Most people don’t want to retire for fear of not knowing what to do, but it doesn’t have to be this way. Here are 5 real retirement stories that can change your perspective on retirement.
Joe and Karen Stermitz
A couple in their 60s took a risky, yet simple decision. Joe and Karen Stermitz wanted to retire and travel after corporate careers, but they realised that owning a home would make that impossible financially. So they decided to see everything they had, including their house and went travelling around the world in a camper. From an interview with Insider, they said mentioned they have no regrets and they encourage others not to wait about until their 60s to do what they have always wanted to do.
Carlos Soria
Carlos Soria
Carlos Soria an 81-year-old, Spanish mountaineer, found an interest in climbing mountains at the age of 14. After a few decades, he has taken the challenge of being the oldest person to reach the summit of the 14 highest mountains in the world. He is the only mountaineer to have ascended ten mountains of more than 8,000 meters after turning 60, and he is the oldest person in history to have successfully climbed the K2, Broad Peak, Makalu, Gasherbrum I, Manaslu, Kanchenjunga and Annapurna. So far, he only has 2 out of 14 left to reach, Dhaulagiri and Shisha Pangma.
Unfortunately, it hasn’t been easy to plan these last two expeditions, as he doesn’t have enough economic support. Now Carlos has been supported by the Spanish bank BBVA, allowing him to face the last of his planned 14 mountains. Carlos then went on to become a leading sports figure because of his achievement at an age when most people of his generation are spectators.
Johanna Quaas
Johanna Quaas, currently aged 95, was born in Germany. As of 2018, Johanna was announced the oldest gymnast in the world, she is a regular competitor in the amateur competition Landes-Seniorenspiele, staged in Saxony, Germany.
She began practising her sport when she was 9 but later switched to handball after surviving World War II, she also worked many years as a teacher, however, gymnastics remained close to her heart, so she returned to her sport and currently has no intention to stop.
Johanna began competing again when she turned 56 and in 2012, she was entered in the Guinness Book of Records for being the oldest gymnast in the world when she was 86 years old. Joanna says “My face is old, but my heart is young”. Now Johanna keeps inspiring generations to follow their passion no matter their age.
Cynthia and Edd Staton
Cynthia and Edd Staton
Edd and Cynthia Staton wanted to have an affordable retirement after the great recession, so in 2010 they decided to move from Las Vegas to Cuenca, Ecuador to make their retirement savings stretch.
Cynthia and Edd wanted to have a relaxing retirement, but they realised it wouldn’t be possible to have the same lifestyle in Las Vegas for economic reasons. They found that in Cuenca, Ecuador, there’s a community of American emigrants, shortly after their trip to Cuenca they decided to move there and haven’t looked back since.
Living in Ecuador allowed them to enjoy the culture of living in a city without the affordability issues they would face in many US cities. Although Cuenca, which is near the Andes in southern Ecuador, isn’t far from Las Vegas, they don’t feel as if their day-to-day life is much different from what it would be like living in Las Vegas.
Mohamed Ewasha
Mohamed Ewasha
Mohamed Ewasha, also known as the marathon man is 69 years old living in London. He previously trained to be a PE teacher in Egypt and later moved to England in the 70s and became a taxi driver. He is now semi-retired and continuing part time as a taxi driver. Mohamed has been running since he was 18 years old. Now he’s semi-retired Mohamed has a lot more time on his hands, allowing him to run six times a week, covering 30 miles, and still being able to go to work.
In 2017 Mohamed was accepted to run the London Marathon for the Royal Voluntary Service. He reached his minimum fundraising target with its generous donation of £1,000 by McCarthy & Stone, and in April 2018 Mo Erasha completed the marathon
