How to Get a Big Retirement From Little Celebrations

Sunday, Nov. 18, 2007
Buenos Aires, Argentina

Learn more about retiring abroad in International Living Postcards--Sunday Edition

When we first moved to Argentina in 1981, Vicki and I had to learn to live without telephones, without checking accounts, sometimes without electricity or water. We adjusted, partly because we celebrated every success we had. Now Argentina boasts all those things, but we still remember the celebrations.

One thing about living abroad is that you have more time to celebrate. Unless you live in fast-paced Paris or another big city, your new life overseas will be more leisurely. You may even find yourself with time on your hands; most retirees do. What better way to fill up a few minutes than with a minor celebration?

Years ago, in our first years of retirement in Buenos Aires, an American friend named John lived in the neighborhood. Most Thursdays during the season John and I would meet on a street corner and walk to the American Club.

Every time we did this, John would celebrate the event. "So good to be alive, so good to walk together. We're healthy, we're friends, we're going to break bread. Wonderful."

Here I thought we were just going for a walk, but John turned it into a celebration. I'm sad to report that John died young, struck down by cancer before his time. But I remember him for the celebrations on those Thursdays. My memory fogs over when I try to recall what we talked about, or what we ate, or other details. But I remember the celebrations.

I would advise that when you retire, celebrate--early and often, especially if you live overseas. After all, you live abroad, you have to struggle with new ways of doing things. New culture, new rules, new government.

We also learned to celebrate failures…the attempt to do something new. Argentine friends first suggested the idea of celebrating failure. "You're really celebrating the effort, what you attempted to do to complete a task. Whether you succeed or not often depends on bureaucrats and other idiots, sometimes on the gods. So just celebrate the effort to move forward."

Vicki and I tend to live a simple life, we head to a café, relax, and smile at each other, open a bottle of champagne, enjoy eating out or at home. If you are a more extravagant type, you can make your celebration a big deal.

When you retire, celebrate something every day, every week, every month, whatever suits you. But celebrate more than you're doing right now.

Paul Terhorst
Roving “Retire Early” Editor, International Living

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