By J. Bailey Molineux

Retirement is not always the happy time we sometimes imagine it to be. Although most people look forward to retirement, it can be a difficult time for some. Retirement is not simply a single event but a period of transition from working to not working. There are many changes that occur as a result. The retiring person must adjust to these changes if he is going to full enjoy his retirement. And the younger person would do well to be aware of these changes so he can be better prepared for them when his time comes to retire.

1. Reduction in income. This is probably the most obvious change that occurs as a result of retirement. A retired person's income is significantly reduced as a result of his not working. Hopefully, he has prepared for this by insuring an adequate pension plan for himself and his family.

2. Loss of occupational role and status. The retired person loses a role that has given him status and a position in society for most of his life. No longer can he define his worth or realize his identity through work. Instead, he must now discover other ways to find purpose and meaning in life.

3. Increased leisure time. No longer does the retired person have to be at work from 8 to 5, five days a week. He now has plenty of free time to do what he wants to do. This may seem like a blessing but it can be a problem if the retired person does not have enough to do to keep him interested or busy. In fact, the single most important factor in successful retirement is the ability to occupy one's time with hobbies, activities and outside interests.

4. Altered relationship with family members. The retired person also faces a change in his relationship with his family, especially his spouse. If the two of ­them usually spent much of their time apart from each other in work, it will require quite an adjustment for them to become accustomed to spending more time together. Dad could easily get in Mom's way if he spends all of his time at home with her.

5. Decline in physical health and vigor. The older person just does not have the strength and vigor he once had. His body does not bounce back as quickly as it once did. He can continue to enjoy good health, however, as long as he keeps physically active. Although many older persons complain of being too tired to do anything, their very inactivity may be what is contributing to their fatigue.

6. Loss of family members and friends. The loss of family members and friends is probably one of the most difficult adjustments the retired person has to make. The death of loved ones requires a period of mourning and a search for new sources of support. It also reminds the mourner that his own impending death is inevitable and that he must make one last adjustment to accept it.

Despite the changes and problems associated with retiring, most people enjoy their retirement. In fact, retired persons have been found to be as satisfied with their lives as people who are working. Retired persons adjust well to the changes of retirement because they have been "survivors." They have handled many changes and problems in their lives, and so have the ability and experience to adapt to one more period of adjustment. For those of us who are still working, however, the time to plan for retirement is now.

Whatever we can do to insure an adequate source of income for our later years and whatever we can do to develop hobbies and outside interests will insure that our own adjustment to retirement will be that much easier and more successful.