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Show Learning about retirement should begin in the second grade r by Arlene Wilson : ‘Society has never granted permission to ‘retire’- consequently we have no role models as to what to do in retirement,’’ said Roy Van Orman, assistant professor, WSC gerontology program. Professor Van Orman maintains we need to begin learning how to retire as early as the second grade. What do we do when we retire? As a society we are never prepared to accept that it’s okay to spend ‘‘non-productive time” except for vacations. The role model presented in schools doesn’t allow us the privilege of going contrary to the ‘work -ethic’”’ and saying it’s okay not to make money and not to be working on goods and services, Professor Van Orman said. Yet an economist at Duke University, Juanita Kreps, suggests that by 2020 or 2030, 85 percent of the population will not be working at what we currently define as work. Only 15 percent will be employed in jobs as we know them. Today less than 7 percent are still on the farms, with 93 percent scattered into forms of work unknown at the turn of the century. ‘Between now and 2020 and 2030 an ethic will develop that will say it’s okay to spend less time working,” said Professor Van Orman. ‘‘We will have a modification of ethics and will look on those who work with the same kind of envy and favor as we look upon the jet set . today.” Older people who are currently retired are saying, “I have a lot of time now to do what I always wanted to do but I’d like to put some time in on a job.”’ Professor Van Orman foresees the time when people will retire from one career and do a modified career, maybe . 10 hours a week. It will no longer be necessary to stay on a career where they are no longer happy. | Retirement is much more demanding in its preparation than merely dollars and cents and insurance, said Professor Van Orman. Difficulties people face are the social components such as how to maintain contact with friends, learning to live “‘full-time” with a . | spouse, sex, marriage, remarriage, a divorce and separation. “In our society we have many couples in which both are employed. Time together is quite ‘planned’ but . when both are retired with an additional 60 hours a week together t often puts two ‘strangers’ together ‘ull-time and places a great strain on a marriage. “Til death do us partjut not for lunch’ is truer than we .nay realize.” fi age 6 =8 Mc h active | tit pment fidition is Remarriage is often a factor in retirement, either because of the death of a spouse, or divorce. Children of both the man and the woman get involved. Sometimes the children are more concerned with their anticipated inheritance than they are about the social life of their remaining parent. Walter McKain in his study suggests that friends are much more help in remarriage than children and are supportative and more objective. Remarrying is effective. Two people are happier together than alone. A sexuality myth in American society is that as a person becomes older there will be less sexual activity. Actually older people are active sexually and participate up to their capacity. Continuance is an important factor. Roy Van Orman attitude that it’s not all right to do things for yourself,” pointed out Professor Van Orman. “I’m suggesting that partners in a marriage test out doing things ‘just for me.’ ” People with varying interests Men have traditionally been able including sports such as golfing, swimming and handicrafts, literary skills, hobbies and collections, such as coins and stamps, retire with the least amount of difficulty, observed Professor Van Orman. The broader the education and the wider the to do more things alone than women, such as fishing, hunting and a night out bowling, or golfing. Women need to find interests alone as wellthings that make them “‘feel good.”’ | ' “Tf in fact, our partner have pieces to work with. we don’t allow ourselves to cultivate our interests range of interests the better the adjustment. A broader understanding of the ourselves, thereby developing it into world around them extends the circle of friendships and the use of social skills. “Interests should be cultivated when we are employed fulltime and a lifestyle that we can carry into retirement.” Men do need more than just the few traditional things they have done, however. Professor Van Orman cited an example of false in good health,” said Professor Van Orman. “If a couple anticipates expectations about retirement. A successful potato farmer in Idado was asked what he planned to do when he retired. “Go hunting,’ he said. traveling when they retire, but haven’t traveled, they may discover they don’t travel well with the person they don’t know very well.” He advises learning how to make trip reservations or how to “rough it’”’ before retirement so you'll know how- and don’t wait- too often one That is 10 days. What about the other 355 days? “Go fishing.” Give that 5 days. What about the partner is no longer here to go. If something isn’t part of our lifestyle we won’t do it. 350 left? “Farm a little.” Even taking 100 days for farming Professor Van Orman maintains that ‘‘old’”’ must be changed from a “negative” so people will participate fully in programs for the “Senior Citizens.’’ Many people spend their energy denying they are a “Senior Citizen,’ claiming ‘‘middle age” and depriving themselves of rich opportunities. ‘‘We’ve been taught it’s selfish to do something just for ourselves and our personal pleasure and it’s really not fair. In retirement a lot of people are alone. How do you change the dies, we Too often ‘permission’ for E that still leaves 250 days a year for the man to do the other two things . he had in mind for retirementpolishing his gun and tying flies! Trying to create new interests “after” retirement is very difficult, said Professor Van Orman. We are | Nes a then on a limited budget. Everything we plan to do should be well incorporated into our lifestyle and investments of necessary equipment already made for hobbies, workshops, painting, sports, travel, etc. : ‘‘People should this ideas of what is realjRO _— them personally. We of what’s important eas Iammes, television and newspiemay not be ‘where it’s at said. |