Millionaire Librarian

This is a question I hear all too often. Someone retires—frequently earlier than expected—only to find themselves bored and restless.

Perhaps they miss the status and power of their previous career, or maybe their budget is a bit tighter than anticipated. There is also a notably high rate of medical issues following retirement. In my view, this isn’t necessarily because retirement itself is a shock to the system; rather, many people wait too long to step away and are eventually forced into retirement by declining health.

During my career as a librarian, I had to learn the complexities of management. I never worked in a library that didn’t have significant personnel issues, often involving employees with decades of history. In a government setting, unions and regulations can make meaningful personnel changes difficult. Managing was often stressful because I was responsible for ensuring a smooth, fair workplace, even when that felt impossible.

I’ve found that many people need a transition period between full-time work and retirement. Developing a new routine takes time. It also helps to have a spouse or a solid circle of friends; without those social pillars, retirement can feel incredibly isolating.

We have a friend who retired at a traditional age. He’s a bit edgy, and one of his favorite questions to ask is, “What do you do all day?” Initially, I thought this was a jab at my early retirement, until I heard him ask the same thing of someone much older. I usually just list my errands. I am perfectly happy with day-to-day tasks, but I suspect he is looking for something more.

Some people are simply better at finding comfort in an empty room.

What type of person are you? Will you miss work or bask in the mundane?