February Magazine

etirement: Arguably the best thing
in the world, ever!
They are not called the Golden Years for nothing- so go out and enjoy the
new-found freedom to do all the things you couldnt do while you were
working.
There’s a strange awkwardness that comes with getting older. We were once the lifeblood of a nation,
working in the engine room of Britain’s economy - whether that’s an office or building site. Now it can feel
like we’re stepping ever closer to becoming a burden.
People are living longer, putting a greater strain on the NHS, social services and pension pots. Meanwhile,
other reports concerning retirees are hell-bent on hammering home the risk factors involved in Not Having
A Purpose. Poppycock, we say - for what greater purpose is there than to enjoy life?
Many of us feel a sense of dread, regret and nervousness when our time comes to say goodbye to the
working world, which is a ghastly trick that has been played on us by the powers-that-be. Convinced that
our very existence is based on a need to serve some higher profit-making purpose, we’re guilt-ridden at the
idea of not getting up at 7am every morning to battle through the god-awful commute, before having a ton
of pressure piled on us in order to meet some ridiculous target. But, given the decades we have committed
to the cause of employment, it’s hardly fair to make retirement synonymous with uselessness.
Of course, we don’t need to listen to the spurious spoutings of younger people turning green with envy at
the fact they do indeed need to make that meeting first thing tomorrow. The rise of the retiree has been
charted for some time now; for proof just think of all those “I’m spending my kid’s inheritance” holiday
t-shirts that did the rounds in the early 1990s, and the 70-year-old wearing it whilst looking over-themoon
at his brand-new speed boat. We probably don’t condone splurging every bit of savings and leaving
nothing to your heirs; it’s nice to pass things on, yet the fundamental principles of that attitude represent
the correct mental approach when facing retirement.
In short then, although school is where you discovered
the opposite sex and took the first tentative steps
towards becoming a real person, and universities and
college convert that into adulthood, the best time of
your life should really be the so-called Golden Years.
Why the hell else would they call them the Golden
Years? From indulging in time-consuming hobbies to
packing your bags and embarking on a grand voyage,
offering time to charities or simply catching up on all
those Hitchcock films you never found an opportunity
to watch, this is your time, you deserve it, so for Pete’s
sake go enjoy it, because nobody else is will do it for
you.
18 Cestria Magazine