A new way to think about life beyond full-time work
Future Life Stories
Most of us reach our 60s with more time, experience, and possibility than we ever had before — yet very few of us pause to ask what we actually want the future to look and feel like.
The biggest opportunity in later life isn’t having more time. It’s having the opportunity to explore who you are now and what you want your life to become. But it’s not a destination – it’s a direction. You’ll know you’re on the right track when you genuinely feel really good about yourself.
Ceasing full-time work is a huge change. For many people it brings freedom and opportunity. For others it can feel unsettling. That’s one reason why this stage of life deserves more thought than it often gets.
This time isn’t about retirement. It isn’t about slowing down. It’s about taking stock of your resources – personality, skills and interests; and thinking about future possibilities. Then you can redesign your life with curiosity, purpose, and a sense of play.
If you’re beginning to wonder what comes next — not in a financial sense, but in a human sense — you’re in the right place.
Is This For You?
Most people who find their way here aren’t looking for retirement advice. They’re not searching for a plan, a checklist, or a formula. Maybe they’re noticing that something inside them is changing — a sense that the next part of life deserves more thought, more imagination, and perhaps a different kind of conversation.
It’s easy to sit at home and think of all the things you could do – but, as I know, that doesn’t help you feel good or have a great time. Equally, you could be like James and Georgia, who I helped, jetting off on holidays anywhere and everywhere, with everyone convinced they were having a fantastic retirement. But to what end? They found excess travel, without any specific purpose, got boring. And they also felt that maybe they were “running away”.
You may not be asking questions like these out loud, but if any of them have been circling in your mind, you’ll probably find From Scary to Fun practical and helpful:
What do I want the next 10–20 years to feel like?
Who do I want to become now that old roles are changing?
What possibilities haven’t I thought about?
How do I want to use my freedom in a way that means something to me?
Which parts of me haven’t I been using – but I want to?
What would make me feel curious and have real purpose again?
How do I create fun and joy in my life again?
Isn’t it time I stopped being what everyone else wants me to be and started to be the real me?
These aren’t problems to solve. They’re invitations — to think, to explore, to imagine.
If you recognise any of this, you’re in the right place. If you don’t, that’s absolutely fine too. This is for people who feel curious and ready to look ahead; those who want to create a future that feels genuinely their own.
Future Life isn’t about keeping busy; it’s about living well. And along the way you may discover something many of us forget for years at a time; the simple, enlivening power of fun
For Couples: A conversation worth having
I was once told that the problem with being a teenager, is that you have to have your parents living in your house. For some couples it’s a bit like that when one of them ceases full-time work. Communication and planning is usually best at the forefront.
Take my friend Stuart (true story – assumed name). One Friday he had an important job. On Monday he felt irrelevant. He’d “retired” and was at home. He tried to help, but he was “interfering” in his wife Pauline’s domain! Friction. Unhappiness.
Stuart went back to work part-time - for 2 years, Time for he and Pauline to “road test” some plans.
You can explore Future Life by yourself, but it can be very helpful and satisfying to explore together. And sometimes it’s critical! It enables you to discuss hopes, routines and priorities. It enables you both to uncover shared goals, highlight differences and feel aligned. It can prevent misunderstandings.
By this stage, you’ll each have your own life – friends, activities and priorities. Hopefully you’ll also have a “together” life looking forward.
What do you want your days to look like? How much time do you want to spend together, with family, friends or your own pursuits? Which adventures excite you and which routines help you feel full of energy?