How to make the most of your retirement

Come and join us at our fifth roundtable discussion...

featuring: Julie Forster, retired school teacher, bank employee, Spitex volunteer moderator: Lina Gschwend, TP social worker

when: 28. February 2005, Monday at 18:30 p.m.

where: Terassenkuche, Zentrum Karl der Groesse, Kirchgasse 14, 8001 Zürich

how to get there: Tram 4 or 15, get off at Helmhaus, walk in the direction of Grossmuensterplatz

In the first two discussion rounds on the theme "Looking Forward to Retirement" we took up the social, psychological and financial aspects of retirement. In this last round of the series, we shall talk about how we can most sensibly and meaningfully use the free time which comes with retirement.

We often hear that many people, especially men, have difficulties in adjusting to life in retirement. Many feel lost and disoriented without the daily physical discipline and mental challenges posed by a job. Instead of enjoying life without routines and job-oriented anxieties, many are unable to adjust to their new situation and quite a few even go into depression. We therefore find it appropriate to end this series with a discussion on how to make our retirement years as happy and fruitful as possible. We shall look at the possibilities of enjoying free time as well-deserved leisure, as well as how to find mental, social and spiritual challenges which will keep us alert and vital.

We have invited some retirees who have kindly agreed to share their views and experiences with us, as well as Ms. Julie Forster to speak about volunteer social or civic work. Julie is well versed on this topic as she attended a seminar on volunteer work and since her retirement she has been engaged in doing volunteer work for Spitex. She will also inform us about the possibilities of doing volunteer work in many other areas as well as other challenging occupations in retirement.

We hope you will join us in this discussion, so that we can share insights and ideas with one another. Your input will be most welcome!

Snacks and drinks will be served before the discussion. This project is supported by the Eidg. Kommission für Ausländerfragen (EKA) and the Kantonale Beauftragte für Integrationsfragen - Zürich. Participation is free of charge but any donation will be gladly accepted.