This B.C. woman retired early instead of moving back to the city after the pandemic

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In Tales from the Golden Age, retirees talk about their spending, savings and whether life after work is what they expected.

Jennifer Harder, 60, Nanoose Bay, B.C.

I retired in June, 2022 at 58 after working for almost 30 years in the financial services industry. When the pandemic hit in early 2020, I moved from Vancouver to my home on Vancouver Island and worked remotely. When it became apparent that I would have to move back to Vancouver to work in the office, I decided to retire instead. I liked my lifestyle on the Island. I live on the ocean and can whale watch from my balcony. I didn’t want to return to the city.

Retirement felt peaceful at first. I no longer had a Monday-to-Friday work commitment and the stress that came with it. However, in hindsight, I should’ve spent more time figuring out what I would do in retirement. It’s one thing to say, ‘I’m going to travel and be active,’ but you can’t travel all the time, and there’s only so much golf and pickleball you can play.

I read an article about retirement as a time to reinvent yourself, so I looked into doing some part-time or casual work that would keep me busy. I considered being a retirement coach and started taking a course on how to do it, but I realized quickly that getting set up and finding clients would be challenging. I didn’t want to work that hard. I also looked into health coaching, but it wasn’t for me.

I ended up finding casual work as a travel consultant. I do this work for about 20 hours a month, helping people book trips. It’s a great fit because I’ve travelled to more than 40 countries. My partner and I also travel a lot now. Recently, we’ve been to Europe, Iceland and Mexico, and we’re going to Europe again in the fall.

I’ve also been working part-time at a clothing boutique in a small town near my home. I remember going into the store one day and saying, ‘This looks like a fun place to work.’ It turns out they were looking for part-time help during the busier summer months. It’s a great retirement job because it’s casual, and I’m not committed to it for a long time. I also love helping women find clothes that make them look and feel good.

I don’t worry about money in retirement. I have been saving and investing for my retirement for years and am careful with my money. I was an investment adviser for 10 years, so I manage my investments, but I consulted with another adviser about my retirement plan. It was helpful to have someone to bounce ideas off of and keep me on track.

I plan to start my Canada Pension Plan and Old Age Security benefits at 70. My family has longevity; one of my grandmothers lived to 86, and the other to 96; my mom is 85 and healthy. CPP and OAS benefits provide a guaranteed income and will provide me with financial comfort later in life when I might not want to take as much risk in the markets.

My advice for others approaching retirement is to think about how you’ll spend your days and what you might need to get there, such as taking a course, picking up a new hobby or joining groups to meet new people. Don’t stay inside; get out and do things. It will make your retirement much more enjoyable.

As told to Brenda Bouw

This interview has been edited and condensed.

Are you a Canadian retiree interested in discussing what life is like now that you’ve stopped working? The Globe is looking for people to participate in its Tales from the Golden Age feature, which examines the personal and financial realities of retirement. If you’re interested in being interviewed for this feature and agree to use your full name and have a photo taken, please e-mail us at: goldenageglobe@gmail.com. Please include a few details about how you saved and invested for retirement and what your life is like now.

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