Sadly, my husband passed away in May, 2021, before we moved to our new home. He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in April and died a few weeks later. It was very unexpected. It also caused me to rethink my retirement plans.
I decided to sell our home, which I moved into in November, and will be relocating to a rental apartment in Ottawa this fall. It’s a lovely place that overlooks the Ottawa River. I decided to rent from now on so I’m not tying up my capital. I’m investing and plan to travel a lot more now that pandemic restrictions are easing. My bucket list includes cruises on the Nile and Danube rivers, and I’ve booked a trip to Paris next June.
My advice to others is that, if you’re healthy enough and have the finances, go travelling as soon as possible. And enjoy spending time with your partner, because you never know what might happen.
I also recommend getting involved in your community to stay active and engaged in retirement. Personally, I like volunteering where I can use my brain and spend time outdoors. Over the years I have volunteered at local gardens and as an English-language tutor. I have also done fundraising for various non-profit organizations. It’s very satisfying to be able to help others.
My advice: Think about what you like about life and then see if you can transfer it into something where you can meet new people, get involved in your community and find a true sense of belonging.
