Will They Remember Me?

Some individuals retire and have high expectation that they will receive all kinds of calls from their colleagues and that the work will just come.  Sadly, many retirees discover that once gone, quickly forgotten.  A close friend recently retired who expected that many former colleagues would be beating down his door.  They aren't.  No one has called asking for this individual to bring their extensive knowledge to bear on the problems of the day. 

If you have a desire to keep one foot in the door and hope to take on some contract, board work, or even work on a volunteer basis, it is important to let the world know BEFORE you retire that part of your retirement plan includes continuing to work.  You cannot expect your colleagues to know that you do not plan to fully retire.  During the last year of work, it would be advisable to set the stage for the next phase of your life by informally conveying what your interest is going to be in continuing to contribute.

Otherwise you may find yourself sitting in a very quiet house, waiting for calls that are not going to come