Previously, we noted that the benefits of retirement are many.

There is the joy of no longer having to show up at the office or place of employment. No longer having to deal with an employer and/or employees. You can now finally enjoy your well-deserved rest and take the time to pursue the chances to do what you have been trying to do in spare moments all through the many working years.

However, there is also another side to the coin.

Now having this new free time can also lay heavy on you. You now may have unlimited time for travel and become deeply involved with different hobbies. This break in continuity of daily involvement with work can also cause an important effect of body and mind.

For some, the change can be rather drastic and many of those that enter retirement may at first struggle with the loss to find a satisfying equilibrium. It can become a routine of boredom and fulfillment.

At the same time, the retiree comes to realize that the weekly or monthly paycheck is no longer forthcoming. You will have to make adjustments accordingly. You may now have to rely on the income from Social Security and maybe some pension checks. The financial loss may bring on an added hardship.

With a husband and wife team, there are two people involved. The husband upon retirement has to change his daily routine. His wife on the other hand, who remained at home, continues to deal with her daily activities at her former pace.

She continues with her housework, the cooking, cleaning and laundry as before. Her husband now at home, feels that his wife now definitely is in need of his help with her chores around the home. This, however, may become more of a negative than a positive intervention and marital discord may soon develop. The wife has, over the years, acquired her routine and the input of her husband may interrupt that routine more than easing the workload. The husband may feel that a hobby may be the answer to fill the newly acquired free time.

But hobbies are not necessarily a cure-all for a retired person. Hobbies are usually designed to give people a break from more strenuous pursuits. And many seniors often find it difficult to find and develop major interests. Many lack the drive they once had. But at the same time, hobbies — sports, travel, gardening — and an active social life, can bring retired people many happy and satisfying times.

Also on the other side, we find adult children can be involved.

The question arises: How much should these children be involved with their parents’ retirement?

The answer: Not much.

It is inappropriate for children to try to impose their own ideas on their parents’ retirement plans. They can be discussed if the parents are willing — and usually they are — for they often spend months or years pondering what they will do with their new liberty. But it’s usually not helpful for children to behave as though their parents have suddenly fallen into dependency and need to be cared for. They should honor the independence of their parents and pay attention so that the “oldies” can achieve a reasonably happy stability.

Tony Antonides lives in Central Point.

Send us your copy

So you say you want to write? Go for it. Send us 500 or so words of scintillating copy. Make it funny. Make it poignant. Make it count. Make it any way you want. Just don’t cuss. Don’t be boring. And have a point. If we like it, we’ll run it. Email submissions to community@rv-times.com. Put “Readers Who Write” in the subject line, and tell us the city where you live.