A few years ago, my husband and I moved into a lovely neighborhood in a rural area. The community has a sprinkling of young families, some midlife couples who are both still working full-time, and some widows, widowers, and divorcees. However, the main demographic is couples in their sixties and seventies.

Our neighborhood is not conspicuously affluent, though most residents appear to be living comfortably in their modest homes. Most enjoy travel, golf, dining out, and maintaining and improving their property.

Having experienced consistent fellowship with many of my neighbors for these three years, I asked a few of them to comment on the quality of their marriage after retirement.

Was the transition difficult?
What do you enjoy about this phase in your marriage?
What would you tell others who are preparing for retirement?

First, a bit of data

A sampling of peer-reviewed articles reveals significant relationships between subjects' transition to retirement and several factors that may positively or negatively affect the marital relationship in retirement.

Financial stability is a key factor in predicting how well a couple will navigate this together. Clearly, those who are well-prepared financially avoid this common marital stressor.

Physical health is also a strong determinant. Committed couples may........

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