Dear friends,
This month we feature Pamela Hinsdale whose story appears below. Years ago, Pam and I worked together at Kaiser Hawaii. She ran the Internal Audit Department and made sure none of got into any trouble with the IRS, the accounting gods or anyone else. We re-connected years later at an Amazing Care Network event when she had retired from Kaiser and was involved in a wide range of activities.
Pam got me thinking about when is a good time to retire and critically for me, what does one do at retirement. The answer to the first question is common sense: A “good” time to retire depends on one’s personal needs and circumstances. Of course, a critical driver is one’s financial assets.
Not surprisingly, the age at which one retires can critically affect finances. In this regard, there is a difference between women and men regarding average retirement age. Women retire at 62.3 years whereas men retire at 64.6 years, this from an article in Investopedia (https://www.investopedia.com/retirement/when-should-i-retire-pros-and-cons-different-ages/)
The second question (what to do at retirement) is also driven by personal likes and preferences. My friend, Pam, has become a beekeeper and passionate advocate of organizations that protect Hawaii’s watershed and endangered plants. This is in addition to her other activities, such as helping a community college in Massachusetts and caring for grandchildren. Like many of my friends, Pam defies the stereotypical image of retired people who are no longer engaged with their communities, families or friends. Enjoy her story.
With good wishes to you and yours,
Cora
