Retirement looks different these days – it’s about having more freedom to live how you choose, regardless of your health or finances. Here’s how one Kiwi – Owen – is enjoying his Freetirement.
Owen doesn’t want to retire – he has too much to do. Coming up to age 74 in December, he’s very active with work, church, travel and keeping fit. He can’t see himself stopping any time soon, either.
“I don’t want to sit around doing nothing – watching TV or something. That’s no way to live life!” Owen declares. “My wife’s the same – she’s a great walker. She wanted to see if she could walk 50 kilometres in one day, so she went from Glenfield to Devonport and back, no trouble. She was just cross because the walk was short five kilometres!”
A long career isn’t over yet
Originally trained as a motor engineer, over the years Owen has tinkered with elderly cars as a hobby. He’s also built a successful career internationally, working with large corporates as a quality consultant for ISO9000 certification. More recently he worked for Housing New Zealand, managing a team of auditors who helped keep the social housing stock in good repair.
“I was proud of landing that job. As an older worker, it was quite a coup for me,” says Owen. “I loved doing it too, making sure people’s homes were safe and sound.”
Turning 65 and a change in HNZ management seemed to happen at around the same time, but although Owen continued working in another role for a while, he ‘retired’ eventually because his team had been disbanded and conditions just weren’t the same. However, he didn’t stop working, and before his next role as a quality consultant for a housing development, there was a 1962 Morris Minor to be done up.
“We took that car to a ‘Brits at the Beach’ event when it was finished,” says Owen. “I admit to being very pleased when it passed several six-cylinder cars on the open road!”
65 is just a number
Owen feels too much emphasis is put on age, and especially ‘retirement’ age. For him, 65 is just a number, and he sees no reason why he should stop working. He takes the time to travel when he and his wife feel the urge, frequently visiting friends in Australia and family in Canada, touring the South Island in one of his freshly renovated cars, and celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary with an extended tour of Europe.
He even makes time in his busy schedule to investigate his family tree as a legacy for his children, and that’s the way he likes it.
“I was very glad to get out of the corporate rat race,” he admits. “But I like being busy.”
Aiming for longevity
Owen comes from long-lived Scottish stock, and fully intends to live at least a century, if not longer. He’s married to a great cook and has always maintained his general fitness and healthy lifestyle, but more recently he’s felt that it may not be enough to see him reach his goal. He had gained more weight than he liked, and is now researching to improve his diet.
But Owen isn’t worried about the future. As a committed Christian since he was a young teenager, he has faith that God is in control.
“I have no worries! I don’t know what the future holds,” Owen says, “but I know who holds my future.”
Owen’s freetirement snapshot:
Don’t sit around waiting to die.
The best part about retirement: “I’ve got lots of stories to tell my children, not just about my life, but about their grandparents and great-grandparents, who were fascinating people. Family history becomes more important when you get older. When I do retire, I’ll start writing things down.”
The hardest part about retirement: “I haven’t retired yet! It’s hard to avoid the inevitable attitudes about older people, and what you’re expected to do. But we’re lucky – we can afford to travel and stay in touch with friends and family.”
His advice for the best freetirement: “Get up and get a job – even if it’s unpaid. Keep your family and friends as close as possible. Eat right, sleep right, keep fit and don’t dwell on yourself.”