Retirement is so much more than giving up your active working life. Besides all the planning that goes into making sure that you are financially ready to take this step, something needs to readjust in your consciousness and brain. Sometimes that adjustment feels more like a disconnect than the right thing to do, and that is a signal that you need to re-evaluate.

I personally failed at retirement. I had everything in place, according to my accountant, and the thought of just being able to hang out in Santa Barbara, take the boat out whenever I wanted, walk the dog, and actually read a book or two or even 20 sounded appealing. Yeah, I thought I was ready – but I wasn’t, and I don’t think I will ever be.