Don’t Retire to Expire

“Don’t Retire to Expire!”

By Bob Bradshaw

“The Retirement Express”

               I think of retirement as taking a walk down a long railroad track on sunny day, way out in the country.  It’s a scenic walk.  I look back, over my shoulder and see the headlight of a freight train far in the distance behind me.  I casually say to myself, “No need to worry, I still have plenty of time before the train gets near, plenty of time.”  I start walking a little faster.  No need to panic, no hurry, got plenty of time before the train catches up to me.  The train is getting a closer, I but I can see a tunnel up ahead, and I can see a light at the other end.  Behind me, I still see the light of the train.  It is a little closer, but still not, to close.  I make it into the tunnel, but the train is a lot closer than I thought. Now I’m in the tunnel, I run.  I am in a panic.  What can I do?  I can’t turn back and there is no room to get off the track inside the tunnel.  The only way out is for me is to beat the train to the end before it catches me.  Inside the tunnel it is pitched black, the only light is at the end of the tunnel.  What can I do? I run as fast, and as, hard as I can.  The train is right behind me now, the whistle is blowing, the rails are shaking and I cry, I pray.  I am running out of time.  I’m in a full blown panic.  My heart is racing and the blood is pounding in my head.  Just as I reach the end of the tunnel the large monster train catches up with me! The light is blinding, the noise is overpowering. Finally my time has run out. What am I going to do now?  Maybe I should have paid more attention while I had time.

           That train is “The Retirement Express.”  It catches up with too many of us who think we have forever to begin to make that real plan.  That is the fate that awaits those of us who wait until the train catches us in the tunnel.

           “Don’t retire to expire!” is not written by someone who has a Ph.D., MA, B.S degree or even a JOB!  I am writing about, and to, those who have not made a plan.  It is still not too late.

             I hope “Don’t Retire to Expire!” will give you more to think about.  Every one of us has our own idea of what we want our retirement to be.  The reality is that too few of us begin to make those plans now.  We think that money is the real obstacle to a successful retirement.  Don’t believe it!  People who have a lot of money still have challenges. The only difference with the rest of us is that their challenges cost a lot more money. That is the reality.   Money makes the world go round, so we think. Remember that if you keep going round and round, you end up right where you started!

             For the last three and one half years I have interviewed, and, have had conversations with, over two hundred people about retirement.  I began to realize that there was a connection regardless of financial position.  For some of us our financial plan was laid out in very precise order.  For others, our financial plan was nonexistence, or was heavily dependent on hitting the lottery.  The fact is that of over forty million Americans have no savings at all or less than $10,000 in the bank!  The dependence on Social Security is plan A, B, and C.  Where do you fit in?  Why should you listen to me?  Because I am you!  I have no financial interest in capturing your money.  No ability to structure a great financial plan for you or magic wand.  Just a real look at what retirement can be if you begin to make a realistic plan to understand different options. What are some of the real situations that you will face?  If you don’t make plans for a journey, how can you begin to know where you are heading? 

           More than anything else I am asking you to begin to think.   Begin to understand that you can be in control.

          “Once you wake up, everything else is optional.”  If you don’t wake up, don’t worry.

           Love to hear from you at coachbobb@comcast.net.