I’m approaching retirement, but I feel like I should just work, work, work. Why do I feel like I’ve never done enough?

Claire!
I feel like I’m in your same position. My husband plays golf. I watch old movies.
Unfortunately, we’re in Texas. I feel like if we moved to Oregon where our son lives, I’d have more like minded people to do things with like hiking. Our daughter who lives close by tells me my problems won’t be solved just by moving.

Great article and questions to one’s self. I have an only daughter also. Been going down this path, a good one – all the way thru young grandchildren now.Transitions with actively participation ( as opposed to passive, ‘wait and see’) – have been key.

There is this tricky (individual)balance between passive and active involvement. As easy and comforting passive is, you will miss out if you don’t spend most of your life in the active, important people and things in your life. Especially when those ‘tough’ times come when you start living your own Harry Chapin ‘Cats in the cradle’.

Your mantra ‘be intentional’ is to be actively engaged in your life, in your pivotal transitions too- for greater purpose and fulfilment.

I know this was posted several years ago, but I feel exactly as you feel…lost and alone. I’ve been retired since 2020 when COVID a was in full swing, and there was no “active” world to retire into; everything was shut down and virtual classes and communication were the new normal. As an adult with no children, I have few good friends and they’re scattered everywhere, my siblings, too. It was “ok” during COVID because everyone was in the same boat, but restrictions have been lifted, and I’m acutely aware that I’m on my own. I’m married and we love each other, but we have separate interests and that is more obvious now that we’re both home all day. Even where we decided to settle after retirement is a topic of debate. What I crave, he doesn’t care about, and what he desires is not on my Top 5 list of must-haves in terms of community. We have no plans to separate because we love each other and like each other, but we can’t find a common interest. Meeting new people when in your late-60s and 70s (unless a member of a church) is difficult. We’re spiritual but not religious, so to join a church for social reasons is unfair and hypocritical. I binge watch favorite shows, he plays online cribbage with strangers. If this is retirement, I’d rather work until the day I die.