Silver and Gold Magazine Winter 2014-2015 | Page 13

Would we have enough money to live comfortably? Would
I be bored? What would I do with all those hours?
At first, I was exhilarated by the freedom to do whatever I
wanted whenever I wanted. But I had to ask myself, “What
do I want to do?” Although I had thought about it and had
a sort of map prepared, it took some time to sift through the
ideas, experiment a little and settle on those activities that
bring me the most satisfaction. We do have to be careful
with our budget, but we’ve discovered how much we can
save when we no longer need to put so much into clothing,
transportation, eating out etc.
The most important thing, as we move into a new lifestyle, is to remember to look after ourselves. To live a full
and rewarding life, we must find balance by exercising our
minds and bodies and nurturing our spiritual side. Each one
of us makes choices as to how we will do this. These choices
are very personal and depend a lot on our life experience, our
knowledge, our physical ability and our openness to trying
new things. Take a deep breath and don’t be afraid to tackle
new challenges.
Now, when people ask me, “How are you enjoying
retirement?” I answer, “I don’t feel retired, just re-invented”.

So, if you are contemplating retirement and perhaps fearing
what is to come, remember you are not so much leaving
something behind as you are changing and moving into a
new phase of your life that can be very rewarding. It’s all in
how you perceive change. I wish you joy! •

!
Did you know...
If you’re 55 and over,
you can join your local Seniors’
Centre from $25-$35 per person/yr
(depending upon each centre’s fees)
and take inexpensive classes?
• Pottery • Jewellery making • Yoga
• Stained Glass • Model Makers
• Card Games • Music • Dance
AND MORE! Have fun this winter!
(Note: Class fee is extra, at most locations, from $16 up)

Silver & Gold Magazine • Winter 2014-2015

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