RETIREMENT STORIES - Through The Eyes of My 8-Year-Old

Retirement Job Planning:
Through The Eyes of My 8-Year-Old

By Tim Driver, CEO RetirementJobs.com

"And I am sure my eye has never glimpsed the word "retire" written in a child's hand"

Recently, while pulling on my socks and getting ready for work, I came upon a small, crumpled notepaper among the pile of books and magazines on my bedside table. On it were the penciled notes of my 8-year-old daughter.

The morning was a typical one. Three elementary school age kids bouncing off the walls in our suburban home while getting ready for their day. A yet-to-be housetrained puppy scampering about and needing to be walked. Barely managed chaos.

The note stopped me in my tracks. I was behind schedule but my interest was piqued. As an adoring Dad, I wanted to know the conveyances of my daughter, who loves to write as much as she loves to play. My eye was also magnetically drawn to that word “retire,” as my eye seems to be quite often these days. And I am sure my eye has never glimpsed the word “retire” written in a child’s hand.

Two days earlier, I’d asked my daughter to tell me a story at her bedtime about what she wants to be when she grows up. The notes were part of her preparation for that story. Unfortunately, it was a story I’d missed the evening before, having arrived home after the kids had gone to sleep. It had been a long day at the office with our impassioned team here at RetirementJobs.com.

As you can see from her notes, my daughter wants to play in the NBA for a few years after college (It’s good to dream big!). Then, she wants to “retire to newspaper writer”. The notes continue, “Than (sic), retire to author.” First, she’ll write about sports, then fiction.

Beneath the innocence of my daughter’s words and aspirations are at least two themes that may relate to you as a visitor to RetirementJobs.com.

Plan To Retire Again And Again
First, my daughter wants to retire, and then retire again. So should you, as this sums up a key aspect of retirement in the 21st century. You may have several “careers” during your lifetime. And temping your way through your so-called retirement years has become an increasingly popular way to combine work with a lifestyle of dipping in out of the workforce. Landing positions with companies that value your skills, life experience and working background while understanding your need for flexibility is not easy but it’s getting easier. At one time, you would never have used the words “retirement” and “job” in the same sentence. Now, it’s fast becoming an everyday expression.

What Did You Want To Be When You Grew Up?
Another underlying thread in my daughter’s notes is the idea that your best retirement job may be found after a soul search. Not your age 50+ soul. Your soul, as you remember it, from when you were eight. What you wanted to be when you grew up, way back then, can be an excellent starting point for figuring out this phase in your career. Whether or not you saved your version of my daughter’s note, think about it. Think long and hard about it. Then, let us know what it is. If we do our job right, we’ll find your retirement job and others like it, and make them available to you at RetirementJobs.com.

Plant Another Seed
Ask a child, perhaps your grandchildren, to make a note of their career goals and dreams. It may come in handy during their retirement job planning some day!

Tim Driver, is the founder and CEO of RetirementJobs.com.