Have you ever thought about what a truly fulfilling retirement would look like?
Once you leave the workforce, the driving force for a lot of us is to end up with a fulfilling retirement. Yet, how does one look, and how can you make sure that yours is going to be like that once you enter your golden years?
The answer to that is pretty hard to define, as a fulfilling retirement looks different for each of us, and in the end, there is no one-size-fits-all retirement that is going to work for everyone. Yet, there are a lot of retirees who end up not knowing what to do with their time in retirement, and when we stop to think about it, it makes sense why.
After a life of hard work and a set schedule, in retirement, you find yourself with a lot of free time that you have to fill accordingly. While you may have some goals in mind, like traveling or picking up a hobby, those are just some activities you want to do, and they will not fill your whole time.
This is why you should make sure that you strive to find a retirement lifestyle that suits you and is concentrated on certain things so that, in the long run, you can have a fulfilling retirement.
Indeed, what type of lifestyle you will be able to have is directly linked to your retirement savings, but there are lots of ways to have the best retirement while living on a budget.
If you are ready to discover some of the most fulfilling retirements that you can then mold to make up your own perfect golden years, keep reading!
How does a fulfilling retirement look for you? Is there a certain lifestyle that attracts you? What do you see as the perfect lifestyle? Let us know in the comments below!
Relaxed, mindful retirement
One of the retirement lifestyles that you could strive for is one where you get to be as relaxed and mindful as possible. A lot of us have dealt during the years with countless early mornings and alarms, and we have at times felt like there are not enough hours in the day.
This is why a fulfilling retirement for you could look like just relaxing and enjoying life. Keep in mind that you do not have to make every moment count in a way that means you are constantly productive and have to do something.
Sometimes a fulfilling retirement looks like taking things easy, not rushing, and marveling at the feeling of not having to hurry to do anything or having to meet a ton of deadlines.
You can focus on being a more present force in your community and make the most of your environment. You already have your home; make your retirement focused on enjoying your time and making peace with yourself so you can have the happiest of golden years.
A lot of retirees have already paid off their mortgages, which means they already have an affordable place to live, so they do not have to relocate to make the most of their retirement and that could very well be you!
There’s no place like home, and you can focus on making your days as happy and meaningful as possible!
Get that degree retirement
For some, retirement is a time when they get to do what they could not achieve due to financial or time constraints. Maybe you have been dreaming of studying something, or your dream career was not something that could have supported you over the years. A fulfilling retirement for you could be moving to a college town and going back to school.
You do not have to actually enroll in university again, but being in a college town can give you access to a lot of resources. What’s more, there are colleges and universities that offer significantly discounted rates for retirees and seniors, or even free classes altogether, so there are options if you think you do not have the financial means to go to school again.
Maybe you have always been passionate about a subject, and in retirement, you can finally learn more about it. There are colleges that give you the option to audit courses so that before you commit to school again, you can see if they are fit for you.
What’s more, there are a lot of higher education campuses that also have Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes on the ground; these institutes offer affordable classes made with retirees in mind, so you can make most of such arrangements as well.
There are a lot of pros to relocating to a college town and going back to school (as there could also be a hub for more affordable healthcare), and you do not have to worry about being the only retiree around.
Getting a degree has become a popular and fulfilling retirement option, so much so that there are retirement communities built both on and near campuses!
No matter what type of retirement you choose to have, in order to have it be fulfilling for you, you should make sure that you are going to have fun! If you want to make sure you explore all the fun you could have in retirement, we recommend that you read this book about Fun Things to Do in Retirement!
Beach Retirement
Yes, we are going there. If you have ever had the fleeting thought while on vacation to the beach that you could see yourself living on the coast, then why not make the most of your thought and actually go to retire by the beach? Beach retirement can end up being a fulfilling retirement option, and it could also be the best thing for your health as a senior!
Think about it like this: you get to wake up in a beach town and go every morning on a swim or run on the beach, then you can go with your spouse each afternoon to watch the sunset or have a picnic on the beach.
Your family is definitely going to be excited to visit, and if you have grandchildren, they will definitely love to come over during the summer months. What’s more, you will not have to worry about having activities to do with them, but rather about how you are going to stop them from frolicking in the sand so much!
And if you are worried about the costs, know that California and Florida are not the only beach retirement destinations, as we know those can get to be quite expensive. There are a lot of affordable beach cities that are going to offer you a wonderful and relaxing beach retirement; you just have to look for them and keep an open mind!
Not to mention, if you want to retire by the water, there is always the choice of retiring near a bay, lake, or river instead!
If the water or coast is calling to you, listen to your heart and live a truly fulfilling retirement!
Gardener lifestyle
We know it is a bit cliche, but let’s be candid for a moment here: making a small paradise in your backyard can be the most fulfilling retirement choice for you!
Think about it as an extension of the relaxed retirement lifestyle we talked about earlier, but a bit more active. There are a lot of benefits to picking up gardening as a senior, and if you have always loved flowers, why not invest the time into making your yard the perfect oasis for you?
In retirement, you are going to have all the time to practice your landscaping skills while also giving yourself a fun hobby to practice. Not to mention, it is not a truly expensive hobby either, and the rewards are definitely worth it!
Be it that you are going to make simple arrangements or go all the way to complicated landscaping projects and elaborate raised flower beds, the world is your oyster, and once you get going, you will be surprised at how fulfilling it can be!
All retirements are different, so do not be afraid to make yours perfect and customized to your liking!
There are many ways in which you can have a fulfilling retirement, and some of them are tied to how well you feel and your health. If you wish to be active and yet do not know how you can do so in retirement, do not worry! You can read all about the best types of exercise for retirees in our article here!
