Kaye, its a great question! As I approached the retirement phase I noticed that there is a ton of advice on how to prepare financially for retirement but not about how we might choose to spend this time. With retirement now 15 - 30 years or more, the what am I going to do with this time is incredibly important! I think its more important than the financial question because what I am going to do is going to guide my financial goals.
As I think about this phase there are a couple of facts:
1) I will never be more capable than I am right now. I have a lifetime of experience (wisdom), I have skills, learnings and dreams accumluated from a long professional life. With some exceptions, I am as physically capable as I ever will be into the future.
2) I know that relationships, meaning, and life purpose are going to be keys to my living the best life I can without the obligations of a full time career should I choose to leave that career now.
3) Contributing to my community in meaningful ways is critical to my well being and sense of purpose. I know our communities need our gifts to address their many problems.
4) I have full freedom to design my life with my wife, we are designing it together and reconciling our differences in vision.
5) If I am going to move, doing it earlier is better while I have the intellectual and physical capacities to create new relationships in a new community/and or residence.
6) I know I am on track if I feel a deep sense of fulfillment and satisfaction. Moments of joy should be frequent!
I hope this adds to the conversation!