It’s fair to say most of us retire with a sensible bucket list in mind: road trip around Australia, cruise the South Pacific, take a holiday overseas. While these humble activities sound like fun, they pale in comparison to the list of “must-do” retirement experiences suggested by Vogue Living recently.
The magazine published an article, which was republished in The Australian on Tuesday, casually suggesting over-60s indulge in a swathe of lavish experiences and spend their hard-earned cash jetting around the world in a private plane.
The article in question, titled ‘Retirement Looming? Here are 41 things you must do’, claims sailing the Greek Islands in a superyacht, borrowing a billionaire’s island and driving a Lamborghini through Tuscany are some of the many things retirees should look forward to in their golden years. Never mind the fact you’d have to be a multi-millionaire to even attempt a quarter of the list.
Other ideas include renting out a $4,500 tent in the Utah desert, vegging out at a luxe New Zealand villa, where the Obama family once vacationed, and paying thousands of dollars to play polo in Mongolia. Considering the fact Australians aged between 60-64 are retiring with a median balance of $154,453 for males and $122,848 for females, it’s unlikely many will be packing their swimsuits for a luxury pamper session in the Maldives anytime soon.
To be fair, not everything on the list was totally crazy — bucket list ideas like visiting Flinders Island in Tasmania, exploring the Great Barrier Reef and cruising to Papua New Guinea is a bit more in line with most retirees’ budgets, considering the fact that not everyone wants to blow their whole life savings in just one trip.
The indulgent bucket list didn’t sit too well with readers, with one person commenting: “Actually, there are 42 things: the first is to make the ridiculous amount of money required to fulfil this outrageously indulgent list.”
Another said they were offended by the article, saying: “Is the author assuming that anyone nearing retirement is a multi-millionaire or a billionaire? I have worked since I was 15 and now I have retirement in my sights in the next two years, but let me tell [you], I should be able to live a comfortable existence but certainly not a lavish one.”
Others argued you don’t have to spend a fortune or travel the world to enjoy your retirement years. “Alternatively, you could visit a local beach or other feature and enjoy the experience immensely,” one said.
Another added: “I’ll stick to a caravan on the coast and sharing a few tinnies with mates around a wood-fired bbq and cooking some snags.”
While one said that’ll be happy with their seniors discount on their cheeseburger and a free coffee from Maccas any day.
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