Shooting from the HIP: Reflections on Retirement 

My friend calls the 50’s the puberty of old age, a roller coaster ride of changes and upheavals. Having recently entered this age group, we often chat about nearing retirement and leaving our jobs after decades of working.

We vacillate between looking forward and dreading. The emotions are a blend of excitement, anticipation, worry, anxiety, and, sometimes, terror.

The wise say we should live in the moment. But is it possible to live in the present too much at the expense of the future? How can we prepare for our impending retirement and how early should we start planning?

Various retirement podcasts and my own reflections suggest that it’s never too early to prepare for retirement and that there are three areas that may impact our happiness after graduating from the wonderful world of wor