Summer is right around the corner, and for many of you, so is retirement. Often, we say that retirement is like a 30-year summer vacation. Whenever we do, our clients reminisce about the things they loved about being a kid, like having a care-free attitude and the time to pursue their interests without all of the worries that grown up responsibilities bring. But above all else, our clients tell us there’s one thing they truly miss about youth: their friendships.

They’re not alone. Relationship researchers find that after people finish school, they end up wishing that they had more time to spend on their friendships. It’s easy to understand why, friends offer us support, advice, laughter, a shoulder to cry on, a hand to help you out, and a smile to cheer you up. And sadly, too often, we just don’t have enough time to nurture these relationships and they end up taking a back seat to the other commitments in our lives. As time goes on, friends move to different places, get busy with their own lives, and start to drift away. That’s why we long for friendships like we had in our school years, when you’d see your friends every day and you had the freedom to spend your time doing whatever you wanted.

Well, the good news is that those days are coming back. Retirement is about freedom and time, making it the perfect opportunity to rekindle an old friendship, whether that means taking a trip to a different city, or just having the free time for that long-put-off coffee date. Your retirement should be a celebration of everything you love about life, and that includes your friendships. To make the most of your retirement and have the resources to really enjoy the time with the people you care about, you’ll need to plan ahead.

For years, we’ve been helping people plan for a fulfilling retirement. It all starts with a complimentary review where we’ll sit down and discuss your goals and the things that are important to you. We’ll assess your current financial situation and talk about how we can help you achieve your goals without taking on unnecessary risk. Click to request your no obligation financial review today!Before you come in, try asking yourself this question: “Am I spending, or planning on spending each day on what I truly want to do?” If you’re finding, or are worried that you’ll have nothing to do each day in retirement, then you should start looking for a way to keep yourself social and occupied. Ask yourself how often you invited an old friend over for dinner last year, or what parts of your community are important to you. Many retirees struggle with depression or feelings of isolation, which is why it’s important to seek out those valuable friendships of your past.

So, go ahead and reach out for that person you’ve been wanting to see for a long time. Retirement is a wonderful time to re-kindle your friendships. And, with a proper plan in place, you’ll be prepared to embark on your never-ending summer vacation.