Retirement Talk for Boomers, Seniors, and Retirees

Sometimes it feels like money is all that matters. By the time we retire many of us know there is more to life than that which money can buy.

A person could do worse than drink a cup of coffee every day in the middle of the afternoon. Drink it in a coffee shop with character and a friend and you have arrived.

Having regrets in life is not something we seek. We would like to be satisfied with our life choices. Do we know where our 1000 months are going?

What do we really want to do with our life? Some goals may be more within our own grasps than we realize. We may be unaware or overlook the importance of some life disciplines.

Sometimes we need a little help or encouragement doing something or learning something. We need a teacher or in the common vernacular, a 'coach'. We've used them and loved them

A time to re-examine our own lives should never be passed by. A road trip can provide the perfect setting for thinking outside the box of normal surroundings. Our vision may be enhanced under a different light.

Turn around time for our road trip. Three beautiful national parks and lightly driven roads greet our next move. Hot morning coffee, great music and beautiful fall colors combine to bring a real sense of contentment. No need to rush life.

Tucson is a town I have wanted to visit for a long time. We always think there maybe another place that we might rather live than where we now live. This visit was an eye opener for me.

Some things escape us as we move through life. The Mountain Meadow Massacre is one. A long road trip gives us time to take in things that may get overlooked by the masses. It is always good to get off the beaten path once in a while.

e point the car south and east to start an extended road trip. It is fall and it is beautiful all over the country. The Northwest is no different. We are off to a good start. And we find espresso everywhere.

One of the joys of a road trip is anticipation. Deciding where to go and making more detailed plans is required. How to travel? Where to travel? When to travel? Here is the plan.

Jar lids and morning sunrises; small cars and small houses; small businesses and small corporations. One doesn't seem to fit. Perhaps it should. Retirement is a great time to reread some old books and do some new thinking. Or at least do some new thinking.

Listening and talking to someone from another generation can be very rewarding. If we think about making an effort perhaps the label of "elder" can become meaningful in our lives.

How many hours does it take doing something before you become successful - or an expert? Perhaps a better question might be: "Must you become an expert at anything?" Is that what you really want?

Is it really worth keeping up with technological changes? It seems to move faster all the time and require constant updating. Does it enrich our lives? Or should we just shut the door and crawl in a hole?

Tai Chi is often times mentioned in connection with retirement and good health. I've practiced it daily for the last 15 years. Here are some of my thoughts concerning including it in life.

Sometimes choice of words affects us more than we are aware. Retired folks have years of experience on which to rely for clarity. We need to exercise due diligence, or we can be tricked.

The idea of downsizing brings many questions to mind. The location and size of the house in which we live is important. Perhaps more important than we realize. It can be an opportunity to reevaluate the way we live.

How long would you want to live? Looks like almost anything may soon be possible. You might want to give this possibility a little more thought. Be careful what you wish for.

Retirement is often accompanied by an impulse to be close to our children. The children, and/or the parents, find themselves considering the means to reunite the family. What's to be said for moving or staying put when it comes to reuniting the family?

Retirement gives us time to do things we could only dream of during our working career. We can be more careful with our health and with our moral judgments. Eating animals verses eating plants serves as a perfect example.

Demands on Social Security seem to be calling for changes in retirement. Maybe you have an idea that could change the system? This might be an opportunity for creative thought.

This would be a good time to sit down with our grandchildren and tell a few stories that must be learned - about the scientific method and reason. A return of the Dark Ages is not desirable.

It is nice to have a quiet, safe routine to our life. But sometimes it can be downright boring. Taking a risk doesn't have to end when one moves into retirement. Maybe this is the best time to step out on the edge.

Retirement might be the perfect time to pick a fight with some bully. Sometimes change doesn't come easy. We may need to throw our weight around at times. It isn't always a bad thing.