So, nu, retirement? Is it all it’s cracked up to be?

How many people can say that they have had two careers that they loved? I’m one of those people: I’ve had two quite different careers that made me excited and genuinely happy to get up for each day’s challenges … and even the calamities. 

But before I go on, full disclosure:  I am a very happy person by nature and have been afflicted thusly my whole life.  I love every day’s adventure, no matter what it is. Planning and designing a multimillion-dollar investment portfolio? Bring it on. Teaching a kid algebra? Light my fire. Playing tennis? Whip their butts. Eating ice cream with lots of nuts? Pure heaven. Teaching grandson Jacob how to play golf? Beyond fab. Plus all of the other zillions of joyous things that fill up my life, complete every day, and make me grateful for every blessed minute.

My first career, as a middle school teacher focusing on gifted math and language arts education, was true bliss every minute. So, why leave? While I totally adored the kids and the work, I despised the administration and the whole union thing. After about 16 years, it was time to exit.

Onward! Stockbroker land, here I am! More prestige, more money, more and bigger everything ... and, oh, a complete lack of security. Great! No problem!  A man’s business in 1982, but, still, no problem! (I’m the oldest in my family and have four brothers.) No salary at all? I’ll make it! No clients? I’ll get them! 

And I did ... I did it all. And I loved it, every exciting minute of severe market gyrations, every illuminating trip to check out a company or a piece of real estate for a limited partnership, every meeting with a boring insurance wholesaler or a knowledgeable mutual fund salesperson. And, above all, I loved the clients, most of whom became great friends over the decades – kind, generous, understanding and loving people.                                              

So, why retire? Why do people retire anyway? My small, extremely limited, unscientific survey found these reasons: they hate their job, want freedom, want to travel, their spouse is retired (maybe a good reason to continue working!), they’re sick of “punching a clock,” their job is tedious, the field’s changed ....

Travel? I’ve been fortunate to travel my whole adult life — from Alaska to Morocco, from South America to Switzerland, and everywhere in between.  Now that I’m retired, though, I can travel with fewer worries and responsibilities and take trips longer than a weekend in London or Paris (but not bad, right?).

Now there’s time for amazing classes with Rabbi Yossi Laufer, who “found” me through my investment articles in The Jewish Voice.  The student was so ready … and the teacher so capable of filling in so many blanks in a spotty Jewish education.                 

So, retirement? It was just time. And  retirement rocks … just like work rocked. 

You can make retirement happy too. Make every day the gift that God intended, filling your days with lectures, classes, spiritual advancement, reading, walks, friends and maybe volunteering – but only if that’s what you want. That’s how you make retirement rock! 

BARBARA KENERSON was The Jewish Voice’s long-time columnist on investing. She can be contacted at kbarbara5641@gmail.com.