However, for others it is a wondrous time with few demands, leaving one free to try new things, take adventures and not worry about whether it is a good idea or a daft one.
For Alexandra artist Jen Anderson, retirement has been the time to return to the art that surrounded her as a child.
After growing up in a household of artists in Queenstown, and studying art by correspondence for school certificate, 75-year-old Anderson — who had never picked up a brush — bought a large canvas, paints and "followed [her] heart".
Forfar Gallery owner Gordon Still, of Roxburgh, said he first met Anderson at his gallery. They talked about her art but it was some time before she brought in a piece for him to see.
Astonished by her talent, he convinced her to put it up for sale and it quickly sold, he said.
Consisting of a variety of work, ranging from large to more modest-sized pieces, Anderson paints florals and gardens in differing styles. They all share colourful palettes and take the viewer into the outdoors.
Gardening is another of Anderson’s passions, as is evident in her paintings.
Moving to Alexandra in 2013 — from Invercargill, where her love of gardening led to having a home plant nursery — meant learning about the new regional conditions as she created new gardens in Central Otago.
