Retire the Word Retirement?

Hi:

I've talked to many people about retirement. Most are looking forward to a time of life when their life will be less busy, less structured, and more free.

A few people however, do object to the word "retirement".   It is not the idea of not working that is the problem, but the image of being old that bothers them.  In fact, some seem quite concerned about being called a retiree.  They mention things such as being ignored by younger people, or discounted.  They picture people thinking of them as  lumpy old people who shuffle along, eat dinner at four pm and go to bed by nine.

One women, now in her seventies, told me that she feels invisible at parties.  People simply don't come up and talk with her.  How sad.

Well, I think baby-boomers will experience life differently than my friend.  For one, people are retiring much younger.  I'm in my mid-fifties and do not find people treat me any differently than before.  Many of us  are taking better care of ourselves than the retirees of the past.  

If you  wear youthful clothes, groom yourself well and are fit and vital, people will respond to you on that level. If you are not there at the moment, retirement is a great time to regain your health!

I will admit challenges can come up in later years.  People do age differently and I'm sure you have met couples where one of the couple seems about ten or fifteen years older than the other, although they are both the same age. This can create social or psychological issues if the couple allows it to happen.

The word retirement does not bother me.  I am looking forward to it!

Mahara