Pilgrim in the New Retirement

"Pilgrim in the New Retirement" is a personal account of entering the so-called "Golden Years" and what it feels like to lay down not only the burdens of a work-a-day life but also the status and sense of identity that go with it. The author finds out that in retirement he must - in a very real sense - remake himself. The process is as challenging and full of excitement as any of the earlier stages of life.

Even before his retirement begins, the author is surprised by how quickly his standing with friends and the world in general is thrown into question as soon as he announces his intentions. He also learns that many of our most widely held worries about retirement - such as "will I have enough to do?" - are totally unfounded. There is too much to do, and many of the opportunities are far more fulfilling than the old job.

Most writing about retirement addresses the obvious question: "Will I be able to afford it?" But retirees soon learn there is an equally important, rarely addressed second question: "Who am I now?" "Pilgrim in the New Retirement" has the answer.