I’m Not Retiring Yet—But I’m Intentionally Planning for What Comes Next
The Second Life
I’m not retiring anytime soon.
My planned retirement date is October 2031, and I’m fully engaged in my work today. But planning for the future doesn’t begin at the moment you leave—it begins when you decide to be thoughtful about the life you’re building toward.
This is where I am.
Not in transition.
Not in escape mode.
In preparation.
The Second Life isn’t something I’m stepping into tomorrow—it’s something I’m designing with time, clarity, and intention.
Long range planning
I didn’t really know what retirement planning was supposed to look like. I’ve never had anyone talk to me about it or share personal experiences, but what I’ve learned is that planning works best when it’s done before pressure arrives. And when the retirement seed was planted, I began putting things in motion in that moment, and we are now five years out from my planned exit date.
Planning from a distance allows for:
discernment instead of reaction
alignment instead of acceleration
choices made calmly, not quickly
I’m not trying to rush my career to the finish line. I’m making sure that when I do arrive, I’m able to settle into the woman I’ve been practicing and proclaiming to be.
What intentional planning looks like right now
In this season, planning doesn’t look dramatic. It looks quiet and with purpose.
It means:
Thinking about how I want my days to feel, not just how they’ll be funded
Making money decisions that support future ease, not present excess
Choosing restraint in some areas so I have flexibility later
Allowing my identity to expand beyond productivity—slowly
Nothing here is urgent. That’s the point.
Why this matters more than a date on the calendar
Most conversations about retirement focus on the exit. The countdown. The finish line.
Very few talk about the years in between—the ones where you’re still capable, curious, and employed, but no longer willing to build a future that equates to another job.
This long view changes the quality of the planning.
It turns preparation into something grounded. Sustainable. Personal.
A note on tools and structure
As part of this process, I use a simple planning guide to think through my second life over time—not as a checklist, but as a framework. I mentioned it briefly in the video for anyone who prefers structure while reflecting.
There’s no rush with any of this. Thoughtful planning works best when it’s allowed to unfold slowly.
Looking ahead
This space exists to document that long view between now and 2031. Not as a countdown, but as a record of intentional decisions, evolving priorities, and the clarity that comes from planning ahead rather than catching up.
If you’re also thinking about the future from a place of steadiness, calm, and intention, you’re in good company.
—Sparkle