How To Retire

Recently, a good friend who is nearing retirement called me mid-morning to ask what I was doing. He was curious about how someone who is retired (or in my case, semi-retired) spends their time on a Wednesday morning.

I’ve put a lot of thought into how I structure my days. I’ve identified seven key areas of focus, though I don’t necessarily touch on all of them every day. I do, however, make a conscious effort not to get stuck in just one area for an entire day.

Susie (My Wife)

Absolutely the most important focus area of them all! Each day, we check in about our plans and how much of the day we want to spend together. Whether it’s a couple of hours before or after lunch, we usually carve out time for a walk, an adventure around town, a shared project, or a meal together. This daily check-in is important because I have a tendency to get lost in hobby projects and lose track of time. Without this conversation, I could blink and realize the day is nearly over without having had our connection time.

Financial Management

This is my “home retirement job.” I make sure all the bills are paid, vacations are planned and funded, hobbies are covered, and that we remain financially stable in the short and long term. If we ever need to make adjustments, I schedule a financial meeting with Susie, put everything on paper, and present our current situation along with any suggestions I have for realignment. She also brings up anything she wants to do—places to go, things to purchase—and we work it into our strategic plan. I spend a little time each day reviewing our finances to keep things on track.

Chores

The usual household tasks—dishes, trash, taking care of the dogs, yard work, and home maintenance—fall into this category. I keep a running list of house and yard projects, and a couple of times per week, I focus on knocking one of them out.

Hobby Projects

This is my happy space. I love working on my bikes, whether it’s routine maintenance or planning a custom build. Over the past six months, I’ve been coordinating the build of my new bike, which will be finished in two weeks. I also schedule a long ride (half a day) every 7–14 days.

Beyond cycling, I enjoy working with wood. I built our redwood deck and recently acquired another load of boards to start a walkway. Susie and I are also planning a garden in front of the big wall in our backyard. These are the kinds of hands-on projects I schedule for a few hours a couple of times per week.

Growth Projects

This includes things like my book, writing for my blog, recording my book for YouTube, preparing presentations, and continuing education. Right now, I’m focused on book distribution—I need to visit our local Santa Cruz bookstore, complete the necessary paperwork, and get my book on the shelf. I already have it stocked in two local pharmacies.

This category also includes my part-time work as a hospital pharmacist (20 hours per week). It allows me to keep my skills sharp, maintain my pharmacy license, and stay engaged with patient care.

Exercise

I don’t train to be a superhero—just to maintain strength and function as long as possible. I aim for 45–90 minutes of aerobic activity five days a week and at least 30 minutes of strength training four days a week. The goal isn’t to get big but to stay functional—strong bones, good mobility, and the ability to lift a bag of dog food or a 5L water bottle with ease. Plus, my fitness supports my cycling habit.

Free Time

Susie and I play backgammon and cribbage, have long talks and walks, hang out, go to the beach, and read. I always have a book going and have been making an effort to read more classic literature—John Steinbeck and Jack London—rather than my usual non-fiction.

Free time is actually the hardest part for me. I’m used to structure and productivity, so practicing the art of just “being” without an end goal is a challenge. But I’m learning to enjoy it.

Reflections on Retirement

In my first few months, I read a lot of blogs and articles about how to spend my time. It quickly became clear that walking the dog and cleaning the yard wouldn’t be enough—I needed structure and purpose (whatever that means to each person).

I also had some nervousness in the transition. Not going into a pharmacy every day was a bit unsettling. Part of that was figuring out how to use my free time, but the bigger concern was whether our financial calculations would hold up.

Final Thoughts

Retirement isn’t about just filling time—it’s about filling life. It’s about shaping each day with purpose, joy, and connection while leaving space for spontaneity. Three years in, I’ve realized that success in retirement isn’t about having every detail planned but about being intentional with time and flexible with expectations. If you focus on what truly matters, it can be one of the most rewarding phases of life.