Article November 15, 1999 Issue

What happened after I retired

From illness and depression to health and regeneration

William Albert Cole

THROUGHOUT MY CAREER , since I was eighteen, I had watched people celebrate their retirement. They seemed so happy to enter this state of life that it registered in my thoughts as one of the greatest things to achieve. In fact, as a young executive in the automobile manufacturing industry, I would fantasize often about the "golden years" and the "golden handshake." The thought of retiring at a very early age seemed thrilling.

When the opportunity opened up for special early retirement with full benefits and an excellent income stream, I literally begged to be allowed this wonderful journey. My bosses discouraged the idea. Every time it surfaced, they fought with me over even discussing the issue. But human will kept insisting, and I simply would not let it go. I had my finances in order, and every potential obstacle was smoothly calculated. Why shouldn't I be permitted to enter this fantastic life of leisure?

The big day came. The celebrations were exactly as the formula might suggest. I was ecstatic!

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