The AARP just released a survey on how couples deal with retirement. Well, there's good news and bad news.

WASHINGTON (December 3, 2008)  The AARP just released a survey that looks at the effect on relationships for married couples when one or both of the partners are retired. What they found? The good news is that for 38%, retirement has made the relationship stronger, but the survey also found,  

  Increased Tension: 74% are happier though 21% say there’s more tension in their marriage
  Less Sex: 22% report having sex less often post-retirement
  More Housework: 71% of those retired but still have a working spouse said their housework increased 

“For many couples, retirement can trigger a significant impact on the dynamics of their relationship,” said Nancy Graham, Vice President and Editor of AARP The Magazine. “Some may experience a period of adjustment to the increase in time spent together. Others might face a time of soul searching as they consider what to do with the rest of their lives."

The trick, the report says, is that it's best if both spouses are retired. That's where much of the tension is caused. The survey reveals that there is irritation and tension from the one spouse that is still working directed at the one that has retired. But even the spouse that's retired finds having a partner to spend time with makes the retirement transition easier. 

The longer a person has been retired, the more they wish they had stayed in their jobs. If your retired less than 5 years, your happy with your decision (23%). After 5 years though, 34% wished they stayed in their jobs longer. There was an article I read about boomerang careers. This is where a person retires for around 2 years, then goes back to the old job, or something new, with easier hours. Sort of like taking an extended summer break.  Could that 34% be helped by boomeranging? 

Now romance. Retirees who are in a relationship where both spouses are retired are happier, less stressed and spend more time together. That's the good news. But in terms of decreasing activities, sex seems to take the biggest hit. Among respondents in the survey, 22% report having sex less often now that they’re retired. There is a gender difference, however. Men are significantly more likely than women to say that they are having less sex after retirement (25% vs. 19%)  

Though 29% of those surveyed said they are more worried about money now that they are retired, 47% of respondents said they travel more often, Eat out more (40%), hobbies (38%), exercise more (37%) and volunteer (33%). 

I think you missed a spot. Those who are retired are a lot more likely to agree that they do more of the housework and chores now than they did before retirement. There is a very striking gender difference in regards to housework. Although, 80% of men who are retired said they agree that they have increased their share of the housework and chores now that they are retired, only 47% of working women agree that “being retired, my spouse does more of the housework and chores.” 

Additional information on can be found in the January/February 2009 issue of AARP The Magazine, and online at www.aarp.org.

photo of hand holding couple by Atmantis. Used under a Creative Commons licence.