Lines in the Sand

We live in a hyper-partisan world, and I’m not just talking about politics and cultural issues. Even among financial questions, I’m constantly surprised by what turns out to be controversial.

There are the obvious choices that affect retirees, such as when to claim Social Security and whether to annuitize part of a nest egg. These decisions involve significant dollars, so maybe it’s no great surprise that folks get hot and bothered.

But it isn’t just fairly straightforward financial issues that get fiercely debated. I also see folks take partisan sides on questions that—while they have a financial angle—I also view as lifestyle choices. Consider:

• Should you move into senior housing? Even among those who like the idea of senior housing, I’ve seen folks embrace 55-plus communities, while disparaging continuing care retirement communities.
• Do you need a sense of purpose to have a fulfilling retirement? I think retirees can find purpose in all manner of activities—cooking, helping their church, keeping themselves in shape. But it seems that, after a lifetime of work, some retirees balk at the very idea of “purpose.”
• Should you work part-time in retirement? This is like the prior question, except on steroids. Some seniors seem offended that their fellow retirees might opt to work a few days a week, as though it’s an affront to the very notion of retirement.
• Should travel be a big part of retirement? Some folks seem to think that retirement isn’t complete unless you’re regularly getting on and off a plane. Their relentless extolling of travel’s virtues often irks those who are happy to be homebodies.

All the back and forth on such topics can be entertaining. But let’s face it: On such issues, there’s no right or wrong, and things quickly get silly when folks take the moral high ground while belittling the choices of others. If you truly believe others are lesser mortals because they won’t climb on a plane to Europe or they’re aiming to age in place, maybe it’s time to stop judging others—and, instead, ask whether you’re looking to validate your own choices by bullying others into accepting your opinions.