"I Need a Compass for Retirement" By Ek Ursin, MD

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Physician Work Environment:
••Summer 2002/Vol. 6, No. 3

Soul of the Healer

_{By
Ek
Ursin, MD}

_{I
Need a Compass for Retirement}_{Or:
Outline for a Life after Paycheck}

_{A
glorious ride into the sunset, or a

Semi-tragic tale of self-pity

Real tragedy:}
      _{Real,
not perceived}
   _{Poor
health

Death one week after retirement}

_{Motives
that trigger action}
   _{It
is high time}
   _{I
can hardly wait}
   _{I
have a right to it}
      _{I've
worked my ... off (expletive deleted)}
      _{I
was taken advantage of}
   _{I
have a second career planned out}
   _{I
need to take care of family}
   _{I
have health problems}
      _{Real
or perceived}
   _{I
fear the innuendoes}
      _{from
a boss or colleague}
         _{getting
too old}
          _{judgment
slipping}

_{Factors
that delay decision making}
_{Lack
of money}
_{Real
or perceived}
_{Fear
of being useless}
_{In
family}
_{In
my head}
_{"I
still have boundless energy"}
_{Real
or perceived}
_{Reality,
or wishful thinking}

_{Fear
of more time with spouse}
   _{Real
or perceived}

_{Other
...}
   _Illusions
      _Gadgets
      _{Quick
fixes, and}
      _Computers

_{Established
Retirement

"Success"}
   _Attitude
      _{Optimist,
pessimist}
      _{Active,
passive}
      _{Self-centered,
people-oriented}
      _{Fearful,
accepting}
_{Resourcefulness}
   _{Never
had it; that's a pity}
   _{"Have
it just like grandpa"}
_Hobbies
   _{A
panacea? For many}
   _{Exercise?
Within reason}
      _{Golf's
okay; avoid hang-gliding}
_Finances
   _Complex
      _{See
an expert}
_Family
   _{Marriage,
treasure it}
   _{Nuclear
and extended, be a diplomat}
   _{Disability--carry
the cross}

_{Potential
trouble spots; networth not the same as selfworth}    _{Money

   Health, any doubts see your doctor}
   _{Depression,
see your shrink}
   _{Isolation,
see people}

_{Real
trouble spots}
   _{Memento
Mori}
   _{Mental
problems}
   _Finances
      _{Real
or perceived}

_{Can
the leopard change its spots?}
   _{What
will you/can you be?}
      _{Philosopher,
Grandma Moses, Boulevardier, Philanderer,

      Bridgeplayer, Skydiver ...

      or blow it really big! Casino?}

_{Practical
steps}
   _{Attitude--being,
not doing;

   networth not the same as selfworth}

_Values
_{Combat
feelings of guilt}
   _{Become
a joiner, if it is your cup of tea}
    _AARP
    _{Elderhostel
(www.elderhostel.org)}
    _{Projects:
Joy without fanaticism}
_{Reasonable
care of health}
    _Exercise
    _{KP
"Silver Sneakers" program}
    _{Avoid
having a fool for a doctor}
    _Vaccinate
    _{Diet
without fanaticism}
    _{Two
glasses Merlot, 81mg ASA/d.}

_{The
Inevitable Last Chapter}
    _{The
cliché: sudden and unexpected,

    a blessing}

   _{The
final diagnosis given in advance,

   fate.}

_{Epilogue

We
should not lose sight of our glorious workdays, invigorating climate,
congeniality. Dr José Bilbao defines Retirement as Life-W2 (R
= L-W2).}

_{Can
we sum up our life in a clever outline or poem? Of course not. The reality
of our being is much more adventuresome, challenging, hopeful, as well
as hopeless, able to organize, irrational and rational, sad and cheerful.}

_{Can
we prepare for life without challenges and boundaries? You know the
answer. The gurus of many persuasions have part of the answer and so
had giants such as Leo Tolstoy and Thomas Mann. Our Medical Group has
shown talents in many fields from learning to sculpture to writing a
book about religion. Do these talented people experience happiness?
Again, components of luck, fate, and genes play a large, if not major,
part. Are we immortal? Not in the same body, of course, but in our children
and in the writings, creations, or, for a while at least, in the memory
of those who know or knew us. In summary: All is well!}

_{Bon
voyage.}

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