05/29/2007

Vocation to Vacation to Avocation

Hello:

A recent study reported in the Financial Times last week indicates that Americans missed work less than expected and missed their paycheck less than expected. After the first few years of vacation after vocation, retirees are cycling back into the workplace. Why would this be?

Early retirees are finding that retirement can be boring after the first 2-5 years and so are moving toward an occupation or toward volunteerism that reflects their interests. An avocation can be the optimal blend of a vacation and a vocation. The study referenced above found that 19% of American Septuagenarians are still working. That is in stark contrast to the beginning of the last century when a retiree was given a gold watch at age 65 -- the average life expectancy at the time!

So in your retirement planning, perhaps consider the vocation-vacation-avocation cycle as opposed to full retirement.

Does your organization have donors that are in the process of retiring? Perhaps in a few years, they will want to volunteer more of their time to your organization's mission.

Terri G. Millson, CIMA, CIMC President

Ray Dicius, CSA, GEPC LPL Branch Manager