Besides saving money, what should I prepare for retirement?

Prepare the life you want to live as well: whom to stay in touch with, what you enjoy doing, and whether you can feel settled and happy when alone. Money can meet living needs, but savings do not automatically remove loneliness. Do not wait until old age, when your social circle has dwindled to yourself, before considering this.

Two older clients once asked whether they might find love again. I was a little surprised at first, but through conversation understood their concerns about having someone nearby when ill and being able to care for each other. Age should not make us think they have no right to hope for companionship.

But having a partner does not guarantee happiness either. Couples who often quarrel still need to face relationship problems. Maintain friendships and find people to share with, while cultivating interests you willingly pursue. Being able to connect when others are present and enjoy life alone are things we can develop early.

I have used my father’s life to discuss remaining active after retirement. After retiring from his original workplace, he continued helping at Sheng Zhen Men and had things to participate in. This does not mean everyone must keep working. It means finding something enjoyable to engage in after leaving the original job. Older people can still make friends, join groups and develop interests, giving each day enjoyment and a focus.

Other older people I know continued meeting friends, playing golf, exercising and caring for their bodies after retirement. Having things they wanted to do and join after leaving work was also a way of remaining active. The point is not finding another label under which to keep striving at work, but finding an engaging focus for life.

Also, do not place every retirement expectation on children supporting you. People used to speak of raising children as provision for old age, but circumstances change. Young people sometimes already struggle to support themselves, so parents need to arrange their own lives early too. This does not release children from caring about parents. It asks families to consider actual ability and discuss needs and expectations in advance, rather than blame one another when the time comes.

I also shared a report about an American retired woman. She saved diligently and became financially prepared, but found that repeated refusals of friends’ invitations to save money had left her with fewer friends by the time she was free. Her health had also declined. This was a news story, not my own retirement experience. It reminds us to prepare both money and the life we want.

This is not advice to stop saving. The article also discussed allowing an affordable personal budget, regularly checking preparations, and arranging for medical and care needs. Within our means, treasure what we can do while healthy and maintain relationships. We need not postpone everything joyful to a future whose circumstances remain unknown.