People tend to become serious about retirement only about ten to fifteen years prior to this life-changing event. Before that, retirement is something far away in the future. One is normally totally involved with work, children and all the nuances of a busy life and retirement is in no way a priority.

At most one will contribute to a pension fund or retirement annuity for that event which lies decades ahead in the future. But the critical question "Will my provisions be enough for a stress free retirement?", will only become a serious consideration when the reality of nearing retirement becomes evident. A second nagging question could be, "Will I be able to have a qualitative and meaningful life after a lifetime of children and work?"

Normally people will be more financially equipped to increase their contributions towards retirement provision when their children become independent. The 10 to 15 years prior to retirement is crucial, as any delays in increased funding will have a detrimental effect on life after retirement.

Retirement is meant to be a time to lessen responsibilities and the time to explore one’s creative side, travel, play golf, read books, go to the movies and generally live in a way that hasn’t been possible before. In order to do that, retirement should be thoroughly planned, and way in advance. The following factors should be considered:

1. Do you have a financial framework in place that takes the ugly effect of inflation into account? Most people under estimate the effect of inflation and only start to realize the debilitating effect of inflation a few years into retirement. Then it will be too late to do anything substantial about it.

2. Does that planning take into account different scenarios such as what will be the outcome if a husband passes away first and also what will be the scenario should it happen the other way round? It is heartbreaking to see that either a husband or a wife takes care of financial issues for most of their lives together, leaving the other out of the whole planning process, and then, should the financial planner pass away first, the other is left unequipped to handle financial matters. This often results in a scenario where a gullible widower or widow gets overwhelmed by unscrupulous "financial advisors".

3. Do you plan towards a life in retirement? Many men work very hard right through their lives, where their only outside activities often boil down to watching sport on TV and perhaps a game of golf every now and then. One finds it more often that women have a fulfilling hobby in place that can continue into retirement. But if the day of retirement catches you without a creative, meaningful way to spend the days, weeks, months and years that lie ahead, it can become depressing and what should have been a fantastic time will turn into a bitter and unhappy experience. One should cultivate a meaningful life from early on and not let a one dimensional approach, whether that be a workaholic or "soapy"- holic, lead to despair. Your spouse will become an even more intimate partner after retirement and should your togetherness lack preciousness, one will have to realign soul to soul before the walk into retirement starts off.

4. Some people are fortunate and live in a house and neighborhood where they are completely happy and they can just continue to live in that manner after retirement. But, there are also many people that are tied down to houses in surroundings that are not conducive to a joyful way of being. Do not be caught at retirement in a dwelling or a neighborhood where you have been frustrated for a long time. Plan way in advance to change that when you retire. Go where your heart yearns to go and put down your claim to happiness. Buy an apartment or a plot at the ocean or in the woods, and start making down payments towards a different lifestyle in future. You will even find that the commitment to a different lifestyle in future will have a positive effect on your present lifestyle.

5. Friendship and family will even become more important after retirement. Cultivate meaningful relations with precious people right through your life. Do not wake up in retirement realizing that there is no one that you really want to see and that the people you treasure have no real reason to come visit you, even if you have this great house overlooking the ocean with a built-in braai on the verandah or game jumping all over you in the woods.

6. James Hillman, a freehand Jungian psychologist, writes about the very young child having a sense of what to do with his or her life. And in the Gospel according to Thomas there is this wonderful saying that the essence of your self will save you from an undoing of your life, should you listen to it. Should you not, it will devour you. Many people have no choice really but to bring the bread home whether their work is fulfilling or not. There is nothing that stops you from walking away from an unfulfilling job after retirement and starting something that speaks to your soul. However, do not put your retirement funding at risk. It happens too often and big mistakes cannot be rectified in retirement years! Take small steps if you do not have funds available to start a new venture. But do it! And get your partner in marriage to join you in such a venture. It can lead to a meaningful co-existence of two souls determined to make an impact on their dreams. Your post retirement property could well be planned accordingly. A small factory at home or a home office can form part of your daily existence and you don’t have to pay any rent on that! It can supplement your retirement funding handsomely. It does not only have to be work, you can even consider starting to studying in a direction that has interested you all your life. But find the strings of your soul and tie them up.

7. Do not under estimate the value of property as an important financial medium of contributing to your life after retirement. Retirement village property has to be considered for investment purposes. Statistics show that demand has out weighed supply over many years. This will continue. There are continuous waiting lists at retirement villages and this demand ensures growth in value way above inflation. One can therefore buy a house or apartment in a selected retirement village years before the need arises to move to one and enjoy great capital growth whilst receiving an above average rental income from your retirement village purchase. People renting retirement houses or apartments are normally trustworthy and will look after your property. If possible one should even consider buying a house and an apartment in advance. Younger retired people tend to prefer houses to apartments as they still want a garden to enjoy and to be able to entertain at their braai facilities. Older retired people prefer comfortable apartments which they can lock up and leave if they decide on impromptu holidays. And when they get to a stage that they require frail care, an apartment connected to the frail care facility will be very much in demand.

8. Another consideration for retirement is the importance of friends. Either moving together to an area where long lasting friendships can be shared or to move into a retirement village at a relatively early stage in order to establish new meaning full relationships. One should also keep in mind that most people prefer to move to an area or retirement village where their children and grandchildren can be nearby. This becomes more and more important as time goes by.

9. Security becomes very important after retirement. During this time one needs to feel safe, and indeed to be safe. Retirement villages provide this sort of security as a pre-requisite to their existence.

10. It is also important to choose your retirement location with the following attractions in mind (dependant upon your own preferences): the ocean, mountains, shopping centers, movie theatres, restaurants, scenic drives, golf courses and most importantly, easy access to reputable hospitals.

11. Always discuss retirement needs with knowledgeable estate agents, trusted financial advisors, psychological consultants (retirement should really be great fun but can be scary if both partners are not in harmonious balance in their approach to it), family and friends.

12. And finally, plan for retirement as a new and exciting phase of your life. You cannot buy maturity, you cannot borrow happiness and you cannot do down payments on fulfillment. At retirement your life experience can be turned to fifth gear. Stand back at times and watch your own amazement.