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Retirement Diaries: Jan Suggests Staying Active But Not Too Active

“Put fun activities first!” — Jan S.
Aug.7.2022
  • Lifestyle
  • Retirement
  • Retirement Diaries
    • Aug.7.2022

    Retirement Snapshot

    Jan and her family at Clearwater Marine Aquarium
    Jan and her family at Clearwater Marine Aquarium
    Photo credit: Jan Simonsen
    • Location: Minnesota
    • Age: 73
    • Retired At: 65
    • Marital Status: Married
    • Profession: Education/Teacher

    Staying active and involved is an important part of retirement for Jan. After a fulfilling career as a teacher, she still likes the flexibility of being able to get back in the classroom as a substitute. She also enjoys part-time work coordinating an Early Childhood program. She’s living true to her motto of putting fun activities first while still contributing and remaining part of a profession she loves. We talked with Jan about her retirement. 

    Retirement Reality

    Retirement Awaits: What does a day in retirement look like for you?

    Jan: I like to have a commitment that may be going someplace, completing tasks, et cetera. I still make a to-do list! I really like relaxed mornings, sleeping later, and not rushing to get to work on time. 

    Your Retirement Plan

    Retirement Awaits: Did you have a solid plan going into retirement?  

    Jan: Yes, but navigating sensibly through this economic world creates some challenges.

    Best Part About Retirement

    Retirement Awaits: What’s the best part about retirement? 

    Jan: Being in charge of my schedule. Not feeling rushed. Putting fun activities first.

    Challenges In Retirement

    Retirement Awaits: What’s the biggest challenge in retirement?

    Jan: Balancing requests for volunteer commitments and donations! Being concerned about maintaining good health. Many of our friends and family are experiencing health issues and dying. This is difficult to see. Many social conversations focus on health and well-being which gets tiring!

    Travel In Retirement

    Retirement Awaits: What’s your favorite vacation spot?

    Jan: That’s a tough one. We like the dry heat in Arizona and there is so much to do. We connect with many friends. We can be busy or just hide away. We also like Florida because of the water and the ocean view and that family joins us! We love having family visits at either place.  

    Cost Of Retirement

    Retirement Awaits: We want people to understand how much retirement really costs. How do you manage your money now? Do you have a budget, meet with your advisor on a regular basis, et cetera?

    Jan: We update frequently with a financial manager. We don’t have a strict budget but tend to be thrifty with purchases. We are still expert comparative shoppers!

    Retirement Advice

    Retirement Awaits: What’s the best piece of advice you’d give someone about to retire?

    Jan: Just sitting around isn’t good. Find some things to do and plan events and gatherings so you have something to look forward to.

    Things I Wish I Would Have Known

    Retirement Awaits: What are a few things you wish someone would have told you about retirement/this season of life/transition?

    Jan: I wish I would have been more focused on retirement planning in my 30s and 40s!

    If you’d like to connect with fellow retirees, join our Retirement Awaits Community!

    Retirement Awaits Facebook Community

    To learn more about retirement, check out: 

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    • Image of Allison Godlove Allison Godlove View Full Profile

      Allison loves learning about new people and places and always jumps at the chance to take a trip. Whether it's visiting a town in her area or traveling across the country, she's up to explore!

      She has traveled outside the U.S. several times including trips to London, Switzerland, and a cruise through the Western Caribbean. Her favorite travel memory is visiting Sundsvall, Sweden, her great grandfather's birthplace. Growing up, she spent a lot of time with him, so it was special to see where he was born. It looked very similar to the town where she grew up in New York. Within the U.S., she continues to check states off the list, most recently making a trip to Alaska for her honeymoon.

      Allison spent almost 20 years of her career as a TV news anchor. She’s covered everything from political conventions to Super Bowl LV to hurricanes and, most recently, the pandemic. She is a two-time Emmy award-winning journalist. She's been recognized for her work nationally and regionally by organizations including the Associated Press, the Society of Professional Journalists, and the Florida Association of Broadcast Journalists.