On rare occasions, I read something so powerful I have to share it here.
Today is one such occasion.
Dan Haylett is one of my favorite writers, and a heckuva nice guy. His podcast, Humans vs. Retirement, is the #1 retirement podcast in the UK for good reason. (Sign up for his free weekly email here)
While his podcast is great, I can’t get enough of this guy’s writing. Every week, I read his email as soon as it arrives. Recently, he published “Your 12 Good Years” on his Substack feed. The following comment from a reader is indicative of how good it is:
“Maybe, if not probably, this is the best retirement article I’ve ever read.”
As soon as I read it, I asked Dan if he’d allow me to republish it here.
Fortunately, he said yes.
Prepare to be challenged by some of the best writing you’ll ever read, from one of the best minds in the business….
The healthy, active years you have left are shorter than you think Share on X
Your 12 Good Years
Here’s a number that should change how you think about retirement: 12.
Not 30. Not 25. Not even 20.
12.
That’s how long the average healthy 60-year-old has before their mobility, energy, and independence start to significantly decline. Not before they die… before life gets noticeably harder.
You might live to 90. You might even make it to 100. But the version of you that can hike the Inca Trail, chase grandchildren around a park, travel independently, or even just get through a full day without fatigue? That version has a shelf life.
And it’s shorter than you think.
The Data Nobody Wants to Hear
I want you to be clear about what I’m talking about here. This isn’t about morbidity or scaring you into action. This is about healthy life expectancy, the years you have before chronic illness, disability, or physical limitation becomes a daily reality.
In the UK, a 60-year-old man can expect to live, on average, to around 84. A 60-year-old woman to around 87. Those are the headline numbers. The ones that make retirement planning calculators tell you to prepare for 25-30 years.
But those numbers don’t tell you that most of those later years aren’t healthy years.
Data from the Office for National Statistics shows that healthy life expectancy (the years lived in good health without limiting illness or disability) ends much earlier. For someone who is 60 today, you’re looking at roughly 12-15 more years before health limitations start to intrude in meaningful ways.
That doesn’t mean you drop dead at 75. It means that by your early to mid-70s, things start to shift. Energy declines. Recovery from illness takes longer. Long-haul flights become less appealing. All-day adventures turn into half-day outings. The body you’ve been living in for six decades starts sending you clearer signals about what it will and won’t tolerate.
Research on retirement spending patterns backs this up. The Institute for Fiscal Studies found that retirees’ spending on travel and leisure increases through their 60s, peaks around age 75, and then declines, not because people run out of money, but because they run out of the physical capacity to do the things that money would buy.
You have more time than you have energy. More years than you have vitality. And if you don’t understand that distinction, you’ll waste the good years preparing for the declining ones.
What “Good Years” Actually Means
Let me be specific about what changes.
In your 60s and early 70s, if you’re reasonably healthy, you’re still you. You can travel. You can be spontaneous. You can handle long days. You can manage your own life without help. You have the energy to start new projects, learn new skills, and take on challenges.
You’re not invincible (you’re not 30), but you’re still fundamentally capable.
By your mid 70s and into your 80s, things shift. Not dramatically. Not all at once. But gradually, consistently, undeniably.
You might still travel, but not as far or as often. You might still be active, but you need more recovery time. You might still be independent, but you start needing help with things that used to be trivial, like changing a lightbulb, carrying heavy shopping, and navigating airports.
The things you do become smaller. More local. More cautious. Not because you’ve lost your spirit, but because your body has started setting the terms.
And this isn’t pessimism… it’s just biology. Muscle mass declines. Bone density decreases. Balance becomes less reliable. Chronic conditions accumulate. The resilience you took for granted starts to fray.
None of this means your later years are worthless or joyless. Many people find deep satisfaction and peace in their 80s and beyond. But they’re different years. Quieter. More reflective. Less physically expansive.
The good years, the ones where you still have the physical capacity to do most of what you want, are finite. And they’re shorter than the total lifespan numbers suggest.
The Spending and Activity Decline
Here’s where this gets practical.
One of the most robust findings in retirement research describes how retirees’ spending patterns change over time.
Spending is relatively high in the first few years of retirement, the “go-go years.” You’re active, you’re travelling, you’re finally doing all the things you deferred while working. Then it declines through the middle years, the “slow-go years”, as energy and interest naturally wane. And then it potentially rises a bit again in very late life, the “no-go years”, as healthcare and care costs may come into the equation.
But here’s what that misses… the decline in spending isn’t driven by frugality. It’s driven by physical limitation.
People in their late 70s and 80s aren’t spending less on holidays because they’ve suddenly become careful with money. They’re spending less because long-haul flights are exhausting. Because hotels without lifts are a problem. Because they don’t have the stamina for full days of sightseeing anymore.
The spending decline tracks the activity decline. And the activity decline tracks the erosion of those 12 good years.
The Trap of Deferral
The cruel irony is that most people spend the first decade of retirement living as they did in the last decade of work—carefully.
You saved for 40 years. You delayed gratification. You were prudent, responsible, cautious. And that got you here. It built the nest egg. It secured your future.
But if you keep living that way, you’ll waste the very years you saved for.
I see this constantly. Clients in their early 60s, financially secure, agonising over whether they can “afford” a holiday. Whether it’s “sensible” to upgrade the car. Whether they should help their grandchildren with something meaningful.
They’re optimising for a 30-year retirement. Planning as if every year is equivalent. Treating their 60s the same as their 80s.
But they’re not the same.
Your 60s are not a rehearsal for your 80s. They’re the main event. And if you don’t spend (not recklessly, but intentionally) during the years when you can still fully enjoy it, you’ll reach 78 with a big bank balance and a long list of regrets.
The things you can do at 65, you often can’t do at 75. The trip that sounds ambitious but achievable today might be off the table in a decade. The time with grandchildren while they’re young and you’re energetic doesn’t come back.
Deferring experiences until “later in retirement” often means deferring them into the years when you no longer have the capacity to enjoy them.
The Front-Loading Argument
So what do you do with this information?
You front-load your retirement.
Not your spending, necessarily. But…
- Your experiences.
- Your energy.
- Your ambition.
The first 10-12 years of retirement should be the richest, fullest, most intentional years of your life. Not the most cautious. Not the most careful. The most alive.
This is when you take the big trip. When you learn the language, start the business, write the book, build the workshop, volunteer intensively, and spend serious time with people you love.
This is when you say yes more than no. When you lean into the things that require energy, mobility, and health, because you still have those things, and you won’t forever.
I’m not saying blow all your money in your 60s and hope for the best. I’m saying recognise that the value of money changes over time. A pound spent at 65 on an experience you’ll remember for the rest of your life is worth more than a pound saved at 85 that you’re too frail to use.
Your financial plan should reflect this. It should be designed not to produce a flat income over 30 years, but to support a rich early retirement and a more modest later one, because that’s how you’ll actually live, whether you plan for it or not.
What This Looks Like in Practice
Let me make this concrete.
At 62: Book the three-week trip to New Zealand. Don’t wait. Don’t defer it until “next year” or “when we’re more settled.” You’re as settled as you’ll ever be, and you’re as physically capable as you’ll ever be. Go now.
At 65: Start the thing you’ve always wanted to try. The pottery class. The photography course. The volunteer role that requires training and commitment. Don’t talk yourself out of it because “I’m too old to start something new.” You’re not too old. But you will be.
At 68: Spend the money on making life better today, not theoretically safer in 15 years. Replace the uncomfortable sofa. Upgrade the kitchen if it’ll make cooking a joy again. Get the hearing aids. Pay for the gardener so you can enjoy the garden instead of being exhausted by it.
At 70: Be intentional about time with people. Your parents, if they’re still alive, are in their 90s, and you have limited time. Your grandchildren are growing up fast, and the window where they think you’re interesting is narrow. Your friends are ageing too, and the energy for big gatherings is fading. Prioritise the relationships that matter while everyone still has the capacity to show up.
At 72: Accept help earlier rather than later. Don’t martyr yourself to independence at the expense of safety and joy. The stairlift isn’t a defeat; it’s freedom to stay in your home. The cleaner isn’t laziness, it’s buying back energy for things that matter more.
This isn’t a checklist. It’s a mindset: spend your capacity while you have it.
The Deeper Question
But here’s the question this all raises, the one that makes people uncomfortable:
What are you actually saving for?
If you’re 60, healthy, and financially secure, and you’re still living like you’re preparing for some future catastrophe… what’s the plan? What’s the endgame?
Are you saving for the last 10 years of your life, when you’ll be less mobile, less energetic, and less able to enjoy what money can buy? Are you saving to leave a bigger inheritance, even though your kids would probably rather have more time with a happier, more adventurous version of you? Are you saving because saving is what you’ve always done, and you don’t know how to stop?
Or are you ready to admit that the money was never the point? That the point was freedom, security, and the ability to live fully, and that if you’re not doing that now, during your good years, then what was it all for?
The Math That Matters
Here’s the math that should actually guide your retirement planning:
You probably have 12-15 good years. Let’s say 12 to be conservative.
That’s 144 months.
624 weeks.
4,380 days.
How many of those days do you want to spend worrying about whether you can afford something you can clearly afford? How many do you want to spend waiting for the “right time” that keeps not arriving?
Every week you defer the trip, the project, the experience, the investment in joy, you’re not getting that week back. And the weird, painful truth is that the weeks you’re wasting now, in your good years, are worth more than the weeks you’re hoarding for later.
Time is not fungible in retirement. A day at 65 is not the same as a day at 85. A year in your 60s is not the same as a year in your 80s.
And if you spend your 12 good years preparing for the next 15 declining years, you’ll have made the worst trade of your life.
Permission to Live Now
Let me say this as clearly as I can: you have permission to spend your money and your energy now, during your good years, on things that bring you joy.
You don’t have to justify it. You don’t have to prove it’s “sensible.” You don’t have to wait for some arbitrary milestone or some future guarantee of security that will never come.
- You’ve earned this.
- You saved for this.
- This is what the money was for.
And yes, you still need a financial plan. You still need to be responsible. You still need to make sure you won’t run out. But once you’ve done that, once you know the plan is solid, the question isn’t “Can we afford this?”
The question is: “If not now, when?”
Because “later in retirement” might mean “when I no longer have the health to enjoy it.” And that’s not a plan. That’s a tragedy.
The Uplifting Truth
Here’s what makes this message ultimately hopeful rather than depressing:
You still have time.
If you’re reading this in your 60s, you’re in the window. You still have your good years ahead of you. You haven’t missed it. But the window is finite, and it’s closing.
If you’re in your 50s, you have even more time, but you also have a chance to shift how you think about retirement before you get there. To plan not just financially, but experientially. To design a retirement that front-loads the living, not the saving.
And if you’re in your 70s? You’re not done. You might be past the peak of the good years, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t still adventures, joys, and meaningful experiences ahead. It just means they’ll look different. Smaller, perhaps. More local. But no less valuable.
The point isn’t to panic. It’s to be intentional.
To stop drifting through retirement on autopilot, waiting for some imaginary “right time” to start living. To recognise that the clock is ticking, and that’s not morbid… it’s motivating.
What This Means for You
So here’s what I want you to do.
First: Look at your calendar for the next 12 months. What are you doing that you’ll actually remember in 10 years? What are you spending your good years on?
If the answer is “not much,” that’s a problem. Not a financial problem. A life problem.
Second: Make a list of the things you’ve been deferring. The trip. The project. The experience. The conversation. The thing you keep saying you’ll do “someday.”
Pick one. Not all of them. Just one. And do it this year. Not next year. This year. While you still can.
Third: Have an honest conversation with yourself (and your partner, if you have one) about what you’re optimising for. Are you trying to die with the biggest nest egg? Or are you trying to live the richest life?
Because those are different goals. And most people accidentally choose the first while claiming they want the second.
Fourth: Reframe how you think about spending. Money spent on experiences during your good years isn’t frivolous. It’s not wasteful. It’s not reckless.
It’s using your resources at the point of maximum return.
And finally: Give yourself permission to live like someone who knows their good years are finite.
Because they are. For all of us.
The Years You Can’t Get Back
I’ll leave you with this.
I’ve worked with hundreds of people navigating retirement. I’ve seen people get it right and people get it wrong.
The ones who get it wrong aren’t the ones who run out of money. Almost nobody runs out of money.
The ones who get it wrong are the ones who run out of time.
They’re the 78-year-olds sitting on £500,000, wishing they’d taken the trip to Japan when they still had the stamina. They’re the 82-year-olds who can’t remember the last time they did something genuinely new or challenging. They’re the couples who spent their 60s being careful and their 70s being regretful.
They saved their money and spent their good years. And by the time they were ready to spend the money, the good years were gone.
Don’t be them.
You have 12 good years. Maybe 15 if you’re lucky. Maybe only 10 if you’re not.
Use them.
Not someday. Not when things are more certain. Not when you’ve saved a bit more, or when the markets recover or when you feel more ready.
Now.
While you still can. While the version of you that can fully live those experiences still exists.
Your 12 good years are the prize. Everything you did before was to earn them.
Don’t waste them preparing for the years that come after.
A Final Point From Fritz: I couldn’t agree more with Dan’s warning about sacrificing your 12 Good Years, and felt his article was something every retiree should read. My wife and I came to this realization a few years ago, and it’s the primary reason we took our Trip To The Arctic last summer. It’s also why we booked our trip to Antarctica for next year. We’re being intentional, and making sure we do the things we most want to do…
While we still can.
Your Turn: What’s the one thing you’ve been deferring that you need to do in the next 12 months? What’s the one thing you know in your heart you’ll regret later, if you don’t do it now? What are you waiting for?
Boy that’s a real eye opener. Thx for posting it
And…thank Dan for writing it! 😉
At 72, almost 73, we are beginning to understand fatigue as it creeps up on both of us in unexpected ways. A task this past week that involved a drive to the lake, a boat drive across the lake, boat into service and then the need to repeat it five days later had us both physically exhausted and in bed by 9:30. We’ve taken Dan’s advice and have prioritized two things, more international travel now and helping family members with housing. We saw a scary statistic that younger folks are now spending up to 60% of their income on housing in some cities while just five years ago it was 28%. That is certainly true in our region so we’ve turned our rental properties into afforable housing, based on their income. We feel good, we no longer need to chase rental returns and family members feel that we understand the world they are trying to navigate.
Wow, what an unselfish act to charge below market rent based on income! What an unselfish and meaningful act of generosity! I see so many people in our age cohort (Boomers) who complain and criticize younger generations without regard to how much harder it is today to afford housing. Well done!!
Love the creative way you’ve discovered to “Give Back.” That’s an element that wasn’t highlighted in Dan’s article, but I’ve noticed that many folks also get more generous as they move into the next phase. Good for you for doing it right. Next time you need the boat driven across the lake, give me a call! 🙂
I am retiring today. One month shy of my 60th birthday. A week from today we leave for an 3-week trip to Africa. And this article is exactly why. My list of places to visit, charities to support – with time and money – is long and there’s no time like the present to start the next chapter!
I’ve been following Fritz, Dana and Dan for years – I couldn’t agree more with this advice!
TODAY!!!
Congratulations on crossing “The Starting Line,” your new life begins tomorrow! Enjoy your trip to Africa, and embrace the transition into retirement. Thanks for being a long-time follower, much appreciated.
Great post by Dan. I also subscribe to his newsletter Fritz! Thought provoking articles, as are yours.
We have tried hard to schedule longer type flight trips every 2 years, starting when I was only 55. Many trips later, I can vouch that these trips do resonate in your memory for decades. Money well spent. Being intentional is what resonates for me…by reading this, I have taken action to research the trip my wife wants to take soon. A long, guided tour of New Zealand. Maybe stop in HI to break up the long haul flight?
Volunteer, travel, take up a hobby….get active while you still can folks!
Blessings to all your readers, Steve
We visited New Zealand in 2020 (flew back to the US just days before NZ shut down for the pandemic, fortunately). Highly recommend a local tour operator called New Zealand Trails if you are looking for an active, small group experience (hiking, kayaking, biking etc, but at a pace suited for a fit Senior). We did both their North Island and South Island tours back to back and added on extra days in Queenstown before the tour started. Magical.
I totally agree with living fully as soon as possible. But I do wonder about all this emphasis on big trips (in comments) as if they are the key to long lasting happiness. Of course, big trips are great, but personally I’m not hanging my future happiness on it. Creating memories seems great in your 60’s and ‘70’s when, and if, you still have good recall ability without cognitive decline. But most people will have cognitive decline sooner than they think. Dementia rates will likely only increase. People with dementia will retain long term memory (like from childhood) longer than more recent memory.
Big trips a couple times a year isn’t enough to live a happy life. The more important question is how are you living the rest of the year or day to day life? For me, the real question is how do I live with the same level of joy and anticipatory excitement day to day in the same way as if I were in Hawaii or New Zealand?
For me, this taps into something beyond just financial, emotional/experiential/psychological retirement planning. It taps into spiritual retirement planning, ie examining and building spiritual values that bring lasting inner peace and joy, both here and now as well as eternally.
May you all live the richest, fullest inner and outer life possible.
“The more important question is how are you living the rest of the year or day to day life?”
Best sentence in all of the comments thus far today, great addition to the discussion. Thanks for the insightful commentary, Scott. I agree “Big Trips” aren’t the hook to hang your happiness on. They supplement life (and definitely make it better), but they’re certainly not the main event.
Focus on what REALLY leads to true happiness and purpose, then live it every day of your life.
Until you can’t. #NoRegrets
I can see why you commented on the Big Trips advice, but would point out that there is nothing in the piece that would advise taking those in lieu of shorter, more local trips. Maybe that was just understood? The age-issues with Big Trips seems to be the associated rationale.
My grandchildren are going to find me less interesting when they become teenagers? What could be more interesting than me?
Me. 😉
Coming up on 62 later this year sure has me thinking about shutting down earlier than waiting a few more years! This article resonated what’s been on my mind and making me think about existing the rat race sooner and enjoying the remaining early-healthy years more robustly. Thanks for sharing Fritz
I’m glad it motivated you to question your timing, Mike. One of the main reasons we chose to retire at 55 was to give ourselves and many healthy years in retirement as possible. We got out on the early end, and we’re focused on fitness to extend the back end.
Leave the rat race.
My suggestion (without knowing anything about your $ situation, so take it with a grain of salt – wink. That said, most people wish they’d have retired sooner, not later).
Thanks, Fritz. I’ll be 69 in a couple months and have been retired for 3 1/2 years. I had recently listened to Dan’s Podcast about the best 12 years. His message further motivated me to think bigger. We enjoyed last year’s European River Cruise so much we signed up for another one this year. We’ve been taking Backroads Dolce Tempo hiking trips yearly and also visit Acadia National Park on a yearly basis. We’ve been slow to renovate our kitchen, so that suggestion hit home! Since I just had a financial review with my advisor, yesterday, I’m thinking it might make more sense to spend funds on more experiences versus maximize Roth Conversions to 24% level so that I have a lot more money in my 90’s, if I live that long. Timely article!
Good for you for squeezing the juice out of your 12 good years, Bruce.
I agree, it does “make more sense to spend funds on more experiences.” I think that was EXACTLY the point Dan was trying to make, glad it resonated with you.
Fritz, thanks for publishing Dans great article again. He is also one of my favorite writers on retirement.
My wife and I are both 68 and have been retired for 3 years. We have been traveling a lot (to the point where our friends, doctors and other start conversations with “where are you off to next”). We have purposely taken up playing Pickleball (like half the world) several times a week and it has become a great physical as well as social activity for us. We have come to the realization that our stamina/ activity level will continue to decline so let’s do the things we can NOW, including with our kids and grandkids! It’s a mindset that once you accept, it’s easy to justify doing any and all these things now rather than putting things off for $$$ reasons or that we could do it later.
Next up is a European River Cruise (in a week) and then later this year, a 16 day trip to India, a part of the world I’ve always wanted to experience. Fortunately, the list of must do/ want to do things is getting shorter but as new things come up we won’t put them off for too long.
Keep up the great columns, Fritz!
“He is also one of my favorite writers on retirement.”
Glad you said “one of,” I was starting to get nervous… 😉
Enjoy your European cruise and the trip to India. A fascinating country, for sure. I’ve never been, but know a lot of folks who have. One of the more interesting cultures in our world, IMHO. Thanks for being an example of how to do it right.
Fritz_ great read. Time and health are a decreasing commodity and compounding only works in this space if you’re counting experiences. My wife and I have a running list of experiences we’d like to enjoy_ from the local zoo, or a picnic and a hike or vineyard here in North Ga to hiking a National Park in the off season, etc. Then we become intentional to keep those in our focus when the opportunity arises such a BOGO or discounted flights, hotels etc to help stretch the dollar to pack in even more experiences !
Sounds like a great approach, “neighbor.” Gotta love these North GA mountains – I just took a 6-mile hike with my dog, Toby, at Aska Trails this morning. I love it here!!
#IntentionalLiving
Wow this is a real eye opener. I have always planned for a long 30+ year retirement because both my wife and I have long life expectancy based on our family history. But I have been retired for nearly 6 years and my wife for 3 years and we have yet to take a long trip or cruise. My mom is 88 years old and in a nursing home now with dementia, and I feel guilty not spending time with her while I can. But I also realize my “good” years are slipping away too. My wife and I both are DIY’ers and still do all of our household chores and yard work. And at 68 we are finding those chores take a lot more out of us than they used to. It’s not a financial matter, our net worth has grown every year, even while we are living on the dividends and interest from our savings. Our only splurges have been to help our children with their housing needs and to buy a townhouse for ourselves near two of our kids in the Charleston, SC area last year. That has definitely been worth the money as we can spend more time with our kids and grandkids while they are still young and want to be with grandma and grandpa. This article has opened my eyes to the fact that we have more money than we need to be comfortable and we need to start spending more on experiences while we still have our health and energy. Thanks for sharing this article Fritz.
Please don’t feel guilty. You can live life in your terms AND still spend time with family. Balance.
“…we have more money than we need to be comfortable and we need to start spending more on experiences while we still have our health and energy.”
Dale, you’ve done the right thing with your priorities (2nd condo near family, we did the same!), no regrets for yesterday, and being introspective about tomorrow. I’d say this article has served you well. Glad it resonated. And, good luck with mom (we took care of my Mother-in-Law for 4 years, then a nursing home, so we can relate).
One day, that will be us, time to live our best lives while we still can.
Thanks for sharing. All my parents and in-laws died young so my exp date is age 71. I have 10-11 good years left and already feel my body needing more time to recover
It sounds like it’s time to live life, Pete!
My father is a freak of nature. He is turning 82 this year. Still shovels snow. He is mobile x100. He even still has the hairline he had when he was 20. I think what keeps him going is having to still take out the garbage, managing the household recycling and gardening work.
One thing is non-negotiable for him is keeping up with his medical appointments. He is diligent with taking his meds. He lives clean.
Your Dad is my hero.
Your father sounds like a guy I hired a couple years ago to help me with some projects on the farm.
His wife intentionally misled me about his age, saying he was now in his 70s and REALLY fit. The latter was true, but he told me later he was late in his 79th year. This ended up not mattering because for half a day he could outwork me in the FL heat by a mile and I am 15 years younger!
He told me on days when he has no work, he either hikes 10 miles in the morning or does weight training. Dude was ripped.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ We retired at 56 (2022)…I am now 60. During our four years of retirement, we traveled to 22 states as well as Europe (Greece, Italy, France, and Spain). Last year (2025) I was diagnosed with cancer at 59. Our retirement plans were sidelined as I underwent treatment. By the grace of God and many great doctors, I am now cancer free! This year (2026) we are back at it actively volunteering in our church, and have a trip to Alaska, a trans-Atlantic cruise, and a trip to the Holy Land (fingers crossed) planned. We have the Money, the Health, and the Time now to volunteer at church, spend time with family, and travel. No guarantee we will have any of them in the future. Don’t wait…it won’t get any better than now.
“By the grace of God and many great doctors, I am now cancer free!”
God is good, Rick. I hope your story is a wake-up call to the many who feel it can never happen to them. I’ve been shocked by how many folks I know with Cancer. We’re never promised tomorrow, so best to enjoy our Todays while we can. Thanks for the powerful reminder, and congratulations on being cancer free. (PS, I think I’d hold off on a trip to Israel for a while….yikes).
Great article. Interestingly I heard something very similar recently from a Financial Planner. My wife and I intend on being like Melissa’s Father. We too keep Dr appts but we also work out many 5-7 days/week…. HARD!! Upper/Lower Body weights, stretching, cardio, Balance(!!!). Traveling plenty. Still doing new hobbies. The sad part is seeing our peers fade.
We refuse to give in (it may inexorably happen but we are going to delay and slow it as much as possible).
Steve, you’re a man after my own heart. I just finished a 6-mile hike with my dog, and (like you) focus very much on straining my body through regular exercise. I just finished a new home gym, and regularly do weight training, stretching, and high-intensity cardio.
Lift Heavy Stuff!
A (hopeful) view from 77… We, my wife who’s 73, and I over the last 12 months have: spent 2 weeks in Greece, took cruises to the Mediterranean (21 days), the Caribbean (14 days), saw Paul McCartney and James Taylor in concert (Bob Dylan in 2 weeks), completely remodeled our kitchen and 4 bathrooms, and still had time to sit on the non-profit boards of charities that we believe in. Yes, we’re a little slower, and have to be a little more careful, but don’t ever stop moving or believing as long as you can!
An amazing list for the past 12 months in your late 70’s, Ron. I’m impressed! BTW, I saw Paul McCartney in Abu Dhabi a few years ago at Formula1, it’s amazing that he can still put on a 2+ hour show in his 80’s!
And…nothing wrong with being a little slower. It’s the movement that matters!
Thanks, Fritz. Long time reader, please know that you have been incredibly helpful as we have navigated the many twists and turns of our retirement transition.
I saw Paul in Kansas city in 2014, I was amazed by his energy at 72 then. I hope to see him again before it is too late.
George, at 83 Paul is amazing and still gives a terrific concert! I was fortunate to see the Beatles in Toronto in 1964, and he hasn’t lost it at all. Hope you get to see him.
Great article. I started thinking along these lines around 5 years ago (now 62). Anecdotally, I had seen changes in family and family friends usually starting around 75. A few years earlier or a few years later, it didn’t matter. There was a visible change. Not shocking, not in your face, but noticed. I decided that while family history gives me a decent shot at 90, the reality is my 60’s and early 70’s is my opportunity to continue to live my vibrant life. That doesn’t mean I quit living at 75 or 78. It just means I’m aware, physically, I’ll be different than I am today. I don’t know what that will be, and I’ll hope that my wife and I will be blessed with minor inconveniences only.
“There was a visible change.”
I’ve seen it too, Fernando. It’s a powerful reminder. I, like you, “don’t know what that will be,” but I’m going into it with the most positive outlook I can muster. It’s reality, so I’ll do my best to embrace it when that time ultimately comes. Until then, we’ll live the life that minimizes our odds of regrets when we get there.
Big Dan Haylet fan and lots of great advice here. Approaching 72, I am beginning to feel the limitations imposed by aging and feel like I’ve experienced what I’ve wanted in the last 12 years. But I want to push back a little on an unspoken assumption. Dan says, “The first 10-12 years of retirement should be the richest, fullest, most intentional years of your life… The most alive.” This assumes first that the desires of youth, travel, sports, etc., are the richest and fullest. This is not necessarily true. And it suggests that when you can’t do them any more you will be sad and regretful. Age hopefully brings wisdom and appreciation for other things. Besides, there is an element of “been there, done that” that develops. When I was a kid I thought I would want to watch cartoons forever. But I don’t.
“Age hopefully brings wisdom and appreciation for other things.”
Great addition to the discussion, Ted. I agree 100%, and know many folks who are past “Go-Go” and still making an amazing impact in the world and the people around them through their wisdom and attitude. I think we’ll always have Purpose, but it will change as we age. Great point, thanks for stopping by!
PS: What, you don’t watch cartoons anymore? 😉
Excellent article. I would add one more component to this plan, and that is a health and fitness regimen. Eating right, and continuing to move with intention can often add to those prime years of retirement. Walk every day, and include resistance training in your plan. Not only will it add to your healthy years, but it will add structure and purpose to each day….another integral part of a happy retirement.
“I would add one more component to this plan, and that is a health and fitness regimen.”
Spot on, Michael. We can’t control everything, but a regular focus on fitness and longevity will increase our odds of “More Than 12 Good Years.” It’s a major focus of mine, and I love how it makes me feel alive. No doubt, a regular fitness program will make your retirement (and life) better. Thanks for making the point,
I’ll tie this great article to receiving Social Security benefits sooner rather than later. I retired at 60 and was planning on deferring SS until at least 65. When I ran the numbers a few months ago and saw what my breakeven point was (about 10 years), I decided to draw this year at 63. My wife turns 62 this year and will also draw. Spending it now while we can enjoy it (during those crucial 12 years in this article) just made sense. I doubt we will ever look back and say “we should have waited”.
Valid reason for your decision, Dave. I think too many people obsess over SS. Ultimately, it all comes down to mathematical probability, and the decision one way or the other shouldn’t really change your life.
Go live life!
Fritz –
Average Joe here, retired at 47 (pension and retiree healthcare). Now 49. Formet guest author on your blog. My wife retired this year, no pension due to information in blogs like yours. We were at the peak of our careers a d chose to get out of the rat race in the DC metro.
I tend to resonate with people in these comments that are older than us. I’ve seen too many folks die early already at this stage of my life due to a variety of issues. My friend and neighbor, a highly intelligent and active MD, just died yesterday as an example – less than 5 years after retiring.
Our young adult children still live at home, and watching them grow, guiding them through school and work hurdles has been rewarding the past two years. We love having a full house of thier friends and boyfriends and girlfriends now that we have more time.
My wife and I are intentional about staying fit, active and mentally stimulated based on suggestions from you and your commenters on a daily basis.
Thanks as always for your work.
This is something I’ve seen in real time both working in healthcare for 35 years and taking care of a family member who was going through a significant decline later in life. One piece that’s not mentioned but very common in my experience is that in many cases one spouse may experience decline at a much faster rate than the other and that will change the game completely. My wife and I are retiring this summer, we’ll both be in our mid-60’s. We’ve made the list of places to go and things to see and plan to attack them as much as we can while we can. “Don’t let the old man in”, find your happy place and do it.
Great point about the health of either partner affecting both, Joe. An important addition to the discussion. Congratulations on crossing “The Starting Line” this summer, I wish you many years of health and happiness!
Thanks for sharing the post Fritz. We are early 40s and are spending a lot of time discussing how we want to balance striving for early retirement, and living now. Do you know of resources available to budget for larger one time experiences throughout retirement? For example, our typical annual expenses might be $75,000 but if we’re going to live according to this article (and I would like to!), then we would need considerably more in certain years, but don’t need to factor for that repeatedly through retirement.
This podcast talks a lot about what they call “The Fun Number” which is exactly what you are referring to – a bucket of money to spend on travel/hobbies/activities in the earlier part of retirement. You can search for episodes that go into depth about this concept. https://www.theretirementandirashow.com/category/podcast/
Wow, great article – thanks for sharing this, Fritz!
It looks like I may be the oldest responder thus far in this chain. Hit 79 this summer. The article correlates well with my experience in retirement (at 56) and aging. We travelled some but not extensively, volunteered a lot, enjoyed being with family and friends, and I still do. Wife passed in 2024 after several years of decline. At 75, we always upgraded flights. As a friend recently said, if you don’t fly first class, you can bet that your kids will. My new travel criteria now includes direct flights only. Fortunately a lot of options in Charlotte. The slowing down with age is real. I walk 2 miles daily on a hilly, primitive trail, but when signing up with our hiking club for a 4 mile walk, my comment was that the distance is pushing my limits. I’ve been in a 55+ active adult community for 5.5 years and appreciate the many organized group and club events from a weekly cribbage game, to meals out, to informal culdesac gatherings on Friday afternoon, …… Missed out on the younger years with grands, but do enjoy my 3 and 5 year olds now. More so puzzles and Lego projects than playing ball. Net, I try to do at least one physical activity and one mental activity each day to try to slow down the aging.
I go out of my way already to get nonstop flights. No more changing planes for me unless there’s absolutely no other option.
Congrats on your active lifestyle.
I hear this kind of thing from Jim Puplava at Financial Sense. He had a guest on that said retirement has three phases: the go go years, the slow go years and the no go years. So true. Thanks for reposting this fantastic piece Fritz.
Weeeelllll….as usual, it ain’t *necessarily* so….
I don’t know what other people do. I don’t care what other people do. I only care what meets *my* values:
1) There’s this godawful (IMHO) pressure in today’s society to be an extrovert, to be “out there!”, “experiencing”, bucket lists!, adventure, fabulous!, etc., ad nauseum….
2) Some of us dread those “fabulous” boomer adventures (!) like the plague. *Some* of us have different values. Some of us value adventures of the *mind*. Some of us value *service*. Some of us don’t want to go to our fabulous death bed fighting to look like those fake older- but- ever fabulous ultra white haired aliens so prevalent in ads marketed to the elderly these days.
3) Retired 11 years ago, I’ve read hundreds (thousands?) of books across a broad swath of subjects. Indescribable fulfillment. No “bucket list” required.
4) 14 years of dedicated service to a high functioning autistic individual has blown any boomer bucket list out of the water. Doesn’t hold a candle. Never will.
5) Past my own “12 year” era, I already live in my own version of paradise, a place most people travel *to*. Contented, indescribably fulfilled, at peace, with more money than I will ever, ever need or (especially) care to spend.
6) Travel? Sure. Did it. Do it. But exclusively on my own terms, all those fabulous! boomer extroverts be damned. It’s not “out there”. It never was. It never will be.
Note: Overuse of “fabulous” intentional.
I think the point is not that one lifestyle or list of activities is better than another, ( I certainly didn’t get that vibe from this thread) but that one should not put off doing what makes one happy. My wife is a retired physician, but now is a semi professional gardener and grandmother. She loves it. No desire to practice again. I’m 65 and still practicing as a pediatric surgeon, taking care of kids with cancer and babies with birth defects. Can’t think of anything more meaningful to me and no plans to stop. That’s my happy place, though could have retired many years ago. And I hate golf. So what? Just don’t put off what makes you happy.
What I DONT do is compare my values with what makes others happy, and from what I glean from these comments is that neither do the others.
With an article such as this, I’d be surprised if anyone got my point (not that it matters). It’s like listening to a Rick Steeves talk and expecting a promotion for something like meditation.
Again, it ain’t necessarily so (none of it). It’s not “out there.” It never was. And never will be. All the fabulous boomer adventures in the world won’t cure the ills of an incessant monkey mind (the invitation is to marinate on that idea, really get it, if possible).
But I am always glad others are happy with every one of their choices.
I’m 67 and have realized this past year that I waited too long to take those active trips.
My metabolic and heart health are good, but my feet and knees are not.
Everyone should take this article’s advice and go enjoy the more strenuous trips and activities while they still can. I’m kind of pissed at myself for thinking I’d be physically strong well into my 70s.
Lynne, you’re far from alone. Hopefully this article will motivate folks to “take those active trips” while they still can. At 67, you’re far from done. Start a gradual exercise program, see a doc about those feet and knees, and do whatever you can to extend your Healthspan. It’s not too late. And, no value in being “pissed” about yesterday, just do whatever you can to extend your tomorrows.
We retired in 2011, I was 55 about to be 56(me), 63, (him)… best thing we ever did!
8 trips- slow travel – inspired by the phrase. A couple of months, for us, in a different European country every year . Challenged by language (we had basic French & Spanish, zero Italian or Greek!) Such fun. Total home from home. Friends came to stay for a few days, and enjoyed our new lives with us!
Incredibly inspiring! Every day brought a new challenge (the power is out- what do we do? How do we get rid of the garbage? Where are the nearest shops – (no cars, you need to walk!)
I can totally recommend, talk about challenging yourself! Essential to keep doing this! Go for it!
In between times, we have extended our family trips to NZ to 12 weeks every year. 2 summers every year. Great for the vitamin D🤣
Now 15 years on, we’re a tad slower, but we can still walk 8/10 miles in a day. Don’t do weights much but the grandsons are definitely getting heavier! So I think we invest in life instead! Chasing a 4 year old on a bike, definitely beats the treadmill any day!
Erith!! Great to see you here, I miss seeing your writing. I love the way you’ve lived your retirement life, a true inspiration for all of us. Walking 8-10 miles/day at age 70 is a testament to the value in keeping yourself active. Never stop chasing that grandson!
Thanks for sharing. And you’re absolutely right. Each of us has our own version of retirement “paradise” at any given time. Whether it’s a cup of coffee on a beautiful spring morning, a hike on a mountain trail, reading voraciously, or simply spending an hour with a loved one.
I so appreciated this post that I shared it with several others, who – like me – are close to retirement age. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
Jim, you can lead a horse to water..:I hope your friends read it. I often do the same thing when I read helpful articles about retirement, finances in retirement etc, but I doubt most of them read it 🤷🏻♂️
It can be a slippery slope as they may take it the wrong way that you are criticizing or judging them in retirement. I’ve just stopped forwarding articles.
An acronym LADY, Living Adjusted Disability Years. Many can live long lives, but because of disability or similar, a full life is cut short.
There’s also a wonderful YT AI video of Charlie Munger admonishing people over 65 to quit saving money. It’s time to spend, saving is for spending in one’s later years.
Both Charlie’s video and this article dovetail together nicely.
Nail on the head! I read Dan’s book, “The Retirement You Didn’t See Coming” and started listening to his podcasts after you mentioned him when you were doing an interview on his podcast. Thanks so much for sharing this. You two are rocking the retirement world! I will try to share a link to this post on my blog in the next few weeks.
“You two are rocking the retirement world!”
You’re not doing too badly yourself, Marian. I continue to enjoy reading your blog, thanks for your willingness to share this one to your readers. This is a message every retiree needs to hear. Thanks for stopping by.
Wow. Amazing comments on this one. I’m 71 and retired at 56. My wife worked part-time until last year (she’s 73). We’ve now been to 35 countries, flying Business Class (through discount travel agencies) on every international trip. I noticed hanging Christmas lights outside my home (extensive set-up) was ALOT more challenging this year. The joints are starting to break down. Glad we booked 3 international trips this year (Japan, Croatia, and Chile/Antarctica). I said to my wife six months ago, “if not now, when?” We both agreed it was time to do this, especially Antarctica. This article reaffirmed our adventure in travel that started over a decade ago. Finally, joined a new “upper end” health club to work on fitness. My wife has gotten into Pilates. We hope our “go go years” will last for at least another 5 years. That is our goal! Glad we started in our late 50’s.
From my almost 40 year practice as a Primary Care physician I can tell you this article is 100% on point.
Things you can do to increase your Healthspan (and your Lifespan):
1. Hit the gym. Get 150-300 minutes of moderate exercise a week including 2 days of resistance (weight) training. Maintaining your cardiorespiratory fitness and muscle mass are important for living alone and avoiding falls.
2. Eat a more plant based diet
3. Avoid soft drinks and highly processed foods
4. Stop smoking
5. Keep your blood pressure and blood sugar under control
5. Add creatinine to your supplements, especially if you’re female. It helps prevent muscle loss in post menopausal females.
These will help you avoid the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse – Heart Disease, Diabetes, Cancer and Alzheimer’s and related neuro disorders.
Creatine not creatinine, obviously…
Dr. Peter Attia would be proud. Great points, and I appreciate confirming the reality of the facts raised in the article. Too many people are overly optimistic about their health and don’t do enough to tilt the odds in their favor. Thanks for adding to the discussion from your professional perspective as a physician.
This excellent piece is a message that I’ve already absorbed. I know my healthy years have a shelf life. But I want to bring up a reason some of us struggle with letting go of our jobs/careers to retire even when we have saved enough.
Myself and my wife grew up in homes that clung to the bottom of the middle class. Money was scarce and something that our parents fought over. My wife’s home often did not have enough to eat in the house. Our families were good loving, hard working people who just didn’t earn much.
Over the course of our lives a scarcity mindset has dogged both of us. We have done well. Put three kids though college (a first in our families) and saved enough to retire well. My wife is retired and I will retire in four weeks! We are 65. My advisor told me three years ago that I could retire then but neither of us could handle the idea. I’m ready now, but to get here I’ve had to read and read and consult advisors to build the confidence to get past this irrational fear.
This might be a great subject for Fritz to post on if he hasn’t already.
Eric, what you stated is the psychological challenge of retirement that many (most) of us face. Even when an advisor tells us we are “ready” financially we tend to doubt them. I have many friends who I know could (should) retire but are still working giving various reasons. I’ve stopped asking the question or encouraging them as it is such a personal decision for each of us. The “fear factor” is just something that is better addressed in Psychology Today than with great retirement advisors like Dan and Fritz.
Eric, congratulations on crossing “The Starting Line” in 4 short weeks! I have written about the psychological difficulties many folks have with making the decision to retire, and I do suspect much of that fear comes from financial troubles in childhood. I’m glad to hear you’ve worked through it and made the decision to make the move. I’ve heard from several readers who were encouraged to make the jump after reading this article. If it impacts only one reader to move forward and enjoy what remains of their healthy years, I’ll consider it a success.
Great post. In my early 60s, after a full week of work, I have less enthusiasm for a weekend road trip than I did just five years ago. I still take them, just not every weekend. It’s why I’m currently negotiating a phased retirement plan. We’ve agreed in principle for me to reduce hours/pay/responsibilities beginning January 2027, then retire in June 2028. I’m looking forward to more free time, without the sudden loss of a career I still mostly enjoy.
The most important thing to take into consideration is staying fit. I’m sure many subscribers have read the book by Peter Attia called ‘Outlive’ where he describes in much detail the difference between a lifespan (the age of 80 or 90 something when you reach your ‘end date’ and a health-span where you are still able to do most things you can do in your 60’s well into your 80’s. I like how Peter describes this as training for a decathlon as you age so you can continue to carry your groceries, your luggage, etc.
Who wants to live to be 80 or 90 something if you’re stuck in an old folks home !
No question the energy drops – feeling it at 65. Best result from finally paying for a financial review was advisor giving us permission to spend. Ankle surgery next week (3rd one is the charm) then intentional recovery ahead of 4 wk trip to Poland and central Europe in the fall. We did 30 days in Italy last year. Way different than old 2 week trips every 4 or 5 years!. And this time going business class to make the flights easier. Intentional travel while we can.
This article completely ignores that not all of us are on the same timeframe of the ’12 years,’ nor does it highlight the role of self-care in stretching our healthy and energetic years longer. I am a very active 71-year-old and I regularly practice yoga, ride my bike, and weight train. I also stick to a healthy diet, don’t smoke, and rarely drink alcohol. I participate in multi-day bike rides and go on adventure travel regularly and don’t see that changing anytime soon, What’s more, most of the other people who participate in these same activities with me are anywhere from 70 to 85. Yes, we will all at some point slow down, but with luck, good genes, and taking care of ourselves, we can stretch this timeline significantly.
Sallie, I agree that there are many “exceptions” to the average (by definition), and can only hope that the article inspires others to focus on expanding their Healthspan to the extent possible. Like you, I do everything in my power to “stretch this timeline,” but unfortunately we’re in the minority. I hope the article serves as a wake-up call to folks who are naive about the importance of taking care of themselves, and doing the things they’ve always dreamed of doing, while they still can. Thanks for stopping by.
And a very relevant article from Kiplingers magazine if anyone wants to read it…I had never heard the Acronym SKI- Spending Kids Inheritance before, but it certainly applies to this discussion…
https://www.kiplinger.com/personal-finance/travel/ski-retirement-travel-trend
Excellent article and personally comes at a perfect time for us. Remember our president is almost 80 far from the decrepit old person you describe. I don’t think it matters if your number is 72,75 or 85, the fact is we all slow down. My favorite sentence of the article is that TIME IS NOT FUNGIBLE!! Don’t just accept the decline, prepare for it by strength training, healthy habits, longevity efforts, etc. Thanks Fritz for bringing it to us !!
“If not now, when” is one of my favorite quotes. It give you the butt to do it right or away or at least to schedule it. Its a good reminder
Great seeing articles that from other people you enjoy that fit the theme of your blog. I am thinking it might be time for Steveark to give us an article or two 🙂
Vader, thanks for stopping by, great meeting you at EconoMe! And, I agree Steveark is also a great writer, I should consider sharing one of his articles as a guest post. Thanks for the suggestion.
Totally agree with all the recommendations. We have friends 70’s & 80’s immobile, ill, not able to do anything much, they missed their chance…
Us – my husband is aged 77, I’m 70. We took the decision to retire early and do lots of different things.
15 years in, I can confirm that it was the best decision ever. The plan was broadly – have enough money to enable us to do what we wanted, stay healthy, take basic exercise etc!
Staying healthy- we have been very fortunate to avoid any life changing health issues, long may it last!
Six trips, each involved spending a couple of months in different European cities.
I learned Spanish, both in person and online. (Some of the trips were to Spain!)
I took up metal work which is an amazing creative outlet.
We now spend 3 months every year in New Zealand (staying near, but not with!) our son and his family. The 36 hour journey is punishing, but hey, the time with our young grandchildren is worth it!
Financially our plan has worked out very well. We literally have more money than when we started! So much so, that we have gifted money over the years to both our children, to minimise their mortgages. Here in the UK, the taxman cometh on death, as well as in life, so they might as well have it now & enjoy it!
Here’s to the next 15 years!