Book offers useful tips to enjoyable and profitable retirement

“TOO MUCH TOGETHERNESS: Surviving Retirement as a Couple,” by Miriam Goodman; Cedar Fort, $9.99, 115 pages (nf)

Men and women view the world differently from each other, including what their retirement should look like. Miriam Goodman, author of “Too Much Togetherness: Surviving Retirement as a Couple,” suggests that married couples determine before retirement how they want to spend their retirement time if they want to make this transition an enjoyable and profitable one.

Goodman, an award-winning radio and television producer and public relations consultant, has made a study of the transition called retirement. Also the author of “Reinventing Retirement,” Goodman says, “It is never too early or too late to have this conversation.”

Her second book doesn't cover financial readiness for retirement, but offers advice on planning the end of a career and the beginning of the rest of a couple’s life together.

Each chapter begins with a quote from an author or other expert that sets the tone of the unique topics covered. Goodman does a good job covering issues such as different perspectives on socialization, varied interests and energy levels, hopes and dreams, health and dividing the work.

“Too Much Togetherness” is geared to women, but Goodman believes cooperation and compromise will benefit both husband and wife. People live longer now and more technology is now available. The transition to retirement should smooth for the person who has always worked hard.

At a time when everything old is new again, women frequently look forward to making up for lost time and doing the things they couldn’t do when they had family and/or work obligations. On the flip side, after years of faithful commitment to a career, a man may be looking forward to winding down, relaxing more and staying at home for a change.

Rich in interviews, anecdotes and good advice, Goodman provides a guide to issues that all couples must face. She has created a concise and useful book.

Stephanie Abney is a retired teacher and freelance writer. She and her husband, Jim, live in Mesa, Ariz. They have five children and 17 grandchildren. Her email is sabneyfeedback@cox.net.