Retirement can be a very stressful time in a person's life.  A person often starts to have second thoughts about whether or not they are doing the right thing.

Dr. Richard Carlson has compiled a great book, which contains 100 topics dealing with retirement.  The first topic is called "Your World - and Welcome to It."  Dr. Carlson states that retirement is a unique experience.  It is a time when you set your own goals and which one of them you pursue and achieve is mostly up to you.  This is so very true.  Many people have very successful retirements and do so much.  Then you have others that really don't pursue any goals and these are the ones that usually end up saying "retirement is boring - I should have never quit working".

Another interesting topic is called "Becoming a Joiner".  When we retire, we don't have our usual contacts with the people we worked with for several years.  We might see them occasionally but it is not the same as working with them each day.  Dr. Carlson suggests that retirees become a joiner.  By doing this, we can establish new social contacts.  For instance, joining an exercise program or an investment club.  These type of groups will provide you with new social contacts and you will be able to meet face-to-face with people.

Everyone should read this book.  We are all going to retire someday and even if you are already retired, it will give you several ideas as to how to deal with the many issues regarding retirement.  The book is easy to read and understand.  In his foreward, Dr. Carlson mentions three clubs.  TGIF --Thank God It's Friday (these members live for the weekend).  The second is TGIM (these members are workaholics and can't wait to get back to work).  The third is TGIT (thank God it's today).  This is for the retirees - you learn to appreciate and flourish within your own set of circumstances.  This just about says it all - it's up to you to make your retirement successful and happy. 


NANCY EATON

DO NOT REPRINT WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE AUTHOR, NANCY EATON