There’s a funny thing that happens as retirement looms closer. It’s like suddenly, everyone has an idea of what the “perfect” life after work should look like. Some picture endless cruises, some plan to tick off every country on the map, others dream of sandy beaches and bottomless cocktails, and plenty decide home is the ultimate sanctuary.
Plus, there’s that whole idea that you should work when you’re young and travel when you retire (granted that idea is super outdated), and yeah, all of these sound lovely in theory, but how do you actually know which one’s going to feel right? Well, that’s where a little trial run comes in handy.
Okay, so for those who imagine swapping the nine-to-five for days at sea, the idea of living on a ship sounds like a dream. Honestly, why wouldn’t it be? If you’ve been on a cruise, you know how much fun this actually is! So, you get the buffets, entertainment, sun loungers, and new ports to explore every week.
Is your retirement dream right for you?
Trying Out the Cruise Life
Okay, so for those who imagine swapping the nine-to-five for days at sea, the idea of living on a ship sounds like a dream. Honestly, why wouldn’t it be? If you’ve been on a cruise, you know how much fun this actually is! So, you get the buffets, entertainment, sun loungers, and new ports to explore every week.
But before committing to months on board, it’s worth testing if the cruise lifestyle feels like a fit. Like, sure, if you’ve never been on a cruise, you need to try it out, especially if you’re dreaming of this for retirement. So, short getaways are actually a brilliant way to do that.
For example, the best mini cruises from Liverpool, for example, let future retirees dip their toes into cruise life without making a massive commitment. It’s a taste of the adventure without selling the house just yet. But of course, you can then try longer ones, like ones that last for two weeks, or even a month.
There are always people who think retirement should mean living out of a suitcase and hopping from one destination to the next. The excitement of a new stamp in the passport sounds appealing, but the reality can feel exhausting if it is done constantly. If you can’t handle it now, do you really think you can actually handle it when you’re older?
On the flip side, some people decide that retirement is all about nesting. If you think about it, home becomes the palace, and everything needed for happiness is right there.
For example, the best mini cruises from Liverpool, for example, let future retirees dip their toes into cruise life without making a massive commitment. It’s a taste of the adventure without selling the house just yet. But of course, you can then try longer ones, like ones that last for two weeks, or even a month.
Seeing if Travelling Nonstop Suits
There are always people who think retirement should mean living out of a suitcase and hopping from one destination to the next. The excitement of a new stamp in the passport sounds appealing, but the reality can feel exhausting if it is done constantly. If you can’t handle it now, do you really think you can actually handle it when you’re older?
Discovering if Home Really is the Haven
On the flip side, some people decide that retirement is all about nesting. If you think about it, home becomes the palace, and everything needed for happiness is right there.
That sounds peaceful, but anyone considering this route might want to test it out by spending a few weeks dedicated purely to home comforts. Maybe it’ll be nice, maybe it’ll be boring, it’s hard to say.
Yeah, sure, those big life choices always look flawless on Pinterest boards or in glossy brochures. It’s all about relaxing and having some fun, right? But at the same time, the reality, though, can be very different once it becomes day-to-day living. So, just trying out smaller versions of these retirement dreams helps avoid future disappointment.
Why Testing the Waters Matters
Yeah, sure, those big life choices always look flawless on Pinterest boards or in glossy brochures. It’s all about relaxing and having some fun, right? But at the same time, the reality, though, can be very different once it becomes day-to-day living. So, just trying out smaller versions of these retirement dreams helps avoid future disappointment.
It turns the fantasy into something tangible, showing what works and what doesn’t before any irreversible decisions are made. Now, needless to say here, retirement should be a reward, not a regret, and experimenting a little beforehand keeps it that way! (Image sources are Pexels and Unsplash: 1, 2)
