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Meet Tatiana Carvajal, a vibrant 65-year-old who has discovered the secret to a fulfilling retirement.
After years of working in telecommunications, Carvajal now spends two days a week tutoring Title 1 students in math while sharing her knowledge in Spanish.
“This is better than I’d ever hoped for,” Carvajal said. “I’m finding this so much more fulfilling than anything in my 35-year career.”
“I felt like my job was demanding, but I never felt this tired in my career,” she said. “This has been eye-opening. I always respected teachers — now I hold them up on a pedestal. It’s 100% engagement, all the time. It’s nonstop.”
Carvajal has also been traveling more in retirement, taking trips with her husband to Spain, Italy, Malta, California, and Oregon over the past year. They’re leaving soon to visit Panama.
She’s also eagerly anticipating the arrival of her fourth grandchild, who will live nearby in New Hampshire and whom she hopes to help become bilingual.
Read: More than 4 million people are turning 65 this year, and it will affect you — no matter how old you are
MarketWatch: How do you feel about turning 65?
Carvajal: Sixty hit me pretty hard. I started feeling more aches and pains. But 65 for me hasn’t been as rough. The biggest significance for me is Medicare. I hate that we live in a country where basic health insurance is so hard.
MarketWatch: How do you feel your generation is approaching aging versus previous generations?
Carvajal: We see so many people in their 70s who are so active, and I want to be that way. I used to see people at 60 and think life was over at 60. My husband’s mom is 88 and still going strong. I’ve slowed down a bit. I still hike, but not as aggressively. But I also know people dying at younger ages, and that feels so close. I think about mortality more.
MarketWatch: What are the biggest goals you want to tackle in this next chapter of your life?
Carvajal: I have a lot of little projects. I want to create a couple of picture books for my kids — their life story of trips we have taken and things we have done. I have a lot of old pictures to organize. I’d like to declutter and simplify my life. Traveling, too, is a goal. We hope to take one big trip or two a year. I’m happy going anywhere. We’ve talked about getting a small camper van and visiting people. We also love Spain. I wouldn’t be surprised if we went every year.