What retirement really looks like
Some view retirement as a time to slow down, but we know that for many, it can actually be a time of new beginnings, a period in which you can finally chase your dreams, pursue your passions, and check off your bucket list. We asked you, the Over60 community, to share how you spend your days in retirement, and we weren’t surprised to find out that it wasn’t all lawn-bowling and knitting. From caravanning cross-country to starting small businesses and parachute jumping, here’s how you, the Over60s, defy the stodgy stereotype and spend your retirement living life to the fullest:
“[I have] plans to do a parachute jump, another trip to UK to revisit places from my youth, take my jewellery business into some local schools to teach teachers and students a worthwhile activity, learn to play golf and lots, lots more.” – Kath Macalister
“I was [recently] farewelled after 40 years in education and I refuse to use the ‘R’ word as I look at it as the next exciting phase. I’m now settled into post-work life and I am loving it. I get to walk every day, see my elderly mum more, entertain, chat to friends, do the gym classes I love, garden, and plan our big trip to UK and Ireland at the end of the year… life's good.” – Di Fairbrother
“I retired in January and loved it at first. Lots of travel, relaxing, and catching up on things I hadn't been able to get around to before. Now I’m missing work – I was a deputy principal, sometimes acting principal for up to six months at a time – so I've decided to do relief work in schools. I miss it all too much to leave it all behind yet. This way I'll get the best of both worlds.” – Lisa Drury Hudson
“I worked full time for 39 years and retired nine months ago. I am doing all the things I didn't do while I worked – gardening, crafts, visiting family, taking my grandchildren on camping holidays and camping on my own. My husband and I had plans to travel Australia in a bus when we both retired but he died 19 years ago, so I had no idea of what I would do in retirement. I am now busier doing things I like and helping my children than I have ever been. I have no desire to travel overseas, but to see Australia at a leisurely pace with no real time frame is wonderful.” – Sue McLahlan
“Retirement for me has meant starting a small business doing something I've always enjoyed as a hobby – photography. I choose the paid work I love, and I do pro-bono work for the charities I support.” – Lynne Audsley
“I retired three and a half years ago at age 59. Since then I have done four camping and fishing trips to isolated areas in the Kimberley, sailed from Cooktown to Thursday Island, travelled overseas five times including four months independently through Europe, travelled through Southern Australia visiting friends and written for an outdoors magazine as well as three books, including my autobiography.” – Gazza Harper
“I taught high school until age 64. I have two grown children, four grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. As a retired 65-year-old I have bought a house and renovated, been on two cruises, and holidayed on both the Gold and Sunshine Coasts. I'm happy sewing grandkids clothes, going to the gym three to four times a week or just doing nothing at home. I'm busy but I’m doing what I want!” – Merle Forster
“[My partner and I] started our dream upon retiring: touring this great country in our van. We are now almost three years on the road. We love it.” – Dawn Peterson
THIS IS A SPONSORED FEATURE IN CONJUNCTION WITH AUSTRALIANSUPER
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