Travel as a Metaphor for Retirement Life
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My husband and I love to travel as a part of our retirement life. A recent trip took us to the Blue Ridge Mountain region of North Carolina. As a product of the west (Colorado, Texas, California, Arizona), I’m always amazed by the beauty and GREEN of the east. Don’t get me wrong, I love the western U.S., but have enjoyed exploring the southeastern part of the country in the last few years.
Wherever we go, I’m the one who takes control of the map. In the case of our recent trip, I had the traditional road maps for Georgia, North and South Carolinas. In addition, we had a GPS navigational unit, plus Google directions to the condominium we stayed.
I find travel an interesting metaphor for life. Since I’m the navigator in our travels, it makes sense I help others plan their life in retirement.
On more than one occasion, I have missed an interesting scene by the side of the road because my nose was stuck in a map. Retirement offers a time to establish new goals and to revisit old dreams. Much of the focus of the working life of adulthood is on acquiring and maintaining the goals of home, family and career. Often, we are left with little time to enjoy the bounty, because our nose is pressed to the grindstone.
Retirement in the twenty-first century is hopefully a time to find a balance between new goals, but also enjoying the ride. It’s being able to take the time to smell the roses.
We had minimal time to prepare for our trip to North Carolina. Besides finding a place to stay, we researched a visit to the Biltmore, the “largest home in America”. We were close to the Great Smoky Mountains, so that was also a goal. We made it to Asheville and the Biltmore, but actually never got inside of the Great Smoky Park.
Instead, we found a wonderful school, John C Campbell Folk School dedicated to preserving the culture and art of the people of Appalachia. We spent a day on a train that followed the Nantalaha River into the gorge by the same name, south of the Great Smoky Mountains.
Retirement living is successful when you find the balance between creating new goals, but also having the flexibility of changing direction as the situation and awareness alters.
Knowing what is important to you is a necessary first step. What do you need to feel satisfied in your life? What do you value in your life?
The movie The Bucket List suggested we catalog what we want to do before we die. It is better to establish goals at the beginning of retirement than wait until end of life like the characters in the movie. As you transition into your retirement life (however you define the term), take the time to reach for the stars-if just a bit. Get out of your comfort zone and work towards something that is worth waking up for. Remember to also enjoy the journey.
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