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Today, my most recent boss retired.  I was somewhat surprised when my boss told us that he planned on retiring when he did.  I thought for sure he would stick around for a bit longer, but alas, he decided to move on, and I can’t say that I blame him.  I thought that he was a pretty good boss, as bosses go.  I have had a few different bosses over the last 20 years, and have seen what is good and what IMHO is bad.

My boss prior to my boss who is retiring died suddenly of cancer at about 50 years old.  She was a good boss and was really doing things to move her career and life on the fast track.  But most of all, she cared about the people who worked for her.

My current boss who is retiring, he also took a vested interest into the people that worked for him.  When you see the possibilities of the future, you start to see that you can’t choose your next boss.  That person will be chosen by other people.  But my current boss was the guy who originally hired me on.  I interviewed with him about 4 times total over 5 years.  I always thought that I would make a great writer, but it was getting my Bachelor’s Degree that made the difference, amongst a good interview.  But if I had been offered the job prior to getting that degree, I wonder how hard I would have worked to finish my degree, or how much money I would have been offered?

All things happen for reason, and I was pleased that things worked out well in the time that it did.  I hope that he enjoys his retirement to the fullest.

This made me think about my retirement and what I would do to get there.  Of course there is the financial outlook.  What will I do for that?  Investments, stocks, real estate or something else?  I think that I will be prepared, but it definitely takes a bit more than wishing.

Do I want to live in a house when I retire, or on a boat, or in a condo?  Will I live near the beach, or in the mountains, or at the desert?  Will I retire or will it just be the next phase of my life.  I’m lucky, i’m still very young, with plenty of time to consider all things.  But prior planning is important.  You have to watch your health so you can be there to enjoy your twilight years.

I don’t imagine being so retired that my end of days is spent like Jabba the Hut on a couch.  That’s the real key, knowing what you want to do, when you cross the finish line.  Will you do that hobby, travel to that place, or do those things that you never had the chance to do?

Maybe the key is to start doing the things that you want to do when you are retired, so that the transition is seemless, and you won’t skip a beat!