At the age of 59, I have just crossed the three full years
of retirement. Reflecting on these eventful years, the adjustments we have
passed through have been sweeping.
We have been through a lot of changes personally and on a broader
level with our families back home. Personal challenges have caused us to grow
on an individual level as well as strengthening our relationship as a couple.
As we left behind our jobs, we found the freedom not to have
our chosen careers define who we were. We learned new ways to relate to the
world around us and the value of self-discovery. We now have more close friends
than we ever had at any point in our life.
Sometimes it was exhilarating, other times befuddling.
However, not once over the three satisfying years, have we regretted taking the
leap. In some respects, retirement has proven to be richer and more fulfilling than
the life we led while holding down prestigious careers!
Who would have known?
How will you know if you are ready for retirement? Are there
some proven guidelines you can trust for the answers? Is it only a matter of
money or merely a matter of faith?
Nadine Hays Pisani’s book, Happier Than A Billionaire: Quitting My Job, Moving to Costa Rica, and Living the Zero Hour Work Week was a significant influence on our decision to sell everything, pack up and move to Costa Rica. Now we are in the middle of one of our own Happier Than A Billionaire moment. We will report on it in a few days.
We are not an IT Director and a Pastry Chef. We are Kent and Stacey enjoying an unconventional life in San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua.
