It was a slight blow to my self-esteem when my wife indicated that she had various reservations about me retiring early, one of which was that I might upset her routine. I subsequently learned that this is a common concern among wives who are themselves no longer working.
It can take time to adjust to being with your spouse or partner for much of the day seven days a week and it is important to avoid getting under one another’s feet. Everyone needs their own space at times. How you achieve this is likely to depend on the size and layout of your home and whether there are more than two of you living there.
On a more positive note, retirement gives you more opportunity to see your family and friends. In this regard, I would like to stress the importance of having friends locally, even if you have a spouse or partner. It is not unusual for people who do not work near to where they live, to retire and not have real friends living nearby. If you are in that situation, you should take part in activities where you meet other people.
Leave a Reply