What do you think of when you hear the word “retirement?” Does it sound soon or far in the future? Does it sound good, relaxed, boring, scary, or fun?
The retirement age keeps getting higher and higher as people live longer and longer. Companies and the U.S. government have different retirement ages or none. A retirement age is when you MUST retire or your status changes whether you want to or not. What is your opinion about requiring someone to retire at a certain age? Is it a good or bad rule? Give examples of good or bad effect.
One American man had two, long careers. He spent 20 years in the Navy and then retired. Then he spent 20 years as a Superior Court Judge and retired again. Now he’s working at least part-time as an attorney. What do you think? Has he retired one-time, two-times, or never???? (Your answer depends upon what you think retirement is.)
One model of life is that you work for 20-40 years and then you rest for 10-20 years. A second model of life is that you alternate work and rest during all your years. (Some people want to make sure they relax and have fun while they are young and in good health, instead of waiting until they are older.) Which model of life do you prefer for yourself? How will you do it?
What do you want your own retirement to be like? Where do you want to live? What do you want to do with your time? Will you have many friends or just a few? Do you expect to work until you are 80 or 90? Why or why not?
If you’re already retired, tell us what it is like. Are you satisfied with what you’re doing? Did you prepare in the right ways for your retirement? What advice would you give to younger people?
The more retirement years we have, the more money we need to support ourselves in retirement. By working longer, we can shorten the retirement years and save more money. What have you done to prepare for retirement? In your native culture, how much preparation for retirement is needed? Does the government support people in retirement? Or do companies support people? Where does retirement money usually come from?
What is Jesus’ message in the following story? Does it mean “don’t save for retirement” or does it have another meaning? Defend your opinion.
‘The land of a certain rich man was very productive. And He began reasoning to himself, saying, “What shall I do, since I have no place to store my crops?” And he said, “This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry”’
‘But God said to him, “You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?’ So is the man who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”