Retired, but wanting to go strong

“Age is only a number, a cipher for the records.  A man can't retire his experience.  He must use it.”

  ~Bernard Baruch

They say that one must retire from work but never from life. Retirement is superb if you have two basics — much to live on and much to live for.  Gone are times when retirement meant leaving the workforce. In the current times, retirement is being subjected to a redefinition; work happens to be a significant component of post-retirement planning of any person. 

The above notwithstanding, whatever be your basis and cause, if you decide to carry on after retirement – whether you do not want any break or want one aside – here are some suggestions that can be useful:

·      Try to stick with your current employer:  Your current place of work is the ideal location where you can perhaps carry on. Most organizations like to retain retiring employees; they know you and your performance and hence may even afford you bargained work timings. In case you are entitled to pension benefits, the same would be paid to you, however, it is likely that you may now draw less remuneration.

·      Look for fresh non-demanding work:  Most companies are inclined to take on their rolls people with experience. They organize special orientation programmes to draw and recruit people who are either elderly or have superannuated. There are also several help groups that can put you through with companies and establishments that want aged and people with experience. Getting in touch with such groups will help.

·      Become a professional advisor:  During your work span which may have extended from twenty five to forty years, you would have acquired several skills. Some sage once said that experience is not what happens to a man; it is what a man does with what happens to him. You will not waste time if you utilize your experience; and there will be many in the queue waiting to benefit from it. Depending upon your expertise, you can join a professional consultancy or even freelance.   

·      Take up a provisional job:  You could also consider taking up a casual or temporary job; in fact there are many companies who contract retired people for specific assignments. You may be required to complement the efforts of their regular employees. Depending upon the project, your position and experience, a fixed remuneration would be paid to you; and that will not be meager by any standards. And who knows, the same temporary job could be offered to you for long.

·      Work with NGOs or do social service:  Today, numerous government and non-government organizations are engaged in conducting training programmes specifically for senior citizens. Your experience can be of immense utility to the society at large.  Remember that the training which makes men happiest in themselves, also makes them most serviceable to others. When you work for a social cause and general welfare, the rewards are immediate and the gratifications quick.

Men do not quit playing because they grow old; they grow old because they quit playing. Today, as more and more people superannuate from their jobs, they feel that retirement is perhaps the ugliest word ever. Ask any one of them and the view will be that wrinkles on their face are inevitable, but remaining idle will bring wrinkles on their souls. It is therefore, no wonder that they dovetail post- retirement jobs in their retirement plan. And with companies inclined to hire older workers, you have a better chance to keep working. You should not feel age in your mind; and if you do, others will tend to regard you as futile.

Working people have a lot of bad habits, but the worst of these is work. And old habits die hard. So if you have been working, how can you not work now? If you are considering retirement jobs, you must plan for it much before you actually retire. And never forget that there is a whole new type of life that lies ahead of you – a life full of fresh experiences about to take place. If you live through them, you will go through bliss.