What would I do if today I were retired?

I just had an interesting conversation with my colleague. He had been working for 26 years and next year he will retire. Yes, he will reach the age of 56. Here 56 years old is the limit for someone to work, the beginning of pension moment.

My colleague was talking about his golden moment and when he came to the part of planning after he retires, he kind of looks sad. Though he tried to say something positive, something to elevate his mood, the look in his eyes could not lie. I can feel that he is not “ready” to retire. He still wants to work, he still has some energy to go to the office in the morning and goes back home in the afternoon. He feels that although he is 56 years old he is physically and mentally powerful to work.

I have seen some people who are clueless on the early days after they retired. They do not know what to do. They used to be busy with things. Then they have nothing to do. It is going to be more complicated if the person was in the high rank position. Being retired, he no longer has any power he used to have. If he cannot handle it, he will suffer post power syndrome.

Companies/organizations are responsible for the welfare of their employees. They give salary and provide fringe benefits. However, after the employees are retired, how responsible is the organizations for prosperity of their employees. Pension plan might be one solution. Sadly not all organizations are financially healthy to provide such benefit. 

Some organization initiated to conduct some training especially given to those who will retire. They hold entrepreneurship training with a hope that the employees are still able to be on their own and being financially healthy.

I really appreciate such idea. And I think we need more training in order to explore more on the potentials. 

And it got me to think: if today I were retired, what would I do? Would I be ready? Could I still make enough money? And what would I do to earn some money? Well, I have to prepare from now. And I think everyone should also prepare long before they are retired. Last but not least, after I am retired from working for the Ministry of Education and Culture, Republic of Indonesia, I will continue to teach at college and of course I will write! Wish me luck :)