A man in his late-60s has written to agony aunt Coleen Nolan for advice after feeling lost and redundant since retiring and selling his business a few months ago. He describes a sense of being left behind as his wife, who is younger, continues to work part-time and volunteer, maintaining a busy social life with plans for trips abroad next year.
The reader, who enjoys occasional golf and tinkering with his old car, admits to feeling pathetic but struggles to find purpose. He wonders if things would be different if his wife had retired at the same time, but she shows no signs of stopping as she loves her work.
Nolan advises giving himself time to adjust, noting that retirement is a huge adjustment, especially after running a company. She suggests talking to his wife about his feelings and desires for shared activities, as she may assume he wants to relax. Nolan also recommends exploring groups like u3a.org.uk, a nationwide network for retired and semi-retired people offering learning and social opportunities.
She concludes that this can be a great period of life, encouraging him to try different things and find what works for him.
