A first look at the book
I was watching the sun rise over the Indian Ocean when I began thinking about a flight I had not taken yet. My last one.
We were crossing the equator in a Boeing 777, with 375 people on board. It was late August 2026. After forty five years of flying, my final landing was only a few months away.
Aviation had given me a remarkable life. Soon, there would be no next flight on my roster. I would still have the experience, but I would need to find a different shape for my days.
Perhaps you are approaching a moment like that. Perhaps work has already ended, by choice or otherwise, and you are discovering what you miss as well as what you welcome.
This is a first look at the book that grew from my own preparation, my wife Aurelia’s experience and conversations with people already living life after work. It is about finding your way into a life you can enjoy, with people and interests that matter to you.
What leaving work can take with it
When Aurelia left aviation after eighteen and a half years, the first few weeks were enjoyable. She could rest and put things in order at home. The job had demanded a great deal of her, and the relief was real.
Over time, she began to miss parts of working life that were harder to name. People had asked for her judgement. Through coaching, leadership and recruitment, she had helped others learn and felt that her experience mattered.
She missed the laughter with the crew too. The shared jokes, the familiar conversations, the pleasure of being among people who understood the world she worked in.
Family and friends still loved her. I loved her. Yet those relationships could not replace every kind of connection the job had provided.
I had understood why she needed to leave. I had not understood well enough what might follow. Looking back, I wish we had talked earlier about what she would miss and how we might prepare for it together.
Her transition has involved other difficulties too, including the loss of savings when two businesses ended. She is still seeking the connections and independence she misses. I cannot turn her experience into a neat story with everything resolved.
What she wants me to understand is that retirement can still be a beautiful beginning. She wants people to find company and things to look forward to, rather than struggle alone.
If work gave you a place to belong, it makes sense to miss it. That does not mean leaving was the wrong decision. It may help to ask what, specifically, you would like to have in your life again.
What there is to look forward to
As we developed Life Minus Work, we spoke with people who were thoroughly enjoying life after work. Some were travelling or studying. Others were spending more time with family, helping in their communities or simply enjoying the freedom to decide how to spend a day.
There was no single version of a good retirement. Some people wanted a busy calendar. Others were delighted to have rather less in it.
The question is what would feel good to you, within the life you actually have. Your health, finances and responsibilities belong in that conversation. So does the possibility that you might enjoy something you have never tried.
For me, one unexpected interest has been mini skid steers. I have a property to work on, machines to learn about and people to exchange ideas with. Through FlightDeck2Bush, I share what I am learning and answer questions. My machine comparison website, miniskidmatch.com, grew from the same interest.
After years of being expected to know the answer on a flight deck, I am a beginner again. There has been a noticeable reduction in altitude.
The pleasure is in learning and finding a different community. You do not need a business or a social media following for that. A regular walk with someone whose company you enjoy might be a very good beginning.
There is room for rest as well. I want time with Aurelia and friends, and days that do not need to produce anything. I am still learning how that balance will feel.
Life after work can become one of the best chapters of your life. You are allowed to take some time discovering what that means for you.
Six foundations for your own life
The book explores six foundations that can help you think about the week you want to live. You do not have to improve all of them or fill every day. Notice which one draws your attention now.
Purpose
What gives a day some direction? It might be caring for someone, tending a garden or working towards something you want to learn. It need not become a grand mission.
Connection
Who would you like to see more often? Where could you become a familiar face? Friendship often needs an invitation and a reason to meet again.
Vitality
What helps you feel as well as you can? Movement, rest and attention to your health can support the things you enjoy. Begin with what suits your body and circumstances.
Learning
What are you curious about? There is pleasure in getting a little better at something, even when nobody is awarding a certificate at the end.
Adventure
What would make life feel a little wider? A different walking route, a local outing or a bigger trip can all count. The size of the adventure is yours to choose.
Contribution
Where would you enjoy sharing something you know or helping someone else? Contribution can be quiet and occasional. You are allowed to set limits and to receive help too.
One activity may touch several foundations. A community garden can offer movement, learning and company. Start with something that appeals to you, then see what it adds to your week.
Your worth does not depend on how much you manage to do. These are possibilities to explore, not marks to earn.
A few minutes for your own next chapter
Put the kettle on if you like. Write a few honest words, rather than the answer you think you ought to give. If you have already left work, answer from where you are now.
What will I miss or what am I missing
Think beyond the job itself. It might be the company, a familiar routine, independence or being asked for your opinion.
What am I ready to leave behind
Perhaps the rush, the commute or the feeling that there is never enough time. You can miss parts of work and be pleased to let others go.
What would make an ordinary Tuesday feel worthwhile
Picture a real day. Who might be in it? What would you look forward to? Leave room for the quiet parts too.
Choose one small thing you could try this week, and make it specific enough to begin. You might invite someone for a walk or find out when a local group meets.
My first small step is
Continue with Life Minus Work
If something in these pages felt familiar, the full book takes the conversation further. We explore identity after work, changing relationships and the pleasure of becoming a beginner. The twelve Blueprint worksheets at the end help you shape an ordinary week, try something new and adjust as you learn.
You can also explore your own situation through the Life Minus Work website.
Reflection Report
Guided questions help you consider the themes in your life and possible next steps. Read the suggestions with curiosity. Keep what fits and question what does not.
Retirement Readiness Calculator
Consider how you feel about areas such as identity, connection and vitality. Your answers offer a starting point for reflection. A score cannot tell you whether you should retire.
Explore the Retirement Readiness Calculator
These are educational reflection tools, not clinical assessments or financial forecasts. You can preview examples from the website before deciding whether to take part.
Visit Life Minus Work and preview the reports
What is your minus
What would you like less of, and what would you like more of? You might be ready for less rushing and more time with people you love. Or less pressure to have everything worked out, and more room to try.
Keep your answer for yourself, or talk it over with someone. It is one way to begin deciding what you want this next part of life to hold.
I am still preparing for my final flight as I write this. There is plenty I have yet to learn. I hope this book helps you give your own next chapter the attention it deserves, and find some pleasure in making a start.
Kirk Pleasant