I’m having a milestone birthday this month – 60 years old.  Turning 60 – after enjoying a full decade of early retirement – feels like a bigger milestone than other birthdays.  After all, 60 is the age that many people retire, including my Father and Father-In-Law.  It feels like the “early” part of our retirement is now over, but I still have a lot of time to completely shape our retirement.  

For fun, my son – who is an AI software developer – suggested asking AI for advice on “things to focus on over the next few years”.  

I let it know that we are already retired, in good health, and living comfortably financially.  

Here’s what it consoled … 

Treat Health as Your Primary Asset – Money bought you freedom. Health lets you enjoy it. Strength training, walking, flexibility, and preventive care matter more now than ever. The goal isn’t just living longer — it’s staying capable, energetic, and independent.

Protect the Marriage That Got You Here – After ten years of retirement together, your spouse isn’t just a partner — they’re your daily teammate. Keep dating each other. Travel together. Laugh often. Shared experiences become the real retirement portfolio.

Be Intentional With Time – Busy is easy. Meaningful takes thought. Choose activities that energize you instead of simply filling the calendar. Say yes to things that create stories, not obligations.

Invest in Friendships – Social circles quietly shrink in retirement unless you actively maintain them. Schedule dinners. Plan trips. Join groups. Longevity research keeps proving the same thing: relationships matter as much as exercise.

Shift From Success to Significance – You’ve already achieved enough. Now it’s about contribution. Mentor someone. Serve a role in your community.  Volunteer skills you spent decades developing. Passing wisdom forward is deeply satisfying.

Design the Next Decade – Retirement isn’t one long phase — it comes in chapters. Think about what your 60s should feel like. More travel? Grandkids? Creative projects? Seasonal living? Design it instead of drifting into it.

Simplify Early – Make future decisions while they’re still easy. Reduce clutter, streamline finances, and lighten responsibilities. Simplification creates freedom and reduces stress later.

Appreciate the Moment You’re In – Very few people reach 60 healthy, financially secure, and retired. Notice it. Enjoy slow mornings, long conversations, and ordinary days. This may quietly become one of the best decades of your life.  Reaching age 60 isn’t about slowing down. It’s about finally having the freedom to live deliberately.

Overall, I think it did a pretty good job speaking to someone in our situation.  It’s amazing how “thoughtful” the technology is and how effectively it communicates. 

While all of the things that it suggested to focus have been already been on our priority list over the last 10 years – they are important to continue. 

The one that I probably haven’t dedicated enough focus to (yet) is “Simplify Early”.  I like the way that it says that reducing clutter and organizing responsibilities are much easier now than they will be in the future.  

We also could focus some more attention on “Designing our Next Decade”.  We’ve made a lot of lifestyle changes already, but it doesn’t feel like we are completely done yet.

What other advice would you add to the list?

Image: Pixabay