A vision for retirement

Sunrise looking east towards Phoenix

   It’s my second day catching up after my two week jaunt through California and Arizona.  I traveled 1,377 miles which included the Los Angeles area and south, Phoenix AZ, and just outside San Francisco CA.   One of the visits in AZ was a little Northwest of Phoenix in Sun City.  When looking at the History of Retirement, Sun City is a significant part of the story.

You see, in 1960 a new idea emerged as Del Webb built 5 model homes in Sun City AZ just outside of Phoenix.  On January 1^st of that year thousands came through to see the homes and the sales began.  In the first year 2,000 modest homes sold for $8,500 to$11,750.  Webb had a vision of an active community for those 55 or older.  And people responded.  

I get the impression from reading about this first "retirement community" that it was promoting a leisurely but active lifestyle that accented sports like golf, tennis, and bowling.  It has gone through changes over the years and what I saw was an area filled with far more than one retirement community.  An article in the "Arizona Republic" notes that Sun City is reinventing itself as it continues to attract retirees – now the Baby Boomer generation.  The modest houses are being bought and renovated and newer, updated homes continue to be built.  The median price in Sun City is now up to about $130,000.  The article said golf courses are less crowded and the bowling alleys are not used as much, but new activities are taking their place.  

Someone retiring in their mid to late 60's may live another 30 years, so interests have changed.  Now you will see retirees on the golf course, swimming, and maybe bowling, but you will also see retirees out hiking, jogging, and participating in more strenuous sports.  They're also finding ways to continue learning.  Our churches can be a significant part of this more "active" retirement as our elders seek out mission trips, service projects, volunteer opportunities and other ways to be involved in their local community and beyond.  Spending time with extended family is also a priority.  I met retirees and surviving spouses who originally moved West to be near grandchildren as they grew up.  Others moved out later in life to be near adult children who could assist with their care.

I loved hearing about the lives of those I visited.  Their interests filled a wide range from promoting racial justice to caring for good friends dying, from watching a grandchild regularly, to writing a memoir, and from horseback riding to staying active on the computer. 

I found a definition of retirement: “the action or fact of leaving one’s job and ceasing to work.”  It may be true that whether we are pastors or plumbers, lawyers or food servers, house painters or managers, teachers or janitors, we will cease working one day and drawing a paycheck.  We are more than our work, however, and I think we have to figure that our before we retire.  I'm thinking about my own dreams and hopes - how will they help to form a vision for my retirement?  

I saw a Snoopy cartoon this morning.  Charlie Brown  is pointing out to Snoopy that one day we will all die.  Snoopy comes back with "True, but on all the other days we will not."  What will give meaning to all those other days? 

Blessings,  Cathy