John Perras, 70, pictured in Muskoka, Ont. ‘I love the freedom to work when I want and because I enjoy it,' he says. 'It also helps to keep my mind sharp.’Cory Wright/The Globe and Mail
In Tales from the Golden Age, retirees talk about their spending, savings and whether life after work is what they expected. For more articles in this series, click here.
John Perras, 70, Toronto
I ‘retired’ three times, each one after being packaged out of my roles in radio advertising. The first time was in 2013, then in 2016, and lastly in 2024. I could’ve stayed retired each time, but I guess I’m a slow learner.
I was diagnosed with prostate cancer a few years ago. After going through radiation, I changed my attitude toward work. I was going to chill more. But it’s when you don’t look for gigs that they find you.
I’m mostly retired now, but still working casually in my own business doing sales training and listener surveys. I love the freedom to work when I want and because I enjoy it. It also helps to keep my mind sharp.
Now that I’m working way less, I travel a lot more, including spending more time in Muskoka in the summer. I have two 30-something daughters who have cottages there: one owns a yoga business and Pilates studio, and the other works there.
Sometimes, you can find me at the studio doing laundry, handing out cold towels and doing yoga on the dock.
My wife and I also recently started doing river cruises in Europe. In the winter, we visit our daughter who has a place in Costa Rica. I also enjoy cycling, golfing and boating.
Mr. Perras visits his daughter's yoga studio on Lake Joseph.Cory Wright/The Globe and Mail
I don’t really worry about money in retirement, but my wife and I are careful with our spending. We started investing when our kids were young. We understood the value of compound growth and paying yourself first, which really made a difference in growing our retirement savings.
Today, we have a good financial advisor who keeps us diversified and protects me from my own impulsive market activity. I still have a side account in which I do some of my own investing and have done pretty well.
I started taking my Canada Pension Plan benefits at 68, and my wife plans to take hers at 70. She’s a realtor who’s still working. She’s not ready to retire yet. It’s like in my business: when you decide to stop or slow down your work, clients call you out of the blue and it’s hard to resist, especially when you like what you do.
My advice to others is don’t wait to retire – whatever that looks like for you. You definitely want to travel when you have the mobility. Also, get your health checked regularly. Some people bury their heads in the sand, but part of being health-conscious is being proactive about your health. You never know when you’re going to get a health diagnosis you didn’t see coming.
A few years ago, I went golfing with two buddies and we were talking about how many good years we have left. Then, two of us had cancer and one had double-bypass heart surgery. We all survived, thankfully. So get out there and do something now, while you can. Carpe Diem.
This interview has been edited and condensed.
Attention retirees! Are you a Canadian retiree interested in discussing what life is like now that you’ve stopped working? The Globe is seeking participants for its Tales from the Golden Age feature, which examines the personal and financial realities of retirement. If you’re interested in being interviewed for this feature and agree to use your full name and have a photo taken, please e-mail us at: goldenageglobe@gmail.com. Please include a few details about how you saved and invested for retirement, and about how you spend your time. We look forward to sharing your story with our readers.