I still remember the argument.
I was about 5 years old and we were all in the kitchen having dinner. My dad was filling our heads with nonsense. At least, that's what my mom said. She said "Don't make promises you can't keep" to my father as he proudly boasted that one day he would take us all to Italy!"
At the time we were struggling. Both my dad and mom were entrepreneurs burning the midnight oil trying to feed, clothe and house four kids.
How the times have changed.
Years later, when I was 13 years old we took our first family vacation to Italy and I remember my mom saying to my dad as we boarded a local bus in Rome on our way to the "Luna Park", "Cesare, I'm sorry I called you a liar, you were right all along!"
Even though we had quite a few family vacations together, travelling was never really a priority for my parents. They could go for YEARS without travelling and even when we did they couldn't get away for more than a week or two.
Only now, as an adult (and parent) can I fully appreciate the sacrifices that were made by them to travel with us, even if it meant they hardly relaxed during those precious vacations!
When my younger sister, the last of us four, moved out, I remember my mom saying "Ang, what are we going to do without you kids to keep us busy?" Well, I'm glad to say they picked up a few hobbies, a few good friends and a new love for travel! And I've learnt a few valuable lessons from them that I like to call:
5 REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD TRAVEL IN YOUR RETIREMENT!
Reason n°1: You Deserve It
After a life of serving society and your family, and fulfilling your duties..... YOU DESERVE TO TRAVEL. No one can take from you the sacrifices you have made to get to where you are now. Retirement is a milestone that signifies the completion of a career. It is a success in and of itself so what better way to celebrate than by discovering the world?
Reason n°2: You've Already Saved, Now it's Time to Spend
Society today is so "savings focused" that we start to talk about our retirement fund shortly after we learn to talk! The FEAR of aging without a nest egg is deeply engrained in us all, so much so, that we feel guilty when we spend on frivolous things like travelling and life experiences.
FINALLY in your retirement you can INVEST in yourself through travel without feeling guilty. You've arrived! Travel enriches our lives through our discoveries; it opens our minds and ultimately helps us to be more creative, tolerant, interested and above all INTERESTING people. Which brings me to point number 3!
Reason n°3: You Worked to Survive, but Also to LIVE
All of those years of working are only worth something if you can now ENJOY the fruit of your labour. I used to think that the "prime" age for living was in your mid life. But now I see how much MORE my parents enjoy themselves when compared to younger people.
When they laugh, they really laugh, when they enjoy a good wine they really enjoy it and when they sit down for a good meal they aren't counting calories or worried about how their bathing suits will fit tomorrow! ENJOYMENT is written all over their faces. The frenetic way with which they consumed life is over and instead of rushing through the motions they WANT to enjoy every minute. They breathe a little deeper, stay a little longer and reflect a lot more.
Reason n°4: Travelling is Easy
I'm sure you've heard this before, perhaps after you graduated from college or while you were searching for your first real job "Travel now, because when you get older you can't!"
There are so many great travel companies and tour operators like Saga Travel that take care of ALL of the details, that travelling in your retirement has never been so easy.
Worried about not knowing the language? They have bilingual hosts.
Can't be bothered with researching hotels, flights, restaurants and insurance deals? They'll do it for you!
Worried about museum lines, ferry tickets or hotel transfers? Transportation is taken care of!
In other words, if you want to travel but can be bothered with planning - LET SOMEONE ELSE PLAN FOR YOU!
Reason n°5: Been There Done That
Perhaps you DID invest in travel in your working years and mid life. Perhaps you're like me and visit a different European Capital every year and you're thinking "I've seen it all already". Well.....NOW's THE TIME TO EXPLORE SOMETHING NEW!
If you've already seen all the major sites, why not use your retirement to go off the beaten path? In the last 7 years I've vacationed with my parents a few times and I'm always surprised by their great suggestions on where to visit, including a week in Assisi and two weeks in Bologna! They focused on things they wanted to see in-depth and they don't worry about "seeing it all". Above all they want to enjoy themselves(remember lesson 3?!!) and focus on their interests.
If you've always wanted to visit Italy's stunning Lakes such as Lake Como and Garda, there's a tour that will bring you there! I've been to Florence many times, but I've never explored Tuscany. So this summer I'm exploring the Tuscan countryside with my parents. If you're looking for an itinerary, here's one similar to what we'll be doing, it includes everything from Lucca to Chianciano Terme, tracing the Etruscans right through the valleys of the Italian wine country!
Perhaps the greatest lesson I've learnt from my parents is that life can begin in retirement. At the end of your career, when your kids have grown and the bills have settled, it is your own responsibility to give yourself the memories you deserve. I'll never forget my mother's words:
"Angela, if you don't celebrate yourself, no one is going to do it for you!"
Thank you to Saga Travel for inspiring this post, it was an absolute pleasure writing it.
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