Retirement in the country: what you need to be mindful of
Megan Giles, Retirement Transition Consultant, supports those approaching retirement to successfully transition and create a retirement they will love to live!
Many of us envy the country lifestyle. Being close to nature, surrounded by people you know, a strong sense of community, and away from the hustle and bustle of city living. Hence the reason so many retirees are making a ‘tree-change’. But what about those who have grown up out west (or up north, or down south) - are there things about living in the country that can throw you off-kilter when stepping into retirement?
I recently interviewed four retirees who were either born-and-bred on a property or spent the majority of their adult life on the land, and uncovered a couple of challenges which seem to be specific to those living regionally or remotely.
Living on the land is in your blood
Farming is a job that is never really done. Whilst you are your own boss and can set your own schedule, the reality is that there is always something to do. Mend the fence, check on the calves, fix the bore pump and check the weather forecast or grain prices. Sure there are lull times, but when it’s time for harvesting or shearing, it means long days. As such there is little idle time.
A challenge that men in particular can grapple with is what to do once they’ve retired. Sure their time is their own but what to do with it? I know of couples who have sold the family property, moved into town and promptly taken to managing someone else’s property – simply to be back on the land with something meaningful to do.
Proposed action:
- Plan in advance and discuss with your significant other what retirement might look like on a day-to-day basis – what you will enjoy doing, what new things you’d like to try and what will provide a sense of fulfilment. Not sure where to start, why not complete the Retirement Planning Questionnaire.
What if your property is staying in the family?
Drought, poor cattle prices and natural disasters take their toll and too often younger generations head to the cities for university and a career with greater financial security. The tradition of keeping the property in the family is no longer a given.
But what about if you are lucky enough to be able to hand over the reins to your children - are there any pitfalls to be mindful of? I’ve heard stories of family rifts developing because the retiring father has remained that bit too hands-on after selling the property and not allowing their son/daughter to truly run it as their own. Similarly I’ve heard of retirees going over and above to keep their daughter-in-law happy – think annual trips to Bali and extensive homestead renovations - just to ensure their son stays on the land. Family tension does not make for a peaceful retirement nor does spending hard-earned money to satisfy others.
Proposed action:
- If passing on the property to the next generation, start planning early and involve your children in order to clearly define what the transition period will look like, what each person’s role will be once the sale goes through, and when advice and guidance might be genuinely required.
- And remember, just because the home was once yours doesn’t necessarily mean that you can come and go as you choose – set the boundaries with your son/daughter and their partner so that everyone is happy.
The sense of community – a blessing and a curse
The great thing about being a part of a smaller community is that you have a strong support network around you to rally and help weather the difficult times. For Janice* this was invaluable when her husband passed away - she had people she could immediately turn to and who were there for her over the ensuing weeks and months.
Conversely, the challenge of being a part of such a close-knit community is that everyone knows everyone’s business. As such it can be difficult to try new things as everyone seems to have an opinion!
Proposed action:
- Don’t be afraid to ask for help
- Be courageous and do what lights you up. Remember people are often critical because they are compensating for their inability to action their own dreams.
Staying connected to others
Living regionally often means long distances to travel, patchy internet and somewhat limited community services. You can’t necessarily ‘pop by’ the local bowls club or library as it can mean a three hour round trip, or your closest town may not offer a class to pursue your particular interest.
Proposed action:
- Make the most of what is available online. Sure, a connection for Skype may not be reliable but there are many group forums that are writing-based and thus more forgiving of aninconsistent internet signal. Did you know that organisations such as Rotary now have e-clubs which people can join from anywhere in Australia and there are online groups which cater specifically to regional interests such as the Photographing Rural Australia group.
- Think differently about how you might volunteer or pursue an interest. Rather than trying to make it into town for a weekly art class, why not book a weekend painting retreat and do that a couple of times a year?
Interestingly, regardless of where you live many retirement-related challenges remain the same. Of those who I interviewed and are married or have a partner, a key challenge they experienced was the changed relationship dynamic once retired. They either felt that they were living out of each pockets or realised they had very different goals for retirement. If this sounds familiar, one of the most powerful things you can do is talk about the challenges that retirement has thrown at you. Be open about how you are feeling and don’t assume the other knows.
Life in the country is great and with some forward planning, retirement need not be any different!