WHEN I’M SIXTY-FOUR

This might sound like a strange title for a post by a guy (namely yours truly) who has already passed the age mark immortalised by Messrs Lennon and McCartney. I’m using it for more than one reason. Firstly, it’s a great title for a great record; one of those Beatles songs with which people all over the world join in.

Secondly, the song is about ageing and its positive aspects. Although I am a couple of years past 65, i.e. the so-called default retirement age, at least here in the UK, I still do not consider myself retired. Many people of my age, if they are in good health, feel the same way.

I’m always trying to find an alternative to the word “retirement”. The ones I have seen have both been suggested by friends and family: “renaissance” and “transition”. And there’s a US-published book about retirement planning whose title I like very much: “My Next Phase”. That sums up how I feel about this stage of life.

INPUT INVITED: RETIREMENT AND PLANNING FOR IT

Now (finally) to the point. Because I have been planning this “next phase” for several years, I have been intending to write a book about the process. However, even if one omits the financial planning aspects (because there is lots of advice available on that) there are so many other aspects that it’s difficult to know where to focus the book: income-generating activities; voluntary activities; health; effect on relationships; etc, etc. I haven’t yet decided which of these to go for so, for now, I’ve decided to set up a discussion forum.

So … if you come into any of these categories:

  • thinking idly about what your life will be like when you reach 64 (or 65)
  • actively planning for it
  • already retired (excuse my use of the R-word) and enjoying an active life
  • already retired but  bored some or all the time
  • finding retirement a struggle financially
  • or would like to talk about any other aspect of retirement

… then please post a comment here, so that you can exchange thoughts and experiences with other retirees / retirement planners / renaissance people/ transitioners.

I look forward to hearing from you!

 

WANT TO KNOW MORE?

About the song “When I’m Sixty-Four”:

The song is sung by a young man to his lover, and is about his plans of growing old together with her. Although the theme is ageing, it was one of the first songs McCartney wrote, when he was sixteen.[1] The Beatles used it in the early days as a song they could play when the amplifiers broke down or the electricity went off.[3][4] Both George Martin and Mark Lewisohn speculated that McCartney may have thought of the song when recording began for Sgt. Pepper in December 1966 because his father turned 64 earlier that year.[3][4]

Lennon said of the song, “Paul wrote it in the Cavern days. We just stuck a few more words on it like ‘grandchildren on your knee’ and ‘Vera, Chuck and Dave’ … this was just one that was quite a hit with us.”[5] In his 1980 interview for Playboy he said, “I would never even dream of writing a song like that.”[2]

Source: Wikipedia

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