When I retire, I will…
Have you ever caught yourself drifting into this rabbit hole? Maybe not if you are fresh out of college and excited to earn your own money, get your own place, and taste new freedom. But once the 30s set in and life gains a bit more structure, we often find ourselves in the middle of adult life, which brings more questions than answers.
Retirement Plan is a 2026 Oscar Nominee, co-written by John Kelly and Tara Lawall. A 7-minute Irish animation, directed by John Kelly, uses an art style familiar to millennials – subdued, minimal, and lines that look straight out of MS Paint.
The film features a man in his 60s or 70s whose first thought about retirement is to reply to flagged emails and read saved articles. It made me think that maybe this film is set in the future of millennials or later generations who grew up in the information age, with early access to electronics and the World Wide Web.
The 7-minute short film, in essence, is a to-do list that reveals the nature, personality, and activities the protagonist values. His wishlist spans his life, both inside and outside his house, at work, in relationships, childhood memories, money matters, adventures, and hobbies.
He lists everything that is part of our collective daily lives yet remains invisible and neglected as we chase our goals and ambitions, or just try to survive.
Retirement Plan is a reminder that life will pass you by if you are not careful. So, take that hike, organize your wardrobe, talk to that person, say that particular thing, and take good care of your health. A time will come when your daily work will cease to exist, and you will find yourself staring at unfulfillment and a body not in alignment with your desires.
“When I retire, I will be present. Be aggressively present.”
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