It's a Team's Life

Transitions

Transitions

Last week we found ourselves looking to the future. A retirement future. If the last several days are any indication, our retirement looks like a great time. In this blog, I hope to show that moving from one season of life to another does not have to be dramatic or scary. While there are many decisions that must be made, the process does not have to be difficult.

The first decision must be: what does retirement look like? Coming from a colder climate in the Winter, we decided that we wanted to spend that time of year somewhere warmer. You must first decided what your retirement will look like. Will you want to travel or pursue a passion? Also, will you relocate to another part of the country or the world?

The next decision was: where? First we were looking to the southwest. Unfortunately, the climate in that area was too dry to what we are accustomed. Also, there did not seem to be many activities in which we could engage. We began looking in the southeast and that is where we found what will suit us. While in the past we had avoided this area because the freight lanes are not very busy, we have found that there is freight for us if we want it. For now, we have decided to keep our home in the North and go South when temperatures get too cold. Over time, this could change.

Now that we have settled on a region, our next step was to find something within our budget. Last year we did not have another load lined up until the following week and decided to visit some friends. They were kind enough to show us where they lived, take us to some restaurants, shops and even church in the area. What we discovered was a community that was vibrant and offered as much or as little as we wanted. However, the cost of living is more than what we can support over the long term. Fortunately, we have met other residents of our preferred area who have showed us how to live within our budget somewhere very near to where we want to be. This week has given us the opportunity to explore the culture, shop, dine and visit with friends who have retired to the same area. While the weather was very hot and rain showers would pop up with little notice, we believe that we have made the right choice for us.

There are still things that we need to do to prepare ourselves for this transition. This will take some time. Fortunately, we have the time to continue working while also planning for our future. While we do not have everything figured out exactly, we are well on our way to seeing a retirement that we can enjoy. Hopefully, your transition can be smooth and enjoyable too.

Here’s to millions of safe, profitable and TRANSITIONING miles.

Kelly Plumb