How to Survive Retirement, written by Clive Whichelow and Mike Haskins, packs a lot of retirement wit and wisdom into a tiny, pocket-sized package.  The book, published by Summersdale, uses quick pithy one-liners and cute illustrations to deliver some key messages about what retirement is like, and how to get through it.

As a retiree, the book suggests, “you are now free to confess that you didn’t have a clue what you were doing at work the past 40 years.” And now that you are retired, the book notes, you can choose between being “a perky, all-action windsurfing, golf-playing globetrotting gadabout who puts youngsters to shame” or “a thin-lipped, beige-wearing old crone who sees retirement as an excuse to take up moaning as a full-time job.”

The choice, the authors advise, is yours.

Other advice includes the idea that retirement “is a sign from above that you are destined for better things.” You can take pleasure, the authors point out, by noting that “when you left (work), they needed three people to replace you.”

There are some dos and don’ts for retirees, the authors suggest.

“Do attempt to keep in touch with the modern world,” they write. “Do try some exciting new experiences,” and “do keep an active interest in what’s going on in your neighbourhood.”

Don’t, they suggest, “wear a mobile phone attachment on your ear all the time – everyone will assume it’s a hearing aid.”

Retirement, the authors remark, should not be considered “the end of your working life… it’s the start of your non-working life, enjoy!”

After all, they write, “you’ve done your bit for retirement, now it’s someone else’s turn.”

Other advice – “the more you keep yourself fit and healthy, the more you will get your money’s worth from your retirement.”

This book is a quick read, a lot of fun, and delivers some good messaging in a humorous way. For example, retirees are urged to “pretend all the things you have to do during the day are part of a job you’ve been given.” And as well, “retirement is a miracle cure – you will never again have a mystery ‘illness’ that requires that you have a day off work.”

Finally, the book notes that “whoever set the amount for the pension never tried to live off it.” That’s true, given that more is always better when it comes to retirement income. An idea that occurs after reading How to Survive Retirement is to consider doing a little extra saving on your own for that golden era down the road. And of course, the Saskatchewan Pension Plan has all the tools you need to begin saving today for retirement income tomorrow.

Written by Martin Biefer

Martin Biefer is Senior Pension Writer at Avery & Kerr Communications in Nepean, Ontario. After a 35-year career as a reporter, editor and pension communicator, Martin is enjoying life as a freelance writer. He’s a mediocre golfer, hopeful darts player and beginner line dancer who enjoys classic rock and sports, especially football. He and his wife Laura live with their Sheltie, Duncan, and their cat, Toobins. You can follow him on Twitter – his handle is @AveryKerr22