I am past retirement age. I don’t think I will ever fully retire until the day I die. Is that bad? I don’t have a conventional 8 to 5 job so my situation is a bit complicated. It’s not as simple as reaching a mandatory retirement age and suddenly stopping the clock. For entrepreneurs and business owners, work has a way of following you home — sometimes it is home.
Still, I hope that my husband and I won’t have to work hard forever. Easy-easy na lang sana. Kain-kain, pasyal-pasyal, and more playtime with our two very handsome apos.
Even if I don’t see myself retiring in the near future, I would like to share a few things that I’ve heard, learned or observed from other people who are about to retire or have retired. I hope you’ll pick up a thing or two. There are things mentioned below that I haven’t done myself. But this list will serve as my guide or reminder. These are general observations and may not apply to everyone.
These are not arranged according to importance – just random thoughts that come to mind.
A few Do’s
Make a plan.
If you have begun counting the days or years until retirement, then make a plan. It doesn’t have to be complicated. Just list down whatever comes to mind — the things you’ve always said you would do “when I retire.”
Most people think retirement is all about accumulating wealth. Yes and no. Retirement doesn’t automatically mean having millions in the bank. Masarap kung meron. But very few people will reach that level, and if that becomes the only goal, you might end up putting too much pressure on yourself. That kind of pressure can lead to stress and unhappiness.
At the same time, don’t panic if you suddenly realize you’re nearing retirement and you only have ₱50,000 in the bank. Panic will not help. Clear your mind and plan better. Adjust. Simplify. Be realistic.
Start knocking off debts and loans.
Ideally, by the time you retire, you should no longer have personal loans, mounting debts, or a mortgage hanging over your head. Maganda sana bayad na ang mga utang. Fully paid na ang bahay. And if your income is limited, try not to add new debt. Peace of mind is priceless in your senior years.
Simplify your estate
Sell the things you don’t intend to pass down to your children or apo.
Take a good look at the list of properties and assets you own. Decide which ones you truly want to leave to your heirs—and which ones you don’t. If you have properties you have no intention of passing on, consider selling them now. Simplify your estate. Use the proceeds to enjoy your life, invest wisely, or distribute while you’re still around to see the benefit.
It’s better to make intentional decisions today than to leave confusion or unnecessary burdens later.
Decide where you want to spend the rest of your life — and prepare early.
Are you planning to downsize to a bungalow? Or move to a house with a bedroom suite on the ground floor? Prepare for those years when knees begin to complain about climbing up and down the stairs. If your legs are already showing signs of wobbliness, that’s your cue. Planning ahead is not being negative — it’s being wise.
Do you want a more spacious house with wider doors and ramps, but still prefer to live on the second floor? That’s fine, too — just make sure there’s an elevator. Plan for comfort, not just for today, but for the next 20 or 30 years.
If you love your current home and want it to be your forever home, then prepare it for the long haul. Make sure it’s in good condition. Fix every leak, patch every hole, reinforce weak areas. Update the kitchen and bathrooms. Replace the roof and gutters if needed. Refresh.
When you’re older, major renovations become more difficult. It’s harder to move around a construction site. Tatamarin ka na. Just like us. Lok-buloks na ang bahay namin — may tulo here and there. We keep saying we’ll fix everything “next year”.
Start removing items you no longer need.
Sell them, donate them, give them away. This is something I still struggle with. Although to be fair, marami na rin akong naipamigay. I’ve shipped several boxes of clothes, bags, and shoes to Bacolod, to Binangonan, and other places. Nakakahinayang, especially when some still have price tags. They just grew old inside the cabinet. Better that someone else enjoys them.
Prepare your body for the future so you can enjoy retirement.
Magpa-doctor. Magpa-checkup. Magpa-X-ray if needed. Walk a little every day so your knees get stronger. You might still want to join walking tours someday. Travel is much more enjoyable when your body cooperates. Retirement is not just about money. It’s about mobility, independence, and dignity.
Gift yourself
If there’s something you’ve been wanting to buy but keeps postponing it, buy it now, if you have the money, while you still have a steady stream of income. A dream car like a Ford Mustang, a watch, or a big television, a stereo, or whatever. Buy it now. Don’t wait till you retire. Baka hindi dumating.
Travel
If there’s a place you’ve been dreaming of seeing or visiting, do it now. Don’t wait after your retirement. Many things could happen. You do not want to be retired, sitting in your rocking chair imagining you were in Italy. Do it now before you retire, while you are strong enough to drag those heavy suitcases, walk on uneven cobbled stones. So think, where do you dream of going? No place is too near or too far. Maybe Chicago because your cousin who lives there has been inviting you to come over and visit to experience white Christmas. Go! Or you dream of going to Las Vegas. Go! Book a cruise or ride the Gondola in Venice. Boracay? Go. You will have more time to travel again after you’re retirement. Go back to your favorite places, stay as long as you like without rushed itinerary. Explore new places.
Visit your loved ones
There’s this British guy, Allan, married to an Irish woman. Every year, his mother-in-law in Ireland would look forward to their visit. She missed her daughter terribly. She was already 84 and could no longer travel, even though Ireland isn’t far from London, because she had mobility issues.
She would always ask, “When are you coming to visit?”
But Allan and his wife kept postponing. “Something came up.” “Next year.” And then the next year came, and again it was postponed. It had been more than eight years since his wife last saw her mother.
Then her mother passed away. Since then, his wife has been depressed—feeling guilty and deeply missing her mom. Too late. Now she’s planning to visit as soon as possible… to see her mother at the grave.
I can relate.
I had been planning to invite a friend to lunch. I hadn’t seen her in 20 years. Kwentuhan lang sana—just to catch up. I kept forgetting, kept putting it off. Then she died last December. Nahinayang ako.
Another example: our kumpare, former Chief Prosecutor Al. He shared that he and Oyie had been planning to visit his sister in New York or Connecticut. But he wanted to wait until he retired so they could travel comfortably and without rushing. Then Oyie got sick and passed away. Al became depressed. He said sana daw namasyal na sila while they still could—spent time together, made memories.
Start separating your identity from your job or business
Many fall into depression and feel lost without their business or after retiring from the job they held for decades. Ask yourself, who are you without your job? Who are you without your business? If you are planning to sell or totally step back in the near or medium term, start mentally separating yourself from the business. The letting go part is the hardest most especially if you nurtured it from seed to a big tree that provides comfort and cover for your family. And your identity is attached to your brand.
Take a trip with your son or daughter or apo
Take a trip with your daughter, or son, or apo. Kayo lang. Bonding. Kahit dyan lang staycation. Spend time together, kain, tulog, pasyal, shopping. Talk, impart some wisdom.
Nyke and I spent 3 nights in Carmel last week. Kain, kain, tulog, kain, kain, tulog. And he’s the main reason why I am here now, bonding lang kami. Next week, i will be back in Manila, I will spend time naman with my two apos. Bonding naman kami ni Theo.
Time gone is gone forever.
Sometimes, we think there will always be time. Until there isn’t.
When I am gone, I cannot hug na my children and apos. Syempre, baka matakot pa sila sa multo. So ngayon na ang hugging.
