Retirement is an exciting time, but it can also be a bittersweet moment for many people. The years of hard work, long commutes, and angry clients are finally coming to an end. Yet, at the same time, so are the moments with colleagues that have become friends.
Whether or not we like it, work provides us with a sense of structure and routine. So when this stops, many people may find it a bit overwhelming. Others may find it exhilarating as they’ve been waiting for this moment to roll around literally for decades. Finally, the never-ending holiday is starting, and you can start planning travels to all those far-flung exotic places.
If you know someone that’s retiring: whether it’s your parent, friend, colleague, or boss, it’s important to not let this moment go by unnoticed. By taking the time to congratulate them, you show that you value them as a person, and at the same time, you help them step into this new chapter of their life.
You don’t have to do anything fancy, buy them a gift or even an expensive card. Sometimes an email, a call, or just a scribbled note with something meaningful is enough to let the person know you’re celebrating this important milestone with them.
However, we know finding the right words can often be pretty hard. So we’ve tried to make it as easy as possible for you by listing our 151 favorite retirement wishes. You are guaranteed to find a message that will really capture what you are trying to say.
If you know many people that will be retiring soon – we recommend you bookmark this tab, so you never have to waste time and energy figuring out what to say.
51 Best Happy Retirement Wishes
Below you’ll find our favorite happy retirement wishes that we’ve handpicked for you. These are light and breezy and is guaranteed to put a smile on the future retiree’s face.
- Now you have no more excuses to get out of a cocktail date! Congrats on your retirement.
- Your kindness and good spirits will be missed. Congrats on your retirement. You completely deserve it.
- Wishing you a happy retirement full of good friends and adventure.
- I hope you finally get around to ticking off all those items on your bucket list. Here’s to happy travels and many adventures. Enjoy every moment. You’ve earned it.
- I’m so grateful to have had you as a mentor in my life so far. Thanks for supporting me when I needed it most. I hope this new chapter will be full of beautiful moments.
- Wishing you a long, healthy, and joyous retirement.
- Congratulations on reaching this important milestone. We’re thrilled that we got to be part of your journey. I look forward to seeing what you will be getting up to during this new fun phase of your life.
- To one of my favorite people in the world: congrats on your retirement.
- Best of luck with your new chapter. I hope you get all the rest and relaxation after decades of putting work and other people first.
- Best wishes on your retirement. I hope these years will be some of the most rewarding years of your life.
- Now I hope you have the time to chase the rest of your dreams. Enjoy your retirement!
- Thanks for your hard work and dedication over the years. Now you get to enjoy the fruits of your labor – you deserve it completely.
- I wish you a happy, healthy, and joyous retirement.
- Thank you for always inspiring and challenging us to be better in everything we do. Congrats on reaching this beautiful milestone.
- We hope you will take the time to do all the things you’ve dreamt about doing. You deserve every minute of it.
- As far as I know, there’s never enough time in retirement to do everything you want to do – I hope you give it your best shot!
- I’m sad to know you won’t be here anymore, but I’m satisfied knowing I had the opportunity to work with such an incredible human. Enjoy every moment of your hard-earned retirement.
- Enjoy this exciting new phase in your life. I hope you get around to reading all the books and visiting all the museums on your list. Enjoy it.
- Here’s to an incredible second act full of love, happiness, and adventure. You deserve it through and through.
- Congrats on your retirement. You’ve earned it through and through.
- I hope you have a beautiful retirement after such an illustrious career.
- Congrats on making it to this incredible moment in life. You’ve worked tirelessly, and now you can finally enjoy the fruits of your labor.
- It is our hope that this chapter will be filled with magnificent friends, loving family, and wonderful memories. Congrats on your retirement!
- Congrats on your retirement! You should know that the wisdom you shared with us throughout your time here will forever stay in our hearts.
- I hope your retirement is full of happiness. Congrats on reaching this milestone.
- Congrats on your long-awaited and well-deserved retirement – I hope it’s even more memorable than the first.
- Thanks for everything you’ve done for me. Good luck with your retirement.
- Congrats on your second act. Now, it’s finally time to enjoy all those things you never had time for.
- I can’t believe this moment has now finally arrived! Congrats on this big achievement.
- You’ve worked so hard – finally, it’s time to kick back and enjoy the small things. Here’s to a fantastic retirement.
- Congratulations on achieving this milestone after years of hard work and dedication.
- Congrats on reaching this milestone. I hope this new chapter is filled with the things and people you love.
- Congrats, you’re now your own boss. Enjoy your well-deserved retirement.
- The best part of retirement is that you can finally decide how you want to spend each minute. So I hope you will fill your days with the things that make you happy.
- Congrats on this huge milestone. I hope you enjoy every second of your newfound freedom.
- I wish you great health, happiness, and success in this new chapter of life. You worked hard for it.
- At work, you always went the extra mile, but now it’s time to take a well-deserved break. Congrats on your retirement.
- I can’t believe you are retiring before me! Can we please swap places?
- Congrats on your second act. I hope you will embark on all kinds of new adventures.
- Today we are celebrating a massive milestone. Enjoy this exciting new chapter.
- Life has now finally given you official permission to relax. Congrats!
- There’s a whole world of possibilities ahead. I can’t wait to see what you get up to.
- I hope you get around to all the wonderful things you want to do. Now is the time to do it!
- Retirement may feel both exciting and scary, but I know you are going to make the most of every day. Congrats on your second chapter.
- Enjoy the sweet, sweet fruits of your labor. You deserve it more than anyone I know.
- Life really starts when you retire. I can’t wait to see the great things you will still accomplish.
- This is not the end: you are just starting a whole new chapter. Congrats.
- You’ve made it to the top! I’m so excited about all the great things I know you will do in your retirement.
- You’ve made it! I look forward to new adventures together. Here’s to crossing off all those destinations on your bucket list.
- Happy retirement! I wish you endless happy days with your friends and family.
- Congrats on finally being your own boss. Enjoy this special time because you’ve earned it fair and square.
25 Retirement wishes to make them laugh
If the person that’s retiring has a good sense of humor or loves to laugh, then look no further than this category when picking a retirement wish. Similarly, if you have a close bond with the person and enjoy the occasional banter, then you might want to consider one of these wishes.
- It only took God six days to create the heavens and the earth and then retire. What took you so long?
- Your retirement is bringing up a lot of strange emotions in me, but I’d have to say envy is the biggest one.
- Can we swap places? I’m just a little bit jealous. Congrats on your retirement.
- When you retire, you finally escape the rat race, but you need to learn to live on less cheese.
- Finally, a holiday that never ends! Congrats on reaching this milestone.
- Did you know retirement is also known as the word’s longest coffee break?
- Put on your dancing shoes and grab your party dress – you’ve finally made it! Enjoy your retirement to the max.
- You’re not really retired – golfing is really a full-time job. Best wishes for this exciting new chapter. You deserve it.
- When you retire, you will discover that you can actually accomplish a lot without wearing pants. Enjoy it.
- Retirement is the perfect excuse to spend all of your life savings. I hope you enjoy every single moment of this very exciting time.
- I hope your new manager isn’t too hard on you! (P.S. It’s your partner!)
- Enjoy the new chapter in your life where every day is a weekend. You deserve it.
- They say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks. Well, you can put brand new tires on an old car. So that’s exactly what you are doing: re-tiring.
- What do you call a happy person on a Monday morning? A retired one.
- Goodbye tension and hello beautiful pension. Congrats!
- Retirement doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a coffee break. So make sure I’m on your schedule!
- I’m so happy that you are living proof that we can all get out of our jobs alive!
- Congrats on retiring! I’ve been told the pay isn’t great, but the hours sure are.
- I hate to break it to you, but the “weekend” as you know it has now lost all meaning. Okay, I’m just a little bit jealous.
- Have fun doing the things you always wanted to … as long as you’re not too old to remember them!
- Lucky you! You never have to laugh at the boss’ jokes anymore!
- Congrats on retiring! Now it doesn’t matter anymore if the government increases the retirement age.
- Your retirement has brought you two new best friends: Bed and Couch. You will be spending a lot of time with them.
- No more banging the snooze button now that you’ve uncovered the retirement button. I’m just a little bit jealous.
31 Retirement wishes to inspire them
Choosing an inspiring retirement wish is a nice way to remind the person that the new journey they are embarking on is a time to rediscover old hobbies and go on new adventures.
- Best of luck with this new chapter that you are embarking on – I know you will make a wonderful success of it.
- Wishing you a long and fulfilling retirement. You deserve every single second of this period of rest and relaxation. You’ve earned it with your hard work.
- All the hard work has finally paid off, and you reached the top of the mountain. I hope you enjoy retirement even more than you could’ve ever imagined.
- Some people might say retirement is the time to rest – I say it’s the time to really live. Enjoy it! I wish we could swap places.
- Cherish this exciting and unknown new phase in your life. You’ve worked so hard, so you deserve the time to rest and reflect on the illustrious career you’ve had.
- I’m proud of you for all the hard work you’ve done over the decades. I hope you enjoy all the new adventures that retirement will bring you.
- After climbing this big mountain, you can finally stop to enjoy the view. Congrats on reaching this important milestone in life. I hope you enjoy it to the fullest.
- I wish you many years of good health and memorable adventures. Congrats on reaching this incredible milestone in life.
- You’ve earned your wings. Now you get to be as free as a bird. Good luck on this new journey you are about to embark on.
- I have no doubt that you are going to continue achieving great things. You were never able to sit still, so I doubt you will be doing that during your retirement. Good luck in all your future endeavors. I’m rooting for you.
- I’m so proud of you for reaching this milestone. Enjoy every moment of this new phase in your life with your family.
- Enjoy the beginning of this non-stop holiday. You deserve this rest after years of hard work.
- Congratulations on your second chapter. I hope it’s everything you hoped it would be and more.
- Finally, you have the time to enjoy the finer things in life. Congrats on this milestone!
- It’s finally time to enjoy the fruits of your labor. You deserve every minute of it.
- It’s now always been easy, but you made it. So enjoy this new and exciting period of being in full control of your own time.
- I’m proud of you for reaching this incredible milestone. I hope you enjoy this time in your life.
- Retirement may feel like the end of a big chapter, but it’s actually the beginning of the most exciting one yet. I know you are going to make the most of it.
- I hope this new chapter will be full of surprising and wonderful adventures. Congrats on reaching this all-important milestone.
- Retirement is the period of your life where you stop equating time with money. Congrats, and enjoy it!
- The best thing about retirement is the quality time you can spend on your hobbies and your loved ones. You truly deserve it after all the decades of hard work.
- I hope you take this time to chase all the dreams you never got round to. Good luck, and enjoy this exciting chapter.
- I hope this new phase in your life will bring you buckets of love and happiness.
- Your years of hard work and dedication have finally paid off. You deserve it! Enjoy your retirement.
- Wishing you health and wealth and wonderful memories for your retirement years. All the best.
- May you never stop working towards your dreams and ideals. Enjoy your retirement to the max.
- Wishing you many more years with your loved ones. You deserve this special time.
- Happy retirement! I hope your future only includes more of what you love and none of what you don’t. Congrats on reaching this beautiful milestone.
- Congrats. Enjoy this retirement that you so richly deserve. You’ve worked so hard for it.
- Enjoy your second chapter. I believe the best is still to come and that you will make the most of it.
- If there’s anyone that earned this – it’s you. So now kick off your shoes and enjoy the real party years. Here’s to fantastic adventures ahead.
22 Retirement wishes to let them know you appreciate them
Important milestones like retirement are good moments to reflect on life and what someone has meant to you. Choose one of our favorite appreciative retirement wishes to let the person know that they’ve played a unique role in your life or in your team.
- Congrats on your retirement. I’m so happy that I could be a part of your life so far, and I’m thrilled to be part of your next chapter.
- Thanks for everything you’ve done for the company. You’ve made a lasting impact.
- We really appreciate all the hard work and dedication over the years. Your legacy will remain long after you’ve retired.
- Your sense of humor and good spirits made you everyone’s favorite. We are really sad to see you go, but you deserve this period of rest and relaxation.
- Thanks for always inspiring me to learn more and be my best self. I’m so happy for you that you are retiring, but I’m going to miss having you around.
- Your hard work and dedication paid off. Thanks for always giving your best.
- Thank you for bringing so much joy to the office. Enjoy your hard-earned retirement.
- Thanks for always freely sharing your knowledge with your team. You were always ready to help anyone that needed it. We are going to miss having you around.
- Congrats on reaching this big milestone. We truly appreciate your hard work and dedication over the years. You’ve really left a mark on this company.
- I appreciate you so much as a person, and I’m so proud of you. You deserve a long, happy and healthy retirement.
- You’ve always inspired those around you, and I know you will keep doing that long into your retirement.
- Good luck with your retirement. It’s hard to put into words what you’ve meant to me over the years. I hope there are many incredible adventures ahead.
- I really appreciate all the hard work and sacrifices you’ve had to make over the years. You truly deserve the most wonderful adventures during your retirement. Make the most of it!
- The lessons you taught me over the years will never be forgotten. Good luck with your retirement.
- Words are not able to describe how you’ve completely transformed this team and this company. Your legacy will live on for decades. Good luck with your retirement.
- You deserve the most incredible retirement. Congrats on reaching this beautiful new chapter in life. I hope it’s even better than you could ever imagine.
- I feel blessed that we could’ve worked together. Even on tough days, your good energy and positivity pulled me through. I hope you have a fantastic time.
- Here’s to a magnificent retirement. Thanks for all your kindness, determination, and dedication over the years. Enjoy your hard-earned retirement.
- I wouldn’t be who I am today if it wasn’t for you. You deserve a long and beautiful retirement.
- The positive impact you’ve had on this company will never be forgotten. I hope you enjoy every single moment of retirement. You deserve it through and through.
- It’s almost impossible to put into words how much I appreciate what you’ve done for me over the years. Now, it’s finally time for you to retire and put yourself first. I hope you have a magnificent time.
- Your time has finally come! For years you worked tirelessly towards your call, and now it’s finally time to kick back and look back on an incredible career. You meant so much to so many people. Thanks for being you!
22 Famous retirement quotes
A famous quote is famous for a reason – it sometimes just captures exactly what we want to say. So why reinvent the wheel when you can choose one of these beautiful famous retirement quotes?
- “Often when you think you’re at the end of something, you’re at the beginning of something else.” – Fred Rogers
- “I found out retirement means playing golf, or I don’t know what the hell it means. But to me, retirement means doing what you have fun doing.” – Dick Van Dyke
- “As your life changes, it takes time to recalibrate, to find your values again. You might also find that retirement is the time when you stretch out and find your potential.” – Sid Miramontes, Retirement: Your New Beginning
- “You don’t stop laughing when you grow old. You grow old when you stop laughing.” – George Bernard Shaw
- “Retirement: That’s when you return from work one day and say, ‘Hi honey, I’m home forever.'” – Gene Perret
- “Don’t act your age in retirement. Act like the inner young person you always have been.” – J.A. West
- “You can’t retire from being great.” – Unknown
- “The trouble with retirement is you never get the day off.” – Abe Lemons
- “Men do not quit playing because they grow old; they grow old because they quit playing.” – Oliver Wendell Holmes
- “Retirement is a blank sheet of paper. It is a chance to redesign your life into something new and different.” – Patrick Foley
- “I see retirement as just another of these reinventions, another chance to do new things and be a new version of myself.” – Walt Mossberg
- “Don’t simply retire from something; have something to retire to.” – Harry Emerson Fosdick
- “Retirement means doing whatever I want to do. It means choice.” – Dianne Nahirny
- “You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” – C.S. Lewis
- “Living each day as if it were your last doesn’t mean your last day of retirement on a remote island. It means to live fully, authentically, and spontaneously with nothing being held back.” – Jack Canfield
- “As your life changes, it takes time to recalibrate, to find your values again. You might also find that retirement is the time when you stretch out and find your potential.” – Sid Miramontes, Retirement: Your New Beginning
- “Retire from work, but not from life.” – M.K. Soni
- “There’s never enough time to do all the nothing you want.” — Bill Watterson
- “Don’t act your age in retirement. Act like the inner young person you have always been.” – J. A. West
- “My retirement plan is to get thrown into a minimum security prison in Hawaii.” — Julius Sharpe
- “Planning to retire? Before you do find your hidden passion, do the thing that you have always wanted to do.” — Catherine Pulsifer
- “There is a fountain of youth: it is your mind, your talents, the creativity you bring to your life and the lives of people you love. When you learn to tap this source, you will truly have defeated age.” — Sophia Loren