We learned at an early age that men and women are different. We later learned that we're wired differently and we pursue life with different skill sets. Traditionally, women were family caretakers while men were the providers, but those roles have changed dramatically over the years and now women do it all; work, family, and pursuit of happiness. Retirement means transition and women face retirement with differing measures of success.
Retirement is a transition from one stage of life to another. For some, the transition may be very difficult and for others the transition is a joyful journey to new avenues of opportunity. The many factors that affect a woman's choices reside within her emotional makeup, her resilience and vision for her future, and certainly, her financial situation.
Financial burdens are stressful. With adequate income our choices abound, but with limited income, we make choices that are necessary for our lifestyle. Today, more seniors are finding they need a supplemental income to maintain their lifestyle or even for survival. Some retirees choose to work for other reasons, but ideally, retirement shouldn't come with mandatory part time work for survival.
It's true, life is always what we make of it. Retirement brings both new opportunities and new challenges for everyone. Women who deferred their own hopes and aspirations find they have time for doing the things they love to do, without having to look out for, and often sacrifice for a family. Some women choose to volunteer or work part-time while others choose to bring new dimensions to their own lives.
The ability to juggle schedules and meet deadlines are eased during retirement years, but the high energy woman may find that sitting back and taking life easy isn't what works for her. She loves being around others and is energized by people. Her impetus is to find ways to reconnect with her community or with people who share her interests. Most likely, you'll find this retiree in the midst of people because that is her favored environment.
The woman who is tired of working out of necessity may have a different take on retirement. The opportunity to read, watch favorite movies or plays are a delight to her. Does she need more purpose than that? She, and only she, can answer the question of what constitutes a purposeful life. If she has a spouse, domestic demands continue and spouse and friends keep her engaged in life.
For some of us, the chance to travel to new or historic places is the most exciting thing about retirement. Perhaps you've dreamed about visiting Paris or the Caribbean but didn't have the time or money to travel while busy raising a family. If you have the means, this is the perfect time to plan trips and see the world. It need not be an expensive trip abroad; it can be a train or car trip across your own country.
Numerous choices are available and the challenge is to take hold of the choices available and move toward the choices that best fits the life and lifestyle of the retiree. There is no right or wrong choice, but sometimes life events play a large part in the choices we have in retirement.
As women reach retirement age, children grow up, marry and move away. Men seem to cope with the empty nest better than many women who've invested much care giving and emotional hand wringing in the development of their children. In extreme cases of empty nest syndrome, a profound sense of loss can set in and place added stress on marriages, or the couple may find they've nothing more in common and divorce happens.
Health cares of a woman or her spouse may require that one takes on huge responsibilities during the retirement years. Chronic illness often leads to depression and loneliness and retirees find this situation pervades their lives. It's unfortunate that there is no magic formula to make the transition to retirement and the golden years safe and full of joy.
Retirement means many things for women. It's a great thing if you have good physical and emotional health and can make choices that enhance your interests in the retirement years. Count your blessings even if you have little financial resources, because as long as you can dream and have a vision for your life, you are destined to make good choices.