Retirement Talk for Boomers, Seniors, and Retirees

This is the third in a series concerning retirement and finances. In this episode I give a little more detailed breakdown of an example of managing money month to month. It might help you clarify how you manage money on a more immediate basis.

Living within your means is easier said than done. But is key to retiring without having to worry about money. This basic truism must be followed both before and after retirement. That and good luck will provide.

How much money will I need to retire? What a difficult question; when you are working and when you retire. No one knows what will happen in your life or in your greater community. There are no guarantees. What to do?

We all die. The question that is troubling is the suffering that many times accompanies the end. That is what the medically assisted end of life issue is all about. "You Don't Know Jack" is a movie that deals with the issue. Here are some thoughts after a late night viewing.

Learning something new has a way of lifting us up. We gain a new view on a part of the world. Our curiosity leads us to new understanding. It is something we can do every day. It just takes a little imagination and a little effort.

Friends sometimes change when we retire. We move; others move; things change. Friends don't always just blow in with a fresh breeze. We may need to make an effort to establish new relationships.

Political elections demand courage. Our choices don't always win. Sometimes it seems like they never win. How do we maintain faith or hope?

When you live next door to poverty it isn't very pleasant. It's unsightly; it smells and it can be dangerous. We like to live in nice neighborhoods. "Location, location, location". We all have a stake in eliminating or limiting poverty.

I like to lighten the load of what material possessions are in my domain. It seems like the lighter the load the higher I rise in the water. Some retires throw everything away. I have never heard one of them say they regret it.

Is there a difference between retiring with a partner or spouse and retiring solo? There has to be. Time to give it some thought. Something I have never done before.

Dogs and people go together like nothing else. It is like they become one. For bonding, comforting and unconditional love one would have to look long and hard to find better.

Retirement gives us a chance to exercise personal preferences in many ways. Dealing with alarm clocks and the daily news have received some of my attention. Habits have to be developed with care. Otherwise...

What is your retirement dream place to live? Do you have one? Have you thought about it? Like everything else you can just let it happen or you can do something to make it happen. Your choice.

Most of the time there is a definite connection between age and retirement. All of the time there is a definite connection between age and health issues. As we get older our bodies change. How carefully do we have to listen?

Traveling by plane is not like it use to be. There are so many examples of the changes and only one I can think of that is an improvement. More people can afford to fly. Then there are all the negatives: crowding, cramping, and comfort among them. Now there is the damage to the environment that is being hidden from us all. What next?

Guilt sometimes ruins everything we have ever dreamed. Retirement offers us time to sleep in, take long lunches and long walks. It affords us time to be rather than time to be up and doing. Guilt sometimes makes this rare treat into something bad. It shouldn't.

Sound has a particularly magical place in our mind. Those of us raised on radio are perhaps more sensitive to it's mystical powers. Today's Internet offers us a new and expanding format in which to indulge. Retirement offers us the time to close our eyes and expand our mind. What a joy.

Finding meaning in one's life is not easy. There are many advisors and paths to guide us or misguide us. One thing about it: we can make our own choices if we are strong and persistent in our quest. "He who has eyes let him see". Regardless of who said it I believe it.

For some reason working with the hands offers rewards that are unique. For some of us those rewards are beyond words. They offer us a key to a satisfying retirement.

I keep thinking of how much I loved my IBM Selective typewriter and then I was convinced I'd be better off with a computer. It has changed my life. Are the technological innovations that appear today as appealing or effective? What to do?

However you think you may die you will most probably be wrong. I remember reading that somewhere. I believe it. We sometimes worry about things over which we have little to no control. Cause of our own death is one of them.

"All men are created equal" has become an American axiom. It doesn't mean we all know as much as the next guy. Science has a way of requiring certain abilities and efforts that escape many of us. Can we trust science? Or are we better off trusting our politicians or our opinionated neighbor concerning

We live in a fast paced world and moving slowly seems to be foreign to us. We are tempted to take speed with us even when we vacation or travel. It is the opposite of what we really need when we are trying to recreate. Do we see more when we speed up or slow down?

Retirement comes later in life as do accumulating health problems. We start to fade. What to do when we develop health problems that require professional attention? Sometimes we get a diagnosis that just doesn't feel right. What to do?

Retiring at the same time as your spouse or partner can be a challenge. I've heard complaints. My wife and I retired on the same day. I have experience. Here's the story.