The Costco Kayak, Priorities, and Retirement Planning

We’ve all had that Costco moment: you go in for paper towels and walk out dreaming about a kayak. Just me? Maybe it's the pergola, or the Trager, or the (fill in the blank) for you. That daydream taught me something important about retirement planning: buying is easy, but making time for what matters is the real challenge. 

So, I went to Costco last weekend for paper towels. That’s it - simple trip. But maybe you know that joke: I went to Costco for blueberries, and $500 later...

So paper towels, some produce, but then, I saw it: a kayak. Bright, shiny, full of promise - sitting there like it had my name on it.

And in that moment, my brain started writing checks my calendar couldn’t cash. Here’s why your “Costco kayak” could shape your retirement plan.

The Fantasy

First, I pictured the SUV upgrade: those sleek roof racks with matching tie-downs because, obviously, safety and aesthetics matter.

Then I imagined clearing out the garage. Goodbye dusty tools, and too-small kids bikes. Hello Pinterest-worthy wall mount to hang the kayak like a piece of modern art. I even added accessories in my mind: paddles, life jackets, maybe a GoPro so people knew I wasn’t just drifting around in a pond.

For a moment, I had a whole kayaking lifestyle.

Reality Check

Then it hit me. Between coaching kids’ sports, working, hitting the gym, and that occasional round of golf? That kayak would hang on the wall like a forgotten trophy, collecting dust.

Fast forward five years to a neighborhood yard sale:
“Lightly used kayak for sale!” Someone asks, “Did you love kayaking?” And I smile and say, “Oh yeah! Loved it…when I had time.”

Here’s the kicker: if I ever actually buy one, it’ll probably be used, at a discount. Because that’s the honest truth about where it ranks in my life.

The Lesson

Buying the kayak is easy. Making time for it is hard.

And retirement? It’s the same way. Saving money isn’t the challenge. The challenge is making sure those savings line up with the life you really want - your actual priorities.

Before you retire, ask yourself:

• What’s my version of the Costco kayak? (maybe, for you, it is the kayak)
• What will truly matter to me when the work calendar is gone?
• How do I structure my plan so those priorities don’t end up in the “yard sale” pile?

Want practical steps to get retirement-ready? Check out Forget the 80% Rule: Find Your Real Retirement Number.

A great retirement plan isn’t about the biggest balance or the flashiest investments. It’s about living the life that matters most to you. And the perfect retirement, for you, is the one you act on!

Still working? Boost your future flexibility with these five quick tips to supercharge your retirement savings.

Ready to talk about your version of the “Costco kayak”? Let’s figure it out now, so your retirement dreams don’t collect dust.
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