Leaving the land: an exploratory study of retirement for a small group of Australian men

Retirement is a major life change for men, with their identity so often tied strongly to paid work. However, little is known about rural men who retire from farms and moved into town - leaving their land. This article investigates their experiences, with a qualitative study of seven retired farmers in New England, New South Wales. Major themes that emerged were the significance of land, the challenge of adjustment, the significance of spouses and family in the retirement decision, and the role of hobbies and interests in adjustment. The findings correspond with other studies on the importance of social interactions and a sense of purpose for successful retirement transitions and well being.