My research of what’s next has taken me to some interesting places, and continues to do so. A couple of years ago, someone introduced me to the Canadian clinical psychologist Jordan Peterson’s books on how to create order in your life and they have had a significant impact on me. He’s not everyone’s cup of tea and he’s recently converted his podcast into a bit of a political rant, but his clinical work is excellent and forms a foundation for me on how to conduct myself. As for ideas on what to do next, reading other people’s blogs are also a great source of inspiration. I’ll mention those that I find interesting as I go through my journey.

Various themes emerge across everyone’s posts in the pursuit of a meaningful retirement. A few of them are:

• talk to people everyday
• focus on others, not yourself
• develop yourself – learn new things
• be happy with what you have

One friend’s attitude to retirement ‘success’ is to have great mates. I like the simplicity of that statement but think it goes much deeper than that. I, for one, need that sense of purpose which ‘great mates’ won’t necessarily give you.

Giving up work without much of a social safety net was daunting, so I’ve been trying to look for that sense of purpose, that set of great mates, that focus on others. Its fair to say that it does get easier once you have some inspiration on what to do with yourself. But where do you get that inspiration from if you have been suppressing your creative mind for so long?

The answer for me was described in Don Ezra’s book ‘Life Two’ where he introduces the concept of a Get-A-Life tree, and idea created by Ernie Zelinsky. Its a way of mapping out 50 or more interests you had in the past, in the current and in the future. Its meant to be a slow-burn idea so you can add to it anytime. I’ve treated it as a ‘when I’m bored…’ list of ideas. There’s no way I’ll be able to get through all the list, but its there in case I need some inspiration on what to do. This is very much the idea of Riley Moynes’ stage 3 of retirement – explore new things until one (or more) things stick.