Derrick Coyle

The end of a 35-year work career makes for an interesting life transition. Overnight, the routines ingrained in several decades of continuous employment are replaced with a clean slate of opportunity and flexibility. Mission statements, corporate strategies, and employer expectations, traded for individual choice. The perpetual validation of one’s occupational worth, exchanged for the self-satisfaction of personal accomplishment.

At the end of May this year, I retired from a management position with a general insurance company and closed out a career that began at age 20. It was thirty-five years ago, that a 45-minute streetcar ride down Queen Street delivered a fresh-faced, east-end kid, for an interview at a University Ave. office tower in Toronto. An hour later, a $135 per week underwriting job was successfully landed.

The career brought with it an early move to London, Ontario, where a family was raised and a new home town established. The job provided steady progression to assorted mid-management positions, including a five-year stint in a head office role in Toronto. Many personal friendships were made along the way, in both cities, and the stronger ones endure in the post-work era. It turned out, all things considered, to be a satisfying and rewarding career.

After taking the first summer to do little more than relax and reflect, I have come to appreciate some of the differences, and the similarities, between the respective worlds of work and retirement. I’ve learned there is an interesting adjustment curve as the weeks progress. And, I’ve come to understand that there are some special considerations for the retiree, who has finished work in advance of his or her spouse / partner, and whose pension proceeds remain occupied in investment mode. For simplicity, I’ll refer to this as a sponsored retirement. It may be worth noting at this point, that my wife – who is a few years younger and remains employed at a job she enjoys – fully endorsed the idea of an initial summer of  absolute self-absorption. This distinction may add redeeming context to retirement activities described below.

The retirement transition has been surprisingly smooth for me. Having worked in an office of more than 30 people with considerable day-to-day interaction, the sudden absence of the social aspect takes a little getting used to. In my case, the surrogate has been found in a generous schedule of golf tee times and the associated interaction thereof. Asked from time to time whether I miss working, my response has been the same. I miss the people part of the job, but the discontinuance of the work itself has been notably inconsequential.

One of the interesting discoveries of retirement, for me, was that some of the structure and many of the skills found in the workplace, are perfectly transferrable. I’ve noticed some definite parallels between the two worlds.

Schedules, Priorities, Deadlines

In the working world, activities are generally governed by a set of schedules, priorities, and deadlines, largely imposed by someone else. We rise groggily in the darkness to the jolt of the bedside clock/radio. We get ourselves ready and rush to make our start time. We produce work and may attend a series of meetings. We squeeze in a lunch break at the appointed time. We complete tasks, meet our deadlines and move on to the next project. In the evening, when the work is done, we head home to offer what’s left of the day and our waning energy, to our families and recreational interests.

In the retirement world, the bedside clock/radio remains instrumental, but it’s principal function is the delivery of music. Programmed to a favoured radio station or I-Pod playlist, it eases us into the new day at a time of the retiree’s choosing. The duration of this phase can vary, but is often subject to priority adjustments relating to the aroma emanating from the pre-programmed coffee maker in the kitchen.

Activities for the day, in the retirement world, are generally self-directed. Following the morning read of top stories, and in the absence of any pre-arranged golf tee times, some important logistical decisions are made as to the timing of breakfast, shower, option to shave, and other activities. As a point of caution, it is important not too create overly ambitious “to do” plans at this stage as aggressive lists of deliverables can create unnecessary anxiety for the new retiree. Activities for the day may be front-loaded, back-loaded, scattered, or postponed in accordance with personal priorities and mood patterns of a given day.

Dress Code

In the working world, activities often dictate the dress code. There is usually a set of standards or guidelines governing internal and external business dress, safety wear, business casual, and dress down days. Many office environments have moved away, in recent years, from suits, ties, and business dress, in favour of a more casual dress code.

Activities also influence, to a large degree, the dress code in the retirement world. Some days, pajamas or a housecoat will be more than adequate. Others, a swimsuit, or a pair of sweats and a t-shirt will suffice. Business casual dress does have it’s place in retirement, however, with presentable shorts and collared shirts required on many golf courses. And, for occasions of extreme formality, a pair of khakis and a buttoned shirt may be required.

Productivity

Productivity is a prominent expectation in most areas of the working world. Was the quota of widgets produced? Were sales targets met? How many transactions were processed? Increasingly sophisticated tracking systems identify inefficiencies and ultimately ensure production targets are met. In the working world, the output of most jobs is readily measureable. Accountability is built into the culture and most activities and efforts carried out must contribute meaningfully to production objectives.

In retirement, the definition of productivity is slightly different. Certainly, some things need to get accomplished. But, unlike the working world, where virtually all activity must lead to a measurable and contributory result, retirement allows for a second stream of equally productive activities. These activities are far more subjective and lead to a productive result known as personal satisfaction. For example, a few hours of Golf Channel Academy, or learning a new song on the guitar is time productively spent, and both developmentally and personally satisfying for the retiree.

Any retiree, and particularly the sponsored retiree, however, would be well advised to find a balance between these outwardly transparent production activities and those that are higher profile and contributory in nature. A round of golf might be followed with the cutting of  grass and washing of the car. A day spent in the pool and reading a good book may be capped with grocery shopping and the preparation of dinner.

Sponsored Retirement Survival Tips

Due to the potential sensitivities arising out of a sponsored retirement configuration, it would behoove the sponsored retiree to exercise caution and plan carefully. The following is a brief list of tips that may be found useful:

• endeavor to complete at least one visibly contributory task daily
• avoid complaining about your golf game or exercise class until you’ve ascertained how your sponsor’s day went
• it’s wise to be out of your pajamas and dressed before your sponsor’s return from work
• apply sunscreen generously on pool days and resist commenting favourably on weekday weather
• tidy clutter and box all empties before your sponsor’s return
• under no circumstances ask questions like: “what’s for dinner?” or “where do we keep the vacuum?”

Looking back on close to five months of retirement, the adjustment has been remarkably smooth for me. It’s interesting, that as much as you may plan to relax and do nothing at the beginning, you quickly learn that you need to accomplish something meaningful each day. I’m not sure whether that’s innate, or learned through decades of practice. Whatever it is, it requires some planning and structure, and the time-tested organizational skills applied over a career are once again called upon to keep it all on track. The beauty of this new chapter of life for me, however, is it is my agenda, my deadlines, and ultimately my personal sense of accomplishment that shapes each day.

And now … it’s off to find the vacuum.