled a trip my wife and I had to Budapest, Prague & Vienna since last year and the company where I recently worked filed a Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Our country also now faces rising racial tensions.

So while I wanted to change the pace of life, this was not the pace I expected.

The good news is some of my plans are still progressing, despite all that has gone on the world.

I have enjoyed the slower schedule which has opened up some creative mind space to begin writing a book based on my personal blog called God-Buddies; a concept about the need for deeper, more authentic friendships I developed in our church's men's group.

I also have time for more bike riding and a bit of golf, despite the restrictions from the pandemic. I may even explore working part-time at the local course to help offset the expenses of my golf addiction! 

My Encouragement

Here are a few observations and encouragement based on my experiences the last month in and the time leading up to today:

Start Planning for Your Retirement Now – Regardless of your life stage, read books and blogs about how to prepare for retirement. Here are a few of my favorite books and blogs:

• Portfolio Life | The New Path to Work, Purpose, and Pasion After 50 by David Corbett.
• Living Forward, A Proven Plan to Stop Drifting and Get the Life You Want by Michael Hyatt.
• Retiremeant: Get More Meaning from Your Money by Kim Potgieter.
• How to Retire Happy, Wild, and Free: Retirement Wisdom That You Won't Get from Your Financial Advisor by Ernie J. Zelinski
• Retirement Stewardship which is a faith-based blog that I really liked since it focused on how to give back.  
• Retirement Manifesto a blog that was recently recommended to me with good posts about various stages leading up to and after retirement.
• Top Retirements – Great research to help you make informed decisions about key issues in retirement and where to live.

Have an Emergency Fund - We’ve all heard about having enough liquid (easily accessible) savings to cover 3-6 months of your expenses. While no one really thinks they need it, this has become even more critical since most businesses will not look the same nor need the same employees once we get through this current crisis.

Stay Connected with Friends – Especially during the sheltering-in-place that has been needed for this pandemic, reach out to those friends, neighbors, and co-workers who may be feeling disconnected. They say you don't miss the work but you will miss the people when you retire. I found this true but you also realize who are your really good friend that do keep in touch once you leave. Fortunately, I have some really good friends.

The bottom line is I feel very blessed to have put in the hard work ahead of time on our retirement planning project so I want to encourage everyone to do the same. You never can plan enough!