Most parents know the phrase “18 summers.”

It’s that gentle reminder that you only get 18 summers with your kids before they’re grown and gone — 18 chances to build sandcastles, take road trips, and watch fireworks together.

It’s heartwarming… and a little heartbreaking. Because once those summers are gone, they’re gone.

But here’s something most people never think about:
You get another version of “18 summers” later in life — during retirement.

I’m not talking about how long you’ll live, but how long you’ll stay healthy and active enough to do the things you’ve dreamed of. These are your go-go years — the years when you can hike the Grand Canyon, bike through Tuscany, or take your grandkids to Disney without needing a nap every hour.

And just like those early summers with your kids, these precious years don’t last forever.

The Retirement Clock That Isn’t on Your 401(k) Statement

When most people picture retirement, they imagine one long stretch of free time. You’ve worked hard, saved well, and now it’s your time to relax. And while retirement can indeed last decades, not every decade looks the same.

Think of retirement in three phases:

• Go-Go Years – The active years right after you retire, when you’re healthy, mobile, and eager to do all the things you’ve postponed.
  
• Slow-Go Years – You still travel and enjoy life, but maybe a little closer to home. The pace slows down.
  
• No-Go Years – You’re less active, focusing more on home, family, and health care.

Here’s the key insight: your “go-go years” — your retirement’s 18 summers — might last only 10 to 15 years. And no matter how much money you’ve saved, you can’t buy them back once they’re gone.
That’s why timing matters as much as money in a great retirement plan.

The Big Risk: Waiting Too Long
Here’s a story I’ve seen play out more than once as a financial advisor in Roanoke:

A couple comes into my office, both newly retired. They’ve saved well, they finally have the time, and they have big dreams. But they’re also facing new realities — bad knees, a recent surgery, or a chronic condition that makes some dreams harder to enjoy.

They tell me, “We should’ve done this sooner.”

The lesson? Don’t wait until “someday” to do the things you’ve always wanted to do.
If you’re in your 50s or early 60s, you still have time to plan for an active, fulfilling retirement — but the window narrows faster than you think.

Why Your “18 Summers” Need a Financial Plan

This is where money meets meaning.

Having those big, active years is wonderful — but to truly enjoy them, you need financial confidence.

Without a plan, many retirees hesitate to spend in their early years because they’re afraid of running out later. So they hold back, waiting for “the right time”… and sometimes miss their window altogether.

A smart retirement plan gives you:

• Clarity – You know exactly how much you can spend without fear of running out.
  
• Confidence – You can book that trip or buy that camper without second-guessing yourself.
  
• Control – You can front-load the experiences you want in your 60s while still protecting your later years.

A good retirement planner helps balance today’s joy with tomorrow’s security.

Designing Your Retirement’s 18 Summers
Here’s how to start planning your “go-go years” today:

• List Your Big Dreams
  What’s on your bucket list? Big trips, hobbies, experiences, or goals — don’t filter yourself.
  
• Put Them in the Go-Go Window
  Ask which of these require your best energy, health, and mobility. The African safari? That’s a go-go trip. Learning guitar? That can wait for later.
  
• Budget Backwards
  Work with a fiduciary financial advisor to estimate costs and build them into the early years of your retirement spending plan. It’s easier to work backward from your goals than to squeeze them in later.
  
• Plan for the Slow-Go and No-Go Years
  Life keeps moving. Plan for health care, inflation, and long-term care costs so you can enjoy your best years without worry.

Not Retired Yet? This Is the Perfect Time to Start
If you’re still in your 50s or early 60s and working, now’s the ideal time to start planning your retirement lifestyle. You can:

• Build a “Go-Go Fund.” Set aside a portion of savings for the first decade of retirement experiences.
  
• Time Your Retirement Date. Retiring even a year earlier could add an entire “summer” to your active years.
  
• Test-Drive Your Dreams. Try the trips or hobbies now — see what truly excites you before you retire.

Think of it as a warm-up for the retirement you’ve worked so hard for.

The Fun Side of Retirement Planning
This is the part I love most. Retirement planning isn’t just about spreadsheets and account balances — it’s about designing a life.

Ask yourself:

• Who do you want to spend your best years with?
  
• Where do you want to go?
  
• What stories do you want to tell your grandkids?

When you shift the question from “How much do I need?” to “What do I want my life to look like?”, the whole process becomes meaningful — even exciting.

A Gentle Nudge
No one ever looks back and says, “I wish I’d waited longer.”
But I’ve heard plenty of people say, “I wish we’d gone sooner. I wish we’d done it while we still could.”

Your 18 summers — whether with your kids or in your retirement — are precious. Protect them, plan for them, and most importantly, live them.

Final Takeaway
Your money matters. But your time is priceless.

Plan your retirement so your healthiest, most active years are filled with experiences you’ll cherish forever.
Because one day, you’ll count your summers — and you’ll want to know you made them count.