Money Matters

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We had our regular annual review with our Financial Advisor this week. The investments that sustain our pension funds remain stagnant as we were already aware, but the good news is that, regardless, he recommends spending them on exploring Planet Retirement. Money matters but so does fulfilment. Obviously, first Covid and then this year the requirement for our presence to resolve the leaking oil issue, have both intervened to curtail our travels and experiences. Consequently, he echoed our concern that we don't want to miss out for too long, ending up in frail health and unable to realise lifetime ambitions. 

We are so conscious of this and whilst vague plans are frustrated at present, it's good to have ratification from a third party. How easy it must be in retirement to slip into sitting at home in splendid isolation adopting the attitude that venturing out is only hassle. There may be a time in the future when we have to embrace that restricted lifestyle but for the moment we are railing against it.

At least he didn't suggest upping the morale by buying more stuff, not when so much of the extra time spent at home has been devoted to divesting ourselves of it. He didn't even mention those awful words "Bucket List" which so far I've tried to shy away from, preferring impetuosity and flexibility to a rigid catalogue of events, places and escapades simply waiting to be ticked off.

That said, when it feels as though so much precious retirement time is being wasted whilst life speeds on, perhaps we have reached a stage when an agenda prioritising novel exploits is now called for. Is this a natural progression in retirement or do most people start out with a ticklist?




Comments

Treaders said…
I've only been retired five years but I couldn't agree more about keeping "wants" to the fore because who knows when the body just won't be able to handle them any more. I always enjoyed travel pre-covid but it was hard to get back into the swing when we were finally "freed". And I know I need to get out more again as I'm starting to get lazy. I don't want to end up sitting in my rocking chair like Norman Bates' mom just yet!
8 December 2023 at 09:08
Caree Risover said…
Who’d have thought Norman Bates’ mom could prove a motivating factor? Definitely enough to get me planning an escape!
8 December 2023 at 10:02
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