Spring Retreat for Baby Boomers

Glenda and I have been leading the Better with Age retreat for years now, and here’s what we know: the years between 50 and 70 bring transitions most of us aren’t prepared for. We excel at building careers and raising families, but finishing strong? That takes different wisdom.

This April, join us on Keats Island, where we’ll tackle the real questions— where purpose lives when the career ladder ends, how to navigate loss without losing yourself, how to shift from accumulating wealth to distributing it wisely, and discuss what legacy actually means beyond the legal paperwork. No sales pitches, no generic advice. Just honest conversations with people in the same season, practical scenarios you can actually use, and four days to think clearly about what matters most. The island setting, gourmet meals, and Barnabas Landing’s hospitality create the space you need to do this work well. If you’re sensing it’s time to get intentional about how you finish, this retreat is for you.

Frequently Asked Questions:

When and where is the retreat?
March 31 – April 3rd, 2026, at Barnabas Landing on Keats Island, BC.
How do I get to Keats Island?
We depart from Horseshoe Bay by a Water Taxi boat that will take us right to Barnabas Landing. We return the same way, and the boat trip takes about 45 minutes.
What’s included in the registration fee?
Your beautiful accommodations, all meals, teaching sessions, and materials. Also transportation to and from the island.
Who else will be there?
Expect 30-40 people, typically ages 55-80, all navigating or entering retirement. Past attendees have come from across BC, other provinces, and the US. Most share a Christian faith background, which shapes the conversations but doesn’t dominate them—the focus stays on practical wisdom for this life stage.
What’s the daily schedule like?
The retreat runs Tuesday evening through Friday morning. Days blend structured teaching with generous free time—mornings feature 90-minute plenary sessions with coffee breaks between them, afternoons are mostly yours (with optional workshops available), and evenings include dinner followed by another 90-minute session. You’ll have stretches from 2-5 PM each day to explore the island, rest, or connect with others. The espresso bar opens early for those who want it, breakfast is rolling so you can eat at your own pace, and evenings wrap with coffee and conversation. The pace is intentional—enough structure to go deep, enough space to process.
Do I need to come with a spouse/partner?
No. The retreat works whether you come solo, as a couple, or with a friend. Sessions address topics relevant to everyone in this life stage, and the small group format ensures you’ll connect with others regardless of how you arrive. Many attendees come on their own and find the experience just as valuable—sometimes more so, since it allows focused reflection without needing to coordinate with someone else’s experience.
What if I can’t make all four days?
The retreat is designed as a complete experience—each session builds on the previous ones, and the rhythm of teaching, reflection, and community develops over the full arc. Missing portions means losing both content and the relational connections that form throughout. Also, since we are chartering a boat for the group departure from Horseshoe Bay on Tuesday and returning on Friday, partial attendance creates logistical complications. If scheduling is tight, it’s worth waiting for a year when you can commit to all four days rather than attending partially.
Is this faith-based?
Yes. The retreat operates from a Christian worldview, and most attendees share that background. Faith shows up naturally in the content—discussions about purpose, legacy, and navigating life transitions are grounded in biblical wisdom. That said, this isn’t a theology seminar. The focus stays practical: how your faith informs real decisions about money, relationships, loss, and purpose in this season. The setting at Barnabas Landing, a Christian retreat center, reflects this orientation.
What makes this different from other retirement seminars?
Great question! Most retirement events exist to sell you financial products, insurance, or estate planning services. This retreat is purely educational—you’ll leave with practical wisdom, not someone’s business card. We use real scenarios instead of generic advice, focus on the full range of transitions you’re actually facing (not just money), and create space for honest conversation with people in the same season. The island setting removes normal distractions, the teaching comes from experience rather than PowerPoint theory, and the four days give you time to actually think rather than just absorb information and leave.
Will there be homework or follow-up?
No homework—this isn’t school. The retreat itself gives you frameworks and questions worth returning to, but there’s no formal curriculum or assignments afterward. What you do take with you are the connections you make. Many attendees stay in touch with people they meet, and those relationships often become the ongoing resource. We’re exploring ways to continue the conversation beyond the retreat, but for now, the four days stand on their own.
What’s the cancellation policy?
Barnabas states: A non-refundable deposit is required at the time of booking. The remaining balance becomes non-refundable 30 days prior to the retreat. If a guest experiences a health emergency within those 30 days that prevents them from attending, we will refund the retreat fees with the exception of the non-refundable deposit.I will check with Barnabas and post the details here when I have them.
Can I bring questions about my specific situation?
Yes, but with the right expectations. The plenary sessions address common scenarios and principles that apply broadly. Optional workshops offer smaller settings where specific topics get more attention. You’ll have natural opportunities during breaks, meals, and free time to talk with speakers and other attendees about your particular circumstances. What we don’t offer is personal financial planning, legal consultation, or one-on-one counseling—this is group teaching designed to give you frameworks for thinking through your own decisions, not customized advice for your exact situation.

It’s Time For Men to Break Out Of Their Shell and Make Room for Friendship

There’s a common stereotype that men don’t need friends, that they don’t have time for friendship, or that it isn’t an important part of their lives. This is a damaging narrative that needs to be corrected. The truth is that friendships are just as important for men as they are for women, and the benefits of having strong friendships far outweigh any excuses not to make time for them.

The Benefits of Friendship

Having strong friendships can provide numerous benefits such as increased mental health, improved self-esteem, greater emotional support, and even better physical health. People with strong friendships tend to live longer than those without, and those who actively maintain their social networks tend to enjoy more fulfilling lives overall. Furthermore, having strong relationships can help men become better leaders in their professional lives. Studies have shown that people who cultivate meaningful relationships with others are more likely to be successful in business and leadership roles.

Respecting the Depth of Friendship

When it comes to building real connections with other people, there needs to be a certain level of respect and trust in order for the relationship to flourish. Respect is essential because it encourages both parties involved to open up about themselves and share personal experiences without fear of judgement or ridicule. This kind of depth helps create an environment where individuals feel comfortable enough to talk openly about their challenges and successes with each other. It also allows them to build meaningful relationships over time by growing together through shared experiences—both good and bad—and learning from each other along the way.

Activities That Bring Friends Together

Making room for friendship doesn’t necessarily mean spending hours pouring your heart out on a park bench every day; it could simply mean carving out some quality time with friends on a regular basis for activities like playing video games or sports together; going out for drinks or dinner; watching movies; exploring new places; attending events or conferences; taking classes together; trying out new recipes at home; or just catching up over coffee or tea on weekends. These activities allow people to build lasting friendships while having fun at the same time!

Earlier, an interview aired on the television show 100 Huntley Street about the friendship I share with Bob Kuhn and David Bentall. In it we talk about the mutual sharing of weakness as a foundation of authentic friendship. Take a look using the link below. (It starts at the 4:30 mark on the broadcast).

What is Keeping You?

Men should prioritize friendship in their lives and actively seek opportunities to engage with friends. Building meaningful connections with those around us is essential for mental, emotional, and physical health. Spending time with close friends can help us feel more connected, reduce stress, and boost our moods.

Additionally, it’s important to be mindful of our relationships with family members and show them the same attention as we do our closest friends. For the past three years, I have been calling my brothers each Sunday night just to stay in touch. I also phone my mother-in-law regularly to check in on how she is doing.

Making room in our lives for friendship is essential if we want true fulfillment. Not only do friendships offer countless benefits, but they also encourage us to grow into healthier versions of ourselves when we surround ourselves with people who genuinely care about us and vice versa. So go ahead, break out of your shell—it’s time you reap all the rewards friendship has waiting for you!

Aging Reflections: A Road Less Travelled

Photo Credit: Jeremy Pue, Whitewater Productions. “A Road on Keats Island”

The photo above is one of the few roads on Keats Island and where our Better with Age retreat will be held. I love how the image draws you forward, but you do not know where it goes once you’re deeper into the forest. I do know that this road does come to a point where you have to make a decision to go right or go left.

It has been my lifelong commitment to inspire souls to lead, to find strength in their convictions, and to empower their steps with unwavering confidence. Now, as I reflect on the inevitability of my own aging, I recognize the need for those skills to adapt and endure. That is why I joined my dear friends, Dr. Paul Pearce and Dr. Paul Stevens, who taught a course at Regent College called “Aging Matters,” based on Stevens’s book. This is also why my wife Glenda, Paul and I are facilitating a retreat for Baby Boomers in partnership with Barnabas Landing called “Better with Age.”

Better with Age allows Baby Boomers to delve into matters of calling, spirituality, and legacy in retirement. In this environment, we want to be encouraged to continue to discern our purpose as we grow older and remain meaningfully engaged for the rest of our lives. We want you to better understand this season of life and reframe retirement as a time of continued calling and productivity. Better with Age points to biblical wisdom that can help us redefine aging as an extraordinarily fruitful season of life.

The Fork in the Road – Acceptance or Denial?

I found myself, much like you might have, standing at a metaphorical fork in the road. One path, worn by the countless footsteps of the courageous, is the thoroughfare of acceptance—a road where we acknowledge the reality of our age with clear eyes and a full heart. The other path is denial, coated with the veneer of youth—a tempting detour that leads one into a mirage, away from the weight of years and the truth they carry.

Choosing the road of aging is far from waving a white flag; it is an act of courage. It’s an uprising against the fear of irrelevance, a bold declaration that our sunset years can be as enriching as the dawn of our youth. Here, real love flourishes, the kind that endures beyond transitory feelings—a resilient garden blooming from the seed of commitment nourished by actions and deeds.

Guidance Through the Uncertainties of Aging

Allow me to impart some guidance drawn from years of whispering courage into the hearts of leaders, many of whom struggle in the twilight of their careers:

Acknowledge Change: Recognize the transformation in your body and mind as a natural progression of life, not as an enemy to be contested but as a companion on your journey. This acceptance paves the way for peace and prepares the arena for untapped growth.
Invest in Healthy Living: We must learn and practice skills to maintain vitality. Prioritize wellness, engage in activities that nourish your body, and cultivate habits that anchor your mental health. Remember, well-being is a discipline, not a mere stroke of luck.
Cultivate Lasting Bonds: True affection stems from the roots of shared experiences and weathered storms. Commit to your relationships, be they professional or personal, and watch as affection deepens into a resilient bond that time can only strengthen, not wither.
Legacy of Leadership: Aging as a leader bestows upon you the rare opportunity to reflect not only on successes but also on the wisdom harvested from trials. Pass down this legacy. Mentor the young, ignite purpose in their endeavours, and gift them with a compass that points toward integrity and authentic living.
The Virtue of Adaptability: In a world that glorifies perpetual youth, be the voice that champions adaptability. Model how one can simultaneously honour the past and gracefully evolve to adopt new perspectives, skills, and roles.

Forks and Roads – A Personal Anecdote

Like you, I, too, encountered this fork. I was living the “Life of Carson,” as my doctor once told me, and on the road of denial, thinking I could do everything I have always been able to do. Well, that is not true anymore. Now I chose the road of aging—the less-travelled road, and I am learning about new things and seeing how God still has purpose for us as we age. I accepted the graying of my hair as a crown of wisdom, and although my family DNA does not seem to flood my top with grey, I do see more than I did last year. The new lines on my face are etchings of both joy and sorrow, borne with equal grace.

What changed my perspective? In 2022, I spent three weeks in a hospital ICU. I was having a multitude of tests done on my heart due to an incident. That experience caused me to face, with some evidence, that I was getting older. To be honest, I fought it, but in quiet moments, while resting in my hospital bed, I realized I was entering what I now call the third period of the hockey game and with no promise of overtime. I came out of the hospital with an ICD, and a different lifestyle. This choice to accept my getting older has not been without its struggle, but it has been illuminated with an authenticity that actually makes life even better.

What road are you on? Pause. Reflect. Then, stride forward, knowing that you do not walk it alone. We all are learning lessons. My insights and yours are like lanterns left to light the way for others. May they guide you to lead with conviction as you inherit the mantle of your twilight sage.

In closing, remember readers, the roads we select will wind and weave differently for each of us, but the horizon is shared—the dusk of our days. As the Scriptures share, we do not number our days, but we can choose how we will live them. Aging is neither the end of the road nor the cessation of influence; it is a continuance, a testament to the lives we’ve moulded, the leadership we’ve inspired, and the legacy we leave behind.

Lead on, not despite your years, but because of them.