But psychology tells us that people who retire without certain things in place often experience profound regret, depression, and even health decline within their first year. This insight hit me hard because I’d been assuming retirement purpose meant volunteer work or hobbies, when really it’s about discovering what makes you feel alive outside of professional achievements. A financial plan that goes beyond the basics“Do I have enough money to retire?” is the wrong question. Couples who navigate this successfully treat retirement as a relationship transition requiring the same intentionality as any major life change. Because the best retirement isn’t the one with the biggest bank account—it’s the one where you know who you are, what matters to you, and how to create meaning in this new chapter.