I see retirement as a big gift of time and freedom. An opportunity to live according to my values, not somebody else s as when I was a child, student, or employee.
Retirement is a problem of sudden riches.
Before I retired I did many of the things I do now take classes, volunteer, contribute to the community, keep politicians honest a City Hall, read, travel, garden, sew, swim, go to the theater and art museums, write, speak and spend time with family and friends. Most of what I do in retirement began years ago. I prepared for retirement by doing what I really wanted to do each day. After I graduated from college, I discovered that the classes I took because I wanted to were much better than the required ones, and I became a lifelong learner. Tai chi has been an interesting challenge to my plan to remain healthy.