Human beings are social creatures.  The company we keep and the people who participate in our social circles, play a huge part in making our lives fulfilling, interesting, and stable.  That’s true of both friends and coworkers.  Friends often share our interests, hobbies, and ambitions.  Coworkers, meanwhile, face the same pressures and challenges, which can form a powerful bond. 

Retirement, however, can put a strain on these bonds.  Retirement means no longer seeing your coworkers every day.  And since many retirees often move to a new home, or spend much of their time traveling, it’s not uncommon for friends to start seeing less and less of each other, too. 

But there’s never a point where we grow too old for friendship.

That’s why an important part of retirement planning is deciding who you want to spend your time with and when that time will be spent.  In some cases, it may mean looking for new communities or groups to join, especially if you plan on moving.  By doing this, you are essentially securing a rich, fulfilling retirement for yourself—in a way that doesn’t depend on money!  Failing to do this, on the other hand, can lead to a retirement with a lot of free time … but also a lot of loneliness.

My advice is to start thinking now about who you want to spend time with in retirement.  Which friends will you be able to count on to share in your favorite activities?  What family members do you want to visit?  Who do you want to reconnect with?  Then, start spending more time with them now.  Develop a habit of seeing them, chatting with them on the phone, inviting them to fun activities.  By doing that, you will be deepening relationships…and ensuring those relationships extend into retirement. 

It's one of the surest ways to enjoy retirement.