beyondWork — Work Less, Play More
Some folks say, “You’ll know when you’re ready.” My kids have been saying, “Come on Dad, time to retire!”—and that started about five years ago.
But am I ready?
The truth is: I have already begun. I am semi-retired. I have reduced my work schedule. But I did not wake up one morning and circle a date on the calendar. It started with a quiet voice in my head: Can we actually afford to retire?
Before I opened Excel (of course there was a spreadsheet), I would have a pep talk with myself: “Now behave, numbers…”
Even if you are not a planner, you need a financial case strong enough to walk into retirement with your eyes open—and your heart calm.
What Is a “Solid Financial Case”?
Simply put: Can you live comfortably without that reliable paycheck?
This blog is about the softer side of retirement—the emotions, identity, purpose. But I would be doing you a disservice if I ignored the money.
Because whether your dreams involve slow living or high-flying indulgence, there is always a price tag. You do not want your dreams unraveling under financial pressure.
So what do you do?
You picture the lifestyle you want—and then ask what that lifestyle may cost.
Easier said than done, right? I can already hear some of you muttering, “If only it were that simple.”
My “5 Years Out” Wake-Up Call
About five years ago, that quiet voice became persistent. Bugging me, perhaps says it better. That is probably the sweet spot to start thinking ahead. Any earlier, and it feels abstract, unrealistic……grey.
Did I dive into a spreadsheet? Naturally. But even a napkin calc like expected lifespan × annual expenses can be revealing.
That, of course, leads to other reflections:
- Do we want a second home in the UK? With some of the grandkids in both London and Norwich, should we buy somewhere in the middle, like Colchester? Eventually, we realised that was not the right move.
- What about Ballito? We’ve long considered splitting time between Joburg and the coast. But grandkids in Joburg tug at the heartstrings. Until they start discovering other interests (read: romantic), we are happy spending less time at the coast.
We’re Not Great at Predicting Happiness
There’s a fascinating body of research around a concept called affective forecasting—the idea that we humans are not great at predicting what will make us happy. (Credit to psychologists Daniel Gilbert and Timothy Wilson.)
That’s why giving yourself time to explore what a desirable lifestyle really looks like is so valuable. You need space—to try on ideas, imagine scenarios, and reflect on the inevitable compromises.
The beauty of it? There’s no need to rush. You don’t have to answer the call of the “retirement bell” just because others do. Ignore the well-meaning nudges: “Why haven’t you retired yet?” I’ve never been much of a conformist—and I’m certainly not starting now. And who decided 65 is the magic number anyway? That is not wisdom talking; that’s business culture. A retirement age designed to suite company business aims – not personal fulfilment
In my case, time is helping to sharpen the vision. Slowly, I’m beginning to see what this next phase of life could look like.
But it’s not the same for everyone.
My spouse, Fiorella, prefers not to dwell on the future too much. It’s not something she wants to map out or discuss at length. And I beginning to understand that—after going through an health ordeal some years back and now thankfully all is behind her – the future can look after itself.
We all approach this chapter in our own way. For some, it is about preparing. For others, it is about staying present. And perhaps part of growing older together is learning to respect both ways of being—and finding common ground in mapping out this journey.
How much is enough ?
Earlier, I spoke about the need for a “sound financial case”—but that leads to the real question: how much is enough? Not just enough money, but enough to feel secure, content, and able to enjoy the years ahead. There’s no fixed number. It’s personal—shaped by your lifestyle, your values, and what truly matters to you.
Part of the journey is learning to shape those dreams within the bounds of what is financially possible for me—and still find joy there.
So how do we go about deriving that (dreaded) spreadsheet? That is the topic I will take on next.
So… Should You Set a Retirement Date?
Maybe not.
Next: Building that ‘enough’ spreadsheet without killing my lifestyle dream”
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