This is the last episode of this 4-part series podcast, and today we will talk about the Unretirement. You won't find this word inside a dictionary, but the question is why should you a retiree who have worked for many years, consider to unretire yourself? In the first episode of this series, we talked about why it is important to Rightsize Our Homes. The second part talked about the value of owning a second home, while in the last episode we have dwell into why it is the right time to feel contentment in life as we approach our golden years.

These days, many workers who have retired are coming back into the fold. Your life doesn't end at 65 years of age, That is why older workers unretire because many of us derive work as our sense of purpose. People are living longer and because of that they are healthy enough to take on another job that can give them a sense of fulfillment in their career.

Partial Retirement / Semi-Retirement

Kathy Gottberg loves to write. Even though she can already afford to retire, she still does what she loves because it keeps her brain very sharp, teaches her new skills, new technology, which is like learning a new language.

The whole way we look at retirement and work could use a revision. What happens is that so many people have been working at jobs they don’t like.

“Over 50 percent of people think that their job is unpleasant or hazardous.”

No wonder people want to retire and get away from that. But if you work to find a job you liked, that you felt rewarded in, that you were productive and creative, and did something that excited both your mind and your heart, then you don’t need to get away from it. Instead of working for 40 years, hoping to eventually someday to retire so that one day you can sit on an island somewhere, how about all that 40 years you kind of work your way towards finding a work with purpose, meaning, happiness, and contentment?

The younger generation does not like the fact that baby boomers are continuing to work. A lot of the younger generation thinks we are taking something from them. Some occupations have a little competition in them. Younger workers are struggling to find both the jobs and the pay that they want to live and exist.

From Retire to Unretire

Retirement as we know it is relatively in the span of human life, a very tiny blip. It’s only been within a certain amount, not even a hundred years that retirement was a possibility. Until then, when you retire, you had to because you just literally could not work. Somewhere along the line they want to move the older people out and give them a little something to look forward to. That's when retirement was brought up. We’ll give them a golden watch and a little money, and maybe they’ll just go away. That is why Social Security came along and tried to ease that.

The mindset that when you get older, you should just go to a retirement village, park yourself, and just play golf all day is like an outdated mode for our generation, your generation, and the generations to come. With these many people that are getting older, maybe it’s time to rethink of ourselves as still productive with something great to offer the world. Maybe it's time to unretire.

Purpose in Life

You have a job that you really dislike and it was hard on you physically because some jobs are way more challenging physically than other jobs. But if you can do anything and make a little money on the side, why wouldn’t you keep on doing some of that sometimes. It’s not that you want to go back to work in 40, 50, or 60 hours a week. But what about 10 or 20? Even if it’s a volunteer job, or it’s a love job, just like Kathy’s writing job. Maybe it’s time to revision all of that, about getting older, about retirement, about longevity. We’re at the edge of so much change, it deserves to be looked at and reconsidered.

One problem with retiring is that many people just focus on money and not on their purpose in life. You need a purpose; you need a reason to keep going and unretire. There’s been studies that even people with dementia, giving them a simple task, like setting a table, will make them feel more part of the family. They will feel like they’re doing something which makes them happier overall.

Volunteer Work

If you just don’t want to have a job, there are so many worthy organizations that need volunteers. Kathy has also seen other people take volunteer work and because they were good at it and they’d loved it, the organization offered to pay them. So volunteer work can lead to a part-time job.

The nature of retirement is changing. We need to open up our minds to different ways of expressing ourselves as we get older. Many people want to have a purpose and meaning in life. Unretirement or partial retirement is an avenue good for all of us.

Let’s find the contentment, the purpose and meaning in life, and make the most of the time we have left.

About Our Co-Host

Kathy Gottberg is a published author of six books along with many magazine articles and her blog http://SMARTLiving365.com where she explores ideas and experiences that help to create a sustainable, meaningful, happy and rewarding life for herself and others. Since turning 60, ideas surrounding positive aging and retirement have increasingly captured her interest. Kathy lives in La Quinta, CA, with Thom, her husband of 41 years, and dog Kloe where they do their best to live joyfully and SMART, 365.

Check out our other shows with Kathy Gottberg on episodes 135 and 157.

Mentioned in this Episode:

The Age of Unretirement
MedicareQuick.com/Class
Is “Purpose” The Magic Elixir For A Long, Happy & Healthy Life?
The Longevity of Economy by Joseph Coughlin

This post about retirement and retirement lifestyle first appeared on http://RockYourRetirement.com

Rocking Retirement Gal

Kathe Kline has been working with retirees for over 25 years. She discovered that retirement is not just about money and insurance, but is also about: Social & Family; Adventure & Travel; Volunteer & Philanthropy; Spirit & Soul, Sexual issues, and Sandwich Generation issues or helping your Family members as they age

This site will host the podcast interviews that we will do with people who are Rocking their own Retirement, or who provide services to you so that you can Rock Your Retirement!

Rock on!

Unretire Yourself – Episode 191