If I had all the money and all the time in the world ...

 I commented in an earlier article that sudden complete retirement can be called “jumping off the cliff” retirement. This has been the traditional notion of retirement for the last 50 years or so.

A more gradual form of retirement – “building a bridge” – is becoming more popular. This is usually part-time employment and is often in a different occupation. For many, “bridge jobs” are an economic necessity, but others see them as a smoother option or an opportunity to start a new career.

I put out a poll this week, via Roaming Times (see the poll here), which asked which of the two (jump off the cliff or build a bridge) is best suited to you, bearing in mind your financial situation?

So far - around 500 have done the poll to date - about 75% want to build a bridge.  Only about 25% feel jumping of the cliff is right for them.  At first glance the ratio seems to speak about the personal finances of the people concerned.  But then I asked:

"What if money was not a consideration - now which would you prefer?"

Around 40% said they would choose the bridge.  They would choose to work after retirement even if money was not a consideration.

Of course, they're not saying they would do the same work.  Mainly what they're saying is: "When I come to the end of my present work situation, and if I had all the money and all the time in the world, what would I do?"  And perhaps they're realizing that this could be the beginning of a wonderful change in their lives.  And maybe, just maybe, it's not entirely about money, or even time.  You might like the idea of playing golf full-time or traveling the globe, but to be pragmatic, maybe you  need not only to put food on the table, you also need fulfillment and a sense of involvement.

Maybe it's not a question of "do I want to jump off the cliff or build a bridge?"; the thinking process may lead to "what is at the end of the cliff or bridge?"

And then, perhaps, the thinking process may lead to ... it's not the destination but the journey ... ? ... and being involved and having fun along the way, while that's still possible.