Still Needed-Staying Connected

Still Needed: Staying Connected

By Martin Stow

Retirement brings many changes.

Some expected.

Some not.

One of the quietest—and most overlooked—is the gradual loss of connection.

Fewer conversations.

Fewer familiar faces.

A sense that the world has become just a little quieter.

In this honest and practical follow-up to Still Needed: Rediscovering Purpose in Retirement, Martin Stow explores what it means to stay connected in this next stage of life.

Written from personal experience at the age of 73, this book speaks directly to men who may not say they feel isolated—but recognise something has changed.

Inside this book, you’ll discover:

• Why connection often fades after retirement

• Why many men stay silent about it

• How to reconnect without pressure or awkwardness

• Simple ways to rebuild friendships

• The importance of community in everyday life

• How small, consistent steps can make a real difference

This is not a book about becoming someone different.

It’s about recognising what matters—and taking small, natural steps to reconnect.

Written in a calm, conversational style, this book is not about big changes or complicated solutions.

It’s about something much simpler.

Because no matter where we are in life…

We don’t stop needing people.

And we certainly don’t stop being needed by them.

Still Needed: Staying Connected is the second book in the Still Needed series—a collection of thoughtful, practical guides for men navigating life after work, retirement, and change.

From the author of the Caring and Sharing collection, this series continues to explore purpose, connection, and the simple ways we can still make a difference.