Venessa Jackson loved her job as an executive assistant at San Diego City Hall.
“I like talking with people, I like problem solving, I like the feeling of being helpful,” she said. Just over a year ago, as she approached her 68th birthday, she thought, “I want to retire when I am still in good health,” as she ed that her grandmother retired at about the same age and a year later was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.
No one on their deathbed says I wish I had spent more time in the office. But she worried about two things — could she afford to retire and would she be bored.
Financially, she decided she would be fine since she would have income from Social Security, a city pension and some savings in retirement s.
Her official retirement started in July. Boredom lasted one week. Between her line dancing classes, water aerobics, church activities, and busy social calendar with friends and family, she barely has time to enjoy one of retirement’s greatest perks – not having to battle traffic to get to and from the office.
Jackson’s retirement philosophy is simple: “I’m active enough and can also just hang at home. I go when and where I want to go. It is a gift, and I am grateful.”
We meet at Jackson’s townhome that she purchased in 1995, one of the best financial decisions she ever made. Now single, she has been married twice and has two grown children and four grandchildren. She greets me at the door wearing large turquoise earrings and several colorful necklaces. The immaculate house is beautifully decorated with family photos, and African paintings, sculptures, and dolls.
A self-described night owl who never goes to bed before 1 a.m., she still wakes up at 6 a.m. from decades of habit. Now she appreciates the freedom to read or watch TV in the morning and ease into her day.
Jackson’s early career was in banking, influenced by her father, a loan officer at Security Pacific Bank. For 34 years, she worked primarily in auto finance, though she its with a laugh, “I hate math, I hate money … it was never my aspiration to be in banking.” But it provided stability for her family as a single mother. A sudden closure of her employer in 2008 led to what she calls “divine intervention” – a career shift to City Hall after volunteering for a City Council candidate. The position better suited her personality.
Despite having suffered a stroke in 2016 that affected her mobility, Jackson maintains an active schedule with stretching classes twice weekly, water aerobics, and recently line dancing. “I took that for my brain,” she explains, “because you have to the different steps.” She also rides a three-wheeled bike.
At Greater Life Church, where she’s been a member for 52 years and is the only living charter member, Jackson leads the “old school choir” for 55 and over. She also facilitates “Victorious Secrets,” a mentoring program for young women. Music runs in her family – her father was an organist for the San Diego Chargers and Clippers, and her mother once sang with Aretha Franklin in her gospel days. Jackson is also considering expanding her part-time interior decorating business.
“Retirement can be whatever you want it to be,” she reflects. “If someone thinks that it’s like the end of an active, happy life, that’s not true … it can turn out to be the best time of your life.”
With age has come a new freedom and authenticity. “I feel free to kind of say what I think… just to kind of really speak my truth more.”
When asked about challenges, Jackson pauses before responding, “I am very fortunate. My biggest challenge is keeping track of my calendar.”
“Got to go. I’m late for dance class.”
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