by Francine Gagnon

Created on: May 03, 2008   Last Updated: May 05, 2008

Retirement, what does it mean for women?

I have read so many articles about retirement lately; it seems it's a hot topic. I have also had many conversations with people who, like myself, are close or already there. What concerns me is that the issues addressed are mostly financial security, investment, lifestyle, health, even where to live and how to keep yourself occupied. Not many articles, books or discussions approach deeper subjects, like the emotional changes that occur, not only the physical or financial ones, especially for singles. In fact, a lot of it seems to speak to retired couples, not single people, and even fewer speak to single older women. Yes, we are people first, not only "retirees". We actually have the same needs, desires, ambitions, everyday problems, joys and everything in between. Even sexual needs, yes we are alive. I'm speaking as a woman, but to women and men.

It is obvious that the more money you have at that stage of your life, the more choice and the more freedom you can enjoy to do all those things you promised yourself you would do. Women, I think, have less of all of that, as was the case in the work force. But I am certain that financial freedom or not, we all feel the mixed emotions, the joy as well as the fear. What is scary, and at the same time exciting, is the idea of a totally different life in most cases, the end of our usual busy worklife, but the idea of growing old alone is at the top of the list of fears. Approaching the age when we can retire also makes us think of time, how fast it goes by, and our own mortality. Around that time, we all lose parents and some of us even friends.

So there are a lot of mixed feelings, and frankly sometimes I'm kind of tired of people who can no longer talk with me of anything but "retirement". It seems to me we are still able to talk about a lot of other things. To me it's not the end of my life, or the beginning of a new one for that matter, it's just a period of change. I also have to admit that I don't enjoy being constantly reminded that I'm getting old. I know it's a reality, and I will deal with it in my own way. Actually, I don't feel old, I don't think I look old, and I can hardly even believe I'm close to retirement. I'm sure I'm not alone. So why not think about it in a different way. Time to live, time to act, time to love, time to think of ourselves as well as time to give, time to choose; change can be difficult but depending on how we handle it, it can be great.

It's not

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