The Big Question in Retirement: Who Am I Now That I’m Not Working?
The first year in retirement is often the most difficult. But it also can set the stage for how you’ll fill the years ahead—both financially and psychologically. Stephen Kreider Yoder, 66, a longtime Wall Street Journal editor, joined his wife, Karen Kreider Yoder, 67, in retirement last year.
In this monthly Retirement Rookies column, they chronicle some of the issues they are dealing with early in retirement. Steve The iPhone buzzed on my nightstand the other morning. “TIME SENSITIVE," the screen shouted.
“ENTERPRISE MEETING Today at 9:00 AM." It does that every Monday, and my heart leaps a bit each time. The vibration heralds the weekly confab of my group at The Wall Street Journal. Even though I left the job more than a year ago.
Yes, I’m still in denial. Retirement has been a blessing, don’t get me wrong. I lost the press of daily journalism and won more time—and mental leeway—to travel, be with family, tinker in my workshop, read and generally goof off while making no excuses about it.
But I can’t bring myself to delete that smartphone notification. It’s one of the few links I have left to my old identity, and I’m not sure what my new one is. A retired pastor friend assures me I’m in good company, existential-angst-wise.
It has been three years, he says, and he’s still not used to it. But a nagging voice in my head tells me I ought to decide who I am pretty soon. The voice is bringing with it a strong sense of déjà vu.
I last heard it when I graduated from college with no clear career prospects. I clung for months to my nearly lifelong identity as a student by studying for grad-school exams and hanging around my old campus, which was pretty pathetic. I’m in similar denial today partly because I think back fondly to
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