Looking Ahead To Retirement? Why Not Take It For A Test Drive

There are many resources out there for young boomers like me who want to learn more about retirement. I have read a lot on the topic over the years and doubted that I could add anything new to the mix. But three years into our retirement, an increasing number of friends and family members remarked about how successful my spouse and I seemed to be so I wondered if there was some aspect of our experience that could be helpful to others.

And I realized there was.

The years spent in retirement can represent a big part of a healthy adult's life. I view retirement as a thoughtful investment of time, money, ideas and skills. It is a major investment that we all make in the latter part of our lives.

Certainly it is a more important investment than a house we might buy, or a new car. Yet it is a given that all of us pay an in-person visit (or multiple visits) to that dream house before signing an offer, and similarly we take that new car for a little spin before buying it. 

So why don't we take a major investment like our retirement for a test drive too?

This is what my spouse and I did. In our mid-50s we knew we would be retiring in five to seven years. We talked a lot about what we might like to do in our retirement - but it was all just empty talk. So we decided to take our retirement for a test drive.

My spouse was a teacher so she set up a financed leave situation for one semester, and I had my own business which I placed into the care of my two capable partners. Our adult children were well-launched and our two dogs went happily to separate caregivers.

We then embarked on four months of NOT WORKING. The first 30 days we spent in a cottage renovation project, toiling side by side every day transforming our little 1960s cabin. We did it all - roof, windows, doors, siding, walls, floors, decks, appliances and finishes. Once this was completed, we then left in our pickup truck on a 95-day road trip around America.

I have a vivid memory of my disquiet that first day as we pulled over to a highway rest stop for a snack. All I could do was worry that we would not enjoy being together 24/7 for the next three months.

I was seriously concerned.

Although I did not articulate these concerns to my spouse, I learned much later that she was having the same thoughts. In our working lives we were both busy professionals caught up in our own schedules, and I also travelled a lot in my work. This, combined with raising three children, meant that we spent little time together. Also, most of my clients were volunteer organizations and as a result I worked many weekends. This forced togetherness was brand new, and it was scary.

So how did it go for us?

It went beautifully.

We loved every minute of our time together (which was almost every minute of our trip). We learned about the things we enjoyed - camping, exploring without a guidebook or a map, hiking, avoiding interstate highways, learning about birds, learning local history, being near the ocean, following the path of the moon through the night sky each month. We found Idaho, New Mexico and West Texas stunning in their physical beauty. We talked to strangers every day.

When we finally arrived home on New Year's Eve three months later, we were confident that retirement would work for us and we also had a clearer picture of what it could look like.

Don't be fooled by all the articles that focus on the finances of retirement. Financial security is necessary - yes - but it is not sufficient. There is so much more to a successful and rewarding retirement than how you pay for it.

The things my spouse and I learned on this test drive about each other and about our mutual interests have informed every aspect of our retired life - from where and how we now live, to the activities and interests that we pursue, to the part-time work that we sometimes do because we want to, and to the causes in our community that we support.

We spend all our time together now and our marriage has never been stronger and more satisfying. Maybe a four month test drive is more than a couple can manage - so just try for two months or whatever you're comfortable with. However, for this test drive to work, it is imperative that you are completely separated from your current working life.

So if taking your retirement for a test drive is an option for you, my advice is go for it! You may be surprised what you learn.

About the author

Rachel Corbett is a retired sport consultant who lives with her spouse Martha Hunt in Hastings County, Ontario. As a couple they are active outdoors and in their local community, engaging in projects with the Kawartha Land Trust and the Campbellford Memorial Hospital. Rachel does occasional work as a sport arbitrator and when the pandemic allows it, Martha works part-time at a year-round children's camp near Bancroft, Ontario.