While 73% of pre-retirees still plan to travel during their golden years, only 27% plan to remain south for the entire winter, finds a poll by RBC.
In fact, the reality is that fewer Canadians plan to become snowbirds. And only 16% of those who are already retired actually are.
Also, there were marked differences between how the genders expect to spend their retirement years. Women were much more likely than men to say they will work as volunteers (63% vs. 52%) or spend more time with their friends (50% vs. 39%). Men, on the other hand, planned to spend more time with their spouse/partner (61% vs. 53%).
Despite these very different expectations, over one-third of couples have not talked to their spouses/partners about what they want to do when they retire.
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“If you are within five to 10 years of your ideal retirement date, it’s time to focus on what’s really important to you — your family, your health, your lifestyle, your legacy — and start preparing now for the retirement you have in mind,” says Bill Hill, National Retirement Planning Consultant at RBC.
Read: Seniors say they know it all when it comes to finance
Here are the top ways Canadians aged 50 and older plan to spend their retirement years.
| Male | Female | Retirees | Pre-retirees | |
| Taking time for myself | 68% | 73% | 72% | 68% |
| Travel | 67% | 70% | 63% | 73% |
| Spending more time with my spouse/partner | 61% | 55% | 59% | 58% |
| Improving my health | 38% | 44% | 45% | 36% |
| Spending more time with my family | 39% | 52% | 43% | 45% |
| Volunteer work | 45% | 55% | 42% | 56% |
| Spending more time with friends | 35% | 50% | 39% | 43% |
| Giving back to community | 31% | 31% | 29% | 34% |
| Improving my knowledge about finances | 18% | 13% | 22% | 10% |
| As a snowbird | 22% | 21% | 16% | 27% |