For most people, retirement is one of those topics that are hard to talk about. The ideas of growing old, being unemployed, and living alone aren’t just uncomfortable to think about, but they’re quite scary, too.
Six adults had a different idea about retirement.
A group of friends who call themselves as The Shedders decided to go with a co-living arrangement. It’s a strange setup that makes everyone who hears about it feel awkward.
Some of their family members even raised an eyebrow on them. They’ve been asked if they were a group of swingers or if they are doing strange things while living in a single home.
Contrary to what others think, these people planned their retirement arrangements early.
All of them weren’t interested in spending the rest of their lives in a nursing home. With that in mind, they figured that living close to each other and sharing everything that comes with growing old would be better.
To make sure that they’ll be able to carry out their plan, they did a trial and lived together in Sydney. Unfortunately, living in the area wasn’t for them. Sydney wasn’t just too fast-paced for them, but it was also costly.
That’s when they decided to pool all their savings and purchase a piece of land. It made the cost of retiring a lot cheaper. The area also made it easier for the 6 adults to establish a really strong community.
They were able to join the local choir and help raise money for different charitable causes. This includes palliative care and other causes that are close to their hearts.
The Shedders’ living arrangement is breaking stereotypes and misconceptions.
Living with other adults is way too different when you compare it with living with people who are in their 20s or 30s. At their age, the friends are able to properly divide housework. They share the bills, too.
“One thing that you discover when you’re doing it in your 50s and 60s is most people are house-trained. Reasonably,”- Daniel Weinstein, a part of the group, shared.
One of their secrets is communication.
If they have to say something, they’ll say it and the others willingly listen. They talk about everything and that includes the good and bad sides of aging and growing old together.
“You have to be willing to say the things, you have to be willing to hear the things, and then you have to be willing to navigate through them,”- Heather Bolstler, one of The Shedders, said.
Retirement isn’t always a bad thing. It can actually be good for you, particularly if you’ve made your plans early.
Retirement gives you more time to do the things you truly love. It also allows you to spend more time on yourself and be with the people who truly matter to you.
Preparation is critical to how satisfied you’ll be with your retirement lifestyle. If you plan and prepare early, you’ll be able to set your retirement life the way you want it.
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