I hear about guys who worked all their lives, saving up for their retirement and then when they do finally get the golden handshake, they keel over in the first year. The most common theory is that men have a problem adjusting to suddenly having nothing to do and that the secret to a successful retirement is to keep busy, maintaining an active schedule and having real responsibilities. I don’t agree. That sounds to me like you’re supposed to solve the problem by making retirement more like work. I prefer to go the other way – make work more like retirement. So, once you hit the age of forty, start modifying your work habits to include:

- Take one afternoon a week off work and go sit in the park.
- Don’t make any suggestions in meetings and when you’re asked for an opinion, shrug it off.
- Come in late and leave early.
- Never answer your phone.
- Read novels at your desk.
- Avoid responsibility.

You may take some flack but when your retirement comes up, you’ll be ready. And it may happen sooner than you expect.


Enjoy this winter poem...