Those golden years

How to Retire: Retire Knowing You Can Enjoy Every Day
by Steven Scanlan

Chemainus: self-published, 2025
$17.99 /  9781989681336

Reviewed by Ron Verzuh

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There are almost a million centenarians in the world, according to a United Nations study on population. So when Vancouver Island writer Steven Scanlan tells me I should plan to live to be 100 I take him seriously. He means that I should make sure I have enough money socked away in my retirement fund to see me through to my golden years right up until I hit the triple-digit age.

I’ve been happily retired for 15 years. I’ve read many of the books that offer help in negotiating that first step into the scary unknown once you break the employer-employee umbilical cord. So, much of Scanlan’s advice was familiar: have a goal, a purpose, a hobby, financial security, good health.

Thankfully, he takes it into a deeper zone, exploring not only those basics but also encouraging readers to look at new options as we adjust to “this massive life transition.” To navigate it, he advises readers to “think of it like building a house. You need a vision, a blueprint, the right tools, and a willingness to do the work.”

One tempting option is living abroad. Scanlan and his wife chose it after he was made redundant. They folded the family tent in the United Kingdom and set up a gift shop in Chemainus, BC. Here and throughout the book, he offers their own retirement experiences as a guide to some dos and don’ts. The book also supplies everything you will need to retire in several desirable countries, with Portugal near the top of the list.

Another option is “The Floating Retirement Dream.” Yes, live on a cruise ship full time. Exciting. But wait. “Cruise ship living isn’t for everyone. It requires flexibility, a sense of adventure, and a willingness to trade permanence for possibility.” Are you ready to “prioritize experiences over possessions?”

In “Embracing New Horizons,” readers are invited to pursue their passions by taking up a hobby, learning a new language, playing a musical instrument, gardening or writing. Scanlan chose the latter and has published a dozen books. He’s clearly having a ball, judging from his enthusiasm.

Scanlan doesn’t talk about union-negotiated pension plans or union-sponsored retirement planning workshops. I was fortunate to have both. Our retirees’ handbook provided many of the same pointers and it was free. In addition, an employer-paid retirement expert was always available to assist if the going got complicated. I was lucky. For retirees who didn’t have a union, How to Retire is an excellent guide.

A friendly warning: There is considerable repetition. Perhaps Scanlan needed to reinforce each chapter’s key lessons with a reminder of the basic principles. Having a life purpose after retiring is one of those. But readers will want to skip over repeat statements to look for chapters that apply directly to their situation.

I skipped to “The Hidden Cost of Love” and found some tough love truths. Parental support for adult children can be a necessary thing, but it “should not mean sacrificing your own stability.” Scanlan’s rule: Say “no with compassion.”

During my work life, I watched many colleagues retire and some of them fit Scanlan’s description of leading aimless, frustrated lives. Some, as he explains, went back to paid work when they could find no new source of meaning. Some got creative. One retired couple I knew made good money writing romance novels. Hmmm!      

“Final Thoughts” at the end of each chapter contains more words of wisdom to insure a happy retirement. “Let the adventure of retirement unfold before you,” says one piece of advice. “Embrace this new chapter with an open heart and a curious mind,” says another. Who could refuse?

Other than his book, Scanlan is not selling anything. There are no product promotions, no seniors travel pitches and no special diet deals. Apart from helpful websites and government services, readers can rest easy knowing they won’t be accosted by a website managed by a robot named Jessica.

This guide to retirement covers every base in the process of saying goodbye to bosses, deadlines, office Christmas parties, and workplace headaches. It examines the essentials – health care and travel insurance (check the fine print), retirement income (calculate your needs for 20 to 30 years), taxes (don’t overpay) and “building meaningful connections.”

Listed on his FB page as the “author of books for ages 3-5 and young adult fantasy novels,” Scanlan is also releasing How to Write and Publish Your Book. He’s clearly taken his own retirement advice in finding purpose and he seems to be having a great time doing it. Here’s hoping it gets him to that magic number 100.

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Ron Verzuh is a writer and historian. [Editor’s note: Ron Verzuh recently wrote about Tom McGauley and has recently reviewed books by Joline Martin, Patricia E. Roy, Lisa Anne Smith, Charles Demers, Graeme Menzies, and Angie Ellis for The British Columbia Review.]

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The British Columbia Review

Interim Editors, 2023-26: Trevor Marc Hughes (non-fiction), Brett Josef Grubisic (fiction)
Publisher: Richard Mackie

Formerly The Ormsby Review, The British Columbia Review is an on-line book review and journal service for BC writers and readers. The Advisory Board now consists of Jean Barman, Wade Davis, Robin Fisher, Barry Gough, Hugh Johnston, Kathy Mezei, Patricia Roy, and Graeme Wynn. Provincial Government Patron (since September 2018): Creative BC. Honorary Patron: Yosef Wosk. Scholarly Patron: SFU Graduate Liberal Studies. The British Columbia Review was founded in 2016 by Richard Mackie and Alan Twigg.

“Only connect.” – E.M. Forster