Tips for Retirement Couples

Reaching retirement is like reaching the top of a peak on a mountain – It’s a bit easier to see your mistakes on the path behind you. It is also easier to see your accomplishments, your strengths, and your proud moments - especially with relationships. And at the end of the day, it’s important to focus on the positive things that have taken you to the place you are currently. Every step is forward but we can learn from the past.

So looking to the past, what are the things that can be reapplied to this new adventure in life call retirement? Here are three tips for couples that are retired:

Continue to Talk
“Marriage is a long conversation.”- Friedrich Nietzsche 

After being married for decades, my parents still loved to talk to one another. Marriage, in some ways, is as simple becoming passionate friends. Retirement is a whole new challenge to be conquered (and blessing to be celebrated). When work and the children are gone, the obvious question becomes, “what next?” Talk to your spouse about what comes next.

Be a Team
“The greatest marriages are built on teamwork. A mutual respect, a healthy dose of admiration, and a never-ending portion of love and grace.” -Fawn Weaver 

Retirement is a new frontier to be crossed. Couples in this stage of life have a whole new adventure ahead of them. The “what comes next” is an exciting time in a couples life! And they get to decide what it looks like. So experience that new life together – and remember you are a team! Doing things together is at the crux of having a happy retirement, whether that means getting through the rough transition between working-life to a retirement-life together or enjoying and supporting each other’s passions and interests.

Fall in love
“A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person.” - Mignon McLaughlin. 

Fall back in love with your spouse. Every person changes throughout life. Transitioning to retirement is a time when people change – changes in their lifestyle, changes in their tastes, and changes in desires. It may be cliché, but have fun falling back in love with your spouse! You have the time to invest in your best friend. Don’t underestimate the power romance can have in your relationship.