Complete Guide to Creative Retirement Professor David J. Demko, PhD AgeVenture News Service, 8-21-03 You've heard the stats before. 81 million seniors over the age of 50. Average retirement age is now 57. Every seven seconds another baby boomer blows out 50 birthday candles. But somehow, you never quite take these trends personally. Until you hit the BIG FIVE-0. Then, BOOM. It feels like you got knocked into the swimming pool, the deep end. Suddenly, you find yourself over your head ... frantically looking for someone to throw you a life-line. You're not alone. Millions of boomers are treading water, right next to you in the deep end of the pool. Each one trying to keep his or her head above a sea of decisions brought on by retirement. Not to worry. People may flounder around, stumble and fall, but eventually they find a lifestyle that's right ... satisfying, fulfilling, meaningful. In fact, medical science demonstrates the closer you get to retirement ... the more anxious you become. But, research also confirms, the further you get into retirement ... the more enjoyable it feels. So, what's the big difference between pre-retirement jitters, and post-retirement enjoyment? Knowing the challenges ahead, identifying your options for meeting those challenges, then making choices tailored to your talents, interests, and needs. Sounds simple enough. But, just like any challenging adventure, your chances of success are better if you've got a guide. An experienced guide. One that's "been there, done that" ... and succeeded. Author, Robert Kelley is that kind of guide. In fact, his new book is titled "The Complete Guide to a Creative Retirement." "Creative Retirement" is not your typical retirement book. Instead of focusing on financial preparation and security, as most retirement books do, Kelley discusses the changes that retirement imposes on the mental, physical, emotional, and social aspects of a retiree’s life, as well as offer specific recommendations for improving quality of life. It is a systematic, humorous and innovative guide that will change your perceptions of traditional retirement. Kelley explains that what people miss most in the early months of retirement is structure. Their daily routines have disappeared and they feel adrift. He says retirement should be seen as an opportunity to set new goals and head in new directions. I couldn't agree more. For the past 30 years, newly retired workers have likened retirement to "A Week Full of Saturdays". The thought of so much freedom can be simultaneously liberating and overwhelming. The Complete Guide to a Creative Retirement" offers food for thought on how to keep a delicate balance between coping with the universal issues that everyone experiences, coping with the issues that are unique to your personal needs, interests, and desires. Here's a list of themes addressed by the author. Twelve strategies to ease the transition into retirement Five distinct lifestyles favored by retirees How to achieve a balanced lifestyle Worksheets to analyze retirement needs Eighty exciting and worthwhile large-scale projects Kelley also offers inspirational tips highlighting key decision-points. Readers will also find a wealth of resources in the name of helpful organizations, web sites, and case studies. However, the author's greatest contribution is his emphasis on "Rethinking Retirement". Before you can create a successful retirement, you must first learn that successful retirement is not a "one size fits all" proposition. No one can dictate your retirement plan for you. Knowledge is the key. Know the challenges, know your options, know what choices are tailored to your unique needs. Kelley makes these points with conviction and clarity. “Each retiree is faced with the dilemma of self-reinvention. The activities with which people fill their days will ultimately determine the quality of their lives,” says Kelley. “I fervently believe that any retiree can enjoy an immensely rewarding retirement. Age, wealth and education are only limiting factors if you choose to see them as roadblocks. Those who remain young at heart will enjoy new adventures well into their eighties and beyond.” Kelley, who retired at the age of fifty, lives in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada where he spends his retirement enjoying a variety of activities, which include photography, traveling, ocean cruising, researching family history, writing books, going to the gym and teaching himself to play the piano. "Author, Robert Kelley walks his talk. He's been there, done that, and most importantly, his guide book offers big footprints to follow on your personal journey toward successful retirement." Dr. David J. Demko, Editor-in-Chief, AgeVenture News Service. Photo credit: Turn Key Press, Austin, Texas. "The Complete Guide to a Creative Retirement" by Robert Kelley. (ISBN: 0-9740030-9-3, Infinity Publishing, July 2003. $17.95 (US), $24.95 (CAN).