June 18, 2012
“Not for breakfast, not for lunch,” said a wife informing her husband of his new daily schedule in retirement. She meant he was on his own for the first two meals of the day, even if he was going to be home all day and so was she. Thus did the wife stake out a few parameters of their new lives after her husband’s retirement.
I heard this story from the husband when we were members of a Rotary breakfast club. He was a few years into his retirement, and it seemed to be going well.
The wife’s statement, not for breakfast, not for lunch, captures a moment that can take new retirees by surprise – retirement is a huge transition. The wife had her own life and her own routines, and she took initiative to maintain her own schedule in adapting to major change in the household dynamic.
To create a successful retired life, it’s helpful to consider the multitude of changes that will occur. In a household, who makes lunch is one of the details that can make or break a pleasant day.