If you do a keyword search on retirement you will see that by far the biggest return is for the financial side of retirement and there is no doubt that this is very important. Especially in these days of austerity, pension funds stopping taking more entrants, the prospect of having to work longer, the financial side of retirement is a big if. But is it the only aspect we should look at even when you are some years from retiring? What happens if we are okay financially but then hate retirement because we don't know what to do with ourselves?

A surgeon once told me that there are two types of retiree. Those that retire and do nothing and whose life expectancy is low OR those that retire and keep active and whose life expectancy is high or long. I am not sure that the surgeon was exactly right because there are many influences on our lives which may make this untrue. However, being of the retirement age I can see what he was getting at. I have friends who are approaching retirement and have no clue as to what they will do. I have seen marriages break up because the partner who has been at work can't stand being with the other partner full time - how sad.

Retirement is a massive change to your life style no doubt. The one thing you will have which you probably did not have before is time. This may be seen to be a luxury or a curse.There is actually nothing to get up for in the morning anymore is there??? What do you do with yourself during the day until it is time for a drink or three and a long liquid evening - whoa don't go there. Also when you retire from that long career where you were appreciated by workmates, friends and had responsibility, pressure, communication - you now have what?? Many people also find that as they approach retirement they are busier at work and don't have time for outside of work events or planning. Here's a message - make time! If you fall into the trap of walking out of the office one day into retirement with no time planning you may well regret it.

If you have the privelige of having a life partner (as I have) then he or she needs to be in on that planning. Imagine what can happen otherwise. Friends of ours continually bickered when he retired from a very high powered job because she could not stand him being home and he missed the office routine too much.

So where to start? Much more in future articles but for a beginning find something (apart from the liquid lunches and evenings) to be interested in - together if there are two of you - and ensure that the "free and doing nothing time " is kept to a reasonable amount. I reckon on about one hour free in the day, with evenings where we relax together. You could always start writing street articles of course!!