Every year, about 1.7 million Americans retire from full-time employment. Many of these new retirees have been advised to plan for their retirement with an effective savings and investment strategy, setting up multiple income streams, practicing effective budgeting,  having a good income and tax plan, and understanding the optimum timing for signing up for Social Security and Medicare benefits.

Even for those retirees who have diligently followed this pre-retirement financial advice and have financial security in retirement, there is no guarantee of a successful retirement unless they have been just as diligent in preparing for the other critical but often overlooked elements: Achieving meaning and purpose in retirement, replacing career-based relationships with a strong post-retirement social network, and maintaining mental acuity, physical health, and social stimulation.

Some Orange County retirees have found that the secret to a successful retirement starts with joining the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at California State University – Fullerton (OLLI-CSUF). The 1,500+ retired or semi-retired members are achieving mental, physical, and social stimulation that is making retirement years the best years of their adult lives.

These members are following their passions, whether these are fine arts or the performing arts; writing and publishing their works, including family histories; learning about history, politics, or technology; traveling the world with like-minded friends; auditing regular CSUF classes at no additional charge; or helping students succeed in their college careers.

OLLI-CSUF members have opportunity — the opportunity to learn new things and discover new things to do; to fine-tune their current skills; to rediscover and restore skills lost growing up or those missed altogether; to enjoy travel and adventures with OLLI friends; and the opportunity to give back to younger people in collaboration with the university.

OLLI-CSUF offers 120 on-campus classes and activities every semester, with two semesters plus a summer session every year. OLLI-CSUF is located in the Ruby Gerontology Center (RGC), a center built entirely with contributions raised by the founders, and is located in the center of campus. It has been an integral part of the university community for nearly 50 years. OLLI offers all of the advantages of being affiliated with the university, yet maintains a no-stress learning environment without many of the attendance and graduation requirements placed on matriculated students. 

Making the transition from a lifelong career to retirement is perhaps the biggest transformation we face in our lives. We leave social networks, social structures, work practices, systems, and skill sets, all developed over decades of working. Retirement financial preparation is important, but so is finding a new purpose, developing new and stronger social networks, sharpening existing skills, adding new skill sets and continuing to stimulate our minds.

To reach the OLLI at Cal State – Fullerton website, click here: http://olli.fullerton.edu

To reach the OLLI at UC Irvine website, click here: https://olli.ce.uci.edu

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