Book review: What’s Next for You?
The first thing that struck me when I received The Gussin Guide to Big Changes, Big Decisions, & Big Fun was the non-assuming cover. It looked more like the original Monopoly box than a fancy schmancy user guide. But, it turns out that reading Robert and Patricia Gussin’s book was remarkably similar to Monopoly. In that, it provided the same comfort as sitting around the family kitchen table playing a time proven board game
What’s Next for You? is not so much of a guide, as a memoir of how of a couple went from fulfilling careers to retirement to fulfilling careers. The premise is there is an exciting life to be led during retirement. However, the lessons to be learned are not implicitly stated in the book. Which is quite refreshing actually.
By the time I finished What’s Next for You?, which includes passages written by both Robert and Patricia, I felt that we were old friends. That I had just spent a fun afternoon with them sipping wine while hearing about their adventures. Extracting how I might emulate their adventures is left entirely up to me.
I am not likely to build a six bedroom home on the ocean, buy vineyards and a winery in New Zealand, nor start a book publishing business. All after I retire! However, inspired by their energy and zest for life, I am more convinced than ever that retirement is really a graduation to another stage of life.
Patricia, by the way, refuses to use the word retirement, opting for the word graduation. Retirement, by definition, implies withdrawal. Graduation suggests moving onto something else.
What’s Next for You? provided me with two clear lessons. The first one is labelled by the Gussins thoughtful impulsiveness. It is all about being open to opportunities and adventure, while still collecting all your facts. In other words, don’t go off half-cocked, but after you have done your homework, be willing to take a risk.
The second lesson comes from their book dedication; admittedly a section I normally don’t pay attention to.
“This book is dedicated to our children and grandchildren, who always wonder what we’ll do next.”
This is exactly how Mr Very Right and I want to live our lives. Our children are already getting a taste of our creative energies, but if we can always keep ‘em guessing right up to the end, we will have lived a very rich life indeed.
If you are wondering how you are going to fill your days when you retire, I recommend What’s Next for You? If you end up doing half as much as Robert and Patricia Gussin, I promise you the days will fly by.
What’s Next for You? is available for purchase through Amazon by clicking the Silver & Grace book recommendations.
Don’t miss out!
To make sure you don’t miss out on any book reviews, topics and discussions, subscribe by RSS or Email
A biggie for all of us: “being open to opportunities and adventure.”
Retirement? What’s that?
@Lori – in my parents’ so-called retirement they run a bed & breakfast, run a heritage consultancy, sit on numerous boards and guilds, not to mention all the physical exercise they get, and the travelling they do. Every Monday the family (my parents, my brothers and me, my 3 kids) send out a weekly update on our lives. I am exhausted just reading my mother’s update. She has so much news in her’s my kids joke about Gramma’s weekly novel. Yes, when you are open to it, there are tons of opportunities and adventure to be had.