Retirement: A Full-Time Job

Are Any of You Still Out There?

(Photo Details:  What have I been up to?  You're looking at her, my new baby.)

I don’t think I’ve ever gone this long without writing a blog post, nearly seven months!  To be honest, I have drafted a few blog posts about retirement that have bored me so much during the editing that I decided against posting them at all.  I also wrote a few political blog posts since the election that I knew I would never post, just to vent a little.  I spared you all on both counts.

Over the last several months, I have received emails from many of you, wondering what’s up-- wondering whether I will ever blog again.  And many of these emails have gone unanswered because a) writing what’s up could well have just been a blog post, and b) I wasn’t really sure whether I would blog again.  This much I’ve learned in retirement:  I have no idea what I’ll be interested in doing in the future.  I only know what I’m interested in right now.  And that has changed many times over the last nine years of my retirement--as I’m sure it will in the future too.

There is one question I am frequently asked in your emails, and it’s the one that has inspired me to check in with you all today.

Are you OK?

That’s just the sweetest question, and I really wanted you all to know I more than ok.  I’m healthy, happy, and still enjoying retirement more and more with each passing year.  In fact, I’d probably be posting more frequently if I were not ok—at least then there’d be some interesting challenge or thought-provoking issue to share.  

Are you going to close your blog?

The other frequent question I get is whether I have quit blogging all together.  I don’t think I will ever want to just ditch the blog entirely.  I like having the possibility of returning to it if I am inspired to write.  Because who knows?  But right now I am pretty consumed with making music.

As you know I started taking jazz piano lessons a few years ago.  Then last fall I enrolled in a jazz piano class at the local city college that met three times a week.  It was so great I took it again in the spring.   And I took private voice lessons on top of that.

Last month, I spent an intense week at jazz camp, followed by a summer school course in jazz improvisation.  And now I’m taking a jazz singing class with a friend.  I’ve been working on the goal of accompanying myself on the piano while singing.  It is so hard but SOOOO much fun.  I’m even making significant progress on the stage-fright thing!  As our friend Tom recently commented after hearing how well Doug plays the guitar now, “You really CAN teach an old dog new tricks!”

That’s the most amazing thing to me.  Oh, and that whole practice-makes-perfect thing.  (Well I will quibble with “perfect” part, but it certainly guarantees improvement!)

Have you been off traveling a lot?

We have a big biking trip planned later this summer to Italy, which I am looking forward to.  We also went to New York earlier this year, and have done a bunch of short trips, Portland, Seattle, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Scottsdale--and San Diego is coming up soon.  So now that I write that all down, I guess we have been traveling a lot over my seven-month blogcation!

Maybe that’s why I’m so sick of traveling right now.  While I always enjoy myself on our trips, I hate the hassle of flying (many of you can relate), and I miss both my kitty cat and my piano when I’m gone.  I’m threatening no trips in 2018.  I’d like to make 2018 the year of the staycation.  Avoid the hassles and also recoup the chunk of change I spent on a new piano a couple of weeks ago (pictured above—that is actually two years’ worth of vacation budget.  Maybe should stay put through 2019 too . . .)

What do you think about this last election?

I did answer that email privately.  You all know what I think—and many of you don’t want me to write what I think--I know.  I will admit, the effect this election has had on the stock market has been amazing to my retirement spreadsheet.  The increase has added five years of living expenses to my nest egg.  A huge consolation prize.  And I’ve been steadily rebalancing to keep my 60/40 stock to bond allocation in check.  Meaning that I have taken much of that gain off the table as the market has risen.  (This might be a good idea for a near-term blog post if my inspiration keeps up:  What my advice would be to those considering retiring right now, into a stock market at record highs.  I have plenty to say about that from personal experience!)

I miss you!

Well that’s of course my favorite email.  So thank you for those.  I miss you too, which of course is my fault.  If I actually posted more often, I wouldn’t have to miss you!

And finally, I apologize to those of you whose emails I have not returned over the last seven months.  I will try to catch up.  Also to those journalists’ requests for interviews that have gone unanswered.  My heart just wasn’t in it.  (Although, coming up for air last week, I did do an interview which I will post a link to when it becomes available.)

Thanks to those of you who are still out there!

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Related Posts:

            Postcard from Retirement

            Improvising Retirement

            Where am I Going to Find 10,000 Hours?

 

 

Can I Still Retire if I Hate Golf?

(Photo Details:  Hawaii--Doug without his clubs)

I receive a lot of requests from people wanting me to write a guest post on their blog.  I know I will never get around to that, I barely get around to posting on my own blog!  So I have learned from experience to just say no to that.  

I also receive many requests to publish guest posts on my blog.  Usually from investment companies or insurance companies, or someone else trying to sell something to my readers.  I also say no to that.  But I will usually publish a guest-written post to introduce a new retirement blogger.

The following is a guest post by Jared Scharen.  Jared is an MBA student at Northwestern who has started a website dedicated to helping boomers figure out where they want to retire.  His website eRetirements has a fun quiz to help you pick a place to retire, and also a retirement blog.  It's fun, but truth be told, that's not why I agreed to a guest post.  When he introduced himself to me he said that his parents read my blog.  And that made me happy.

So here is Jared's post: Healthy Hobbies for Retirement:  Active Alternatives to Hitting the Links.

It comes as no surprise that many people associate the word “retirement” with “golf.” Early tee times with friends followed by a midday lunch at the clubhouse seems to be a common stereotype of how retirees spend much of their free time.  This is a common fallacy that forces many people to unwillingly pick up the game and end up finding absolutely no pleasure in it. So what should you do if golf isn’t your thing?

Despite the common perception of golf as being the main hobby for retirees across the country, there are tons of other activities that offer a unique combination of exercise, shared connection, and most importantly, satisfaction. They can also shape your decision on where to retire. A few of them include:

Softball: Softball is great way to be outdoors while staying active and competitive. It is also a sure way to engage in social bonding, especially if you miss the comradery of your office team. 

Swimming: Swimming offers multiple benefits for your body including improved flexibility, built up endurance, and stronger heart muscle. It also provides the social benefit of meeting others during exercise classes or general lap swims.

Hiking or Walking: According to a report published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, a steady routine of walking can greatly reduce the chances of disability at old age. Walking or hiking also helps prevent or manage certain conditions like heart disease and high blood pressure, and can be done with your friends or significant other in remote areas of nature. 

Yoga: One of the many benefits of yoga is that it can help protect you from injury by increasing your muscle strength and tone. It also enhances your respiratory and energy levels in addition to being a huge stress reliever.

All of these exercises can improve your quality of life by enhancing your strength and improving your overall mood, both of which can be attributed to a longer, healthier life. Exercise classes offered at various community centers provide manageable training with specialized teachers who understand the limitations of your body. It is therefore crucial to explore these avenues when selecting your eventual retirement location.

So you have already heard this advice from your doctor…over and over again. And quite frankly, you just don’t care. Well, you are not alone in that mindset. According to a report conducted by the Merck Manual, at least 75% of people over the age of 65 do not exercise at recommended levels despite the known health benefits of exercise. Whether it is an issue of ignorance or more practically a problem of physical limitation, there are still ways to maintain your welfare outside of simply moving your arms and legs.

One of the beauties of retirement is that it allows you to finally undertake those projects that previously seemed impossible due to prior commitments to “the job.” It gives you an opportunity to pursue something exciting and fresh. So maybe that means a trip to Europe? Or a quick excursion across the country to see relatives? Or possibly the start of your memoir? You certainly do not have to pick up a golf ball or put on a bathing suit to stay active. Instead, try considering personal projects like the following:

Home Projects: Build a garden in your new home or decorate your backyard porch so you can invite friends over for dinner or drinks. Often, retirees have commented on how much gratification they receive from projects around the house.

We talked with Kathleen from Chicago, IL who could not agree more, “I’d really like to challenge myself during retirement by finally taking an advanced class in horticulture or possibly joining a local gardening club. This would keep me active while not forcing me to travel too much either. And it would impress all my new guests!”

Volunteering: Volunteering is another excellent activity that can bring you satisfaction while benefiting those within the community. This could involve tutoring children in academics or arts and crafts, or assisting patients in hospital outreach programs, just to name a few.

Theater and Arts: Reengage your artistic side and audition for a play or musical at the local arts center. This would allow you to make new friends while displaying your talents in front of a local audience. And anyone who has experience in theater knows that on stage performances are a workout in their own.

Regardless of the hobby that you choose, it is essential to always be cautious with your body as you decide on what new activities to begin, or what sports and games to continue to engage in.  It is important to do something that does not overly strain your body or your mind.  Instead, find something that is safe, manageable, and allows you fully enjoy the free time that you’ve worked so hard to attain. 

eRetirements.com is devoted to solving the problem that millions of baby boomers face each year: Where should I retire?  Our users enjoy a personalized retirement quiz, comprehensive location info, and a variety of blogs and advice to assist in discovering, and enjoying their ideal retirement location.

 

Related Posts:

Am I Really Getting Old Like Everyone Else?

Middle-Age Fitness

What Does Yard Work Have to do with Retirement?

 

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How Did I Ever Have Time for Work?

(Photo Details:  Staged patio of the vacation home I no longer own--as of yesterday.)

You’ll hear this question from retired people all the time, “How did I ever have time for work?”  And I know what working people think about this.  But I don’t think it has to do with the time.  I think it has to do with the re-wiring or our retired brains.

I can’t multitask anymore.

I used to work 40+hours a week, fit in time for exercise, AND manage to accomplish other bigger things that were going on in my life.  All at the same time as holding down a job.

Last month I gave my piano teacher a check for the month’s lessons--one week late for starters.  I forgot to bring the check in at the beginning of April.  Then on top of that, I received an email from my teacher that I had not written his name anywhere on the check.  Instead of his name on the payee line I wrote out the amount again.

That’s because the part of my brain devoted to simple tasks has been taken over by the part of my brain that is involved in selling our vacation home.  Because my brain can’t operate with the same lobes as it used to, now it needs all the lobes to manage a complex task like that.  And I don’t even know if I mean lobes.  I have bought and sold a few houses over the years of my working life and I still managed to keep up with the complex finances of a venture capital firm.  But I can’t manage the simple finance task of writing a check right now.

It seems to be the same thing when it comes to fun hobbies.  When I’m really into piano, I don’t make time for blogging.  And same thing in reverse with blogging.  And both of those are displaced by planning for trip when I have one of those on the horizon, which I do.

I can’t even multitask fun anymore!

Since my last post ions ago I have been focused on one or the other of the following things:  planning for an upcoming trip to Singapore, Bali, and Tokyo, practicing the piano, or doing the myriad of tasks (including worrying) involved with the the selling of a house.  Only one at a time, of course, as we have just established that I can no longer do two things at once. 

So now you’re wondering how I have managed to sit down right now and write a blog post, aren’t you? The trip is planned and the house is sold!  So why am I not playing my piano?  Because I have had the flu all week and that would simply require more energy than I have right now.

Today I was supposed to be at a class called “Developing a Sustainable and Rewarding Writing Process.”  But I was too sick to leave the house.  And the truth is, I know the answer already--which is a good thing because it’s too late to get my money back:  Get your butt in the chair and write.  And it turns out that is really easy to do if you’re just getting over the flu.

Just the same, next year I’m getting the flu shot.

Related Posts:

Lusting for Boredom

In Defense of Boredom

How to Get Nothing Done in Retirement

 

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Permission to Bail on That

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Retirement Then and Now

 (Photo Details:  Above-Sydney with work friends at her retirement party in 2008.  Below-Sydney with Dad and Doug eight years into retirement.) 

 

I’ve been retired for nearly eight years now.  Over that time I’ve worried about money, and then stopped worrying about money.  I’ve gone from wanting to travel all the time, to wanting to stick closer to home.  I’ve gone from having no pets, to being adopted by a sweet kitty.   I’ve taken up, and then given up a part-time job, hot yoga, and knitting.  My interests have evolved over these years.  And so have my concerns about retirement.

In fact I don’t really have many concerns with retirement these days.  Early in my retirement I had concerns that many new or soon-to-be retirees share.  Do I have enough money?  How do I fill my time?  What will make me still feel relevant, important, and productive?  How do I talk about my retirement with friends and new acquaintances?  Should I be volunteering?  And how do I deal with guilt about not working anymore?

I can’t say when it happened that I don’t really think about these things anymore. But now I’m perfectly happy gardening, cleaning my house, writing, playing the piano, napping, volunteering, visiting with friends and family, and even doing nothing in particular.  Which is probably why the frequency of my postings here on the blog has dwindled. 

But I still receive wonderful emails from people contemplating or beginning their retirements asking those same questions I asked myself all those years.  And many of those folks tell me they’ve gone back to read all those old posts, to get an idea about the transition into their own retirements.  Or just to know that what they are experiencing is absolutely normal, even as they may be totally excited to be retired.

So I thought I’d take the next few weeks, or months, or whatever to go back through my old posts and do a series of then-and-now posts.  I’ll take up some of those old issues—how retirement felt for me back then--and update them for what that’s like now, nearly eight years later.

I’ll include excerpts from those old posts and even some of the comments—good and bad.  We’ll see how true some of my commenters’ predictions turned out.  Hopefully this will be fun for readers both old and new.  I know it will be fun for me!

 

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Tax Season

(Photo Details:  My last tax season)

I drove by my old office last night and it struck me that it is tax season and I'm driving home from class at 9pm, not driving home from work at 9pm.  What a nice feeling.

But in the spirit of tax season, I have two new posts over at the Wall Street Journal's Experts blog, both having to do with taxes:

The Case for Earlier Withdrawals From IRAs

Two Dumb Financial Decisions I Made-and Why I Made Them

In other tax news, twice this week I got a call from a guy claiming to be an IRS Auditor.  I was to call back immediately to avoid arrest.  I almost called him back to read him to the riot act--this is a serious scam.  Instead I reported the call to the authorities.  To read more about this scam and what to do if you get one of these calls, read Laura Saunders' excellent post at WSJ's Total Return blog:  No, That's not the IRS Calling.  Just Hang Up.

Related Posts:

Sydney Gets Her Grove Back

Penny Wise and Pound Foolish (or Stupid Tax Tricks)

No More Performance Reviews

 

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Finding a New Identity in Retirement

One of the tricky adjustments in retirement is figuring out your new identity.  I call it the cocktail party dilemma.  You meet someone new at a cocktail party, and one of the first questions they ask you is what you do.  And by “do,” they usually mean your job, not “do” like piano and blogging, unless of course you play at nightclubs or blog for the Huffington Post. 

While I wasn’t really too attached to my accountant identity, it was a thread with which to weave a conversation.  And even though that conversation might eventually stretch into non-work related topics, that starter was useful fuel in launching most cocktail party chatter.

After I retired, I found that telling people I was retired didn’t have the same effect of propelling the conversation forward.  I think that retiring right into a huge recession might have had something to do with that.  Perhaps some people thought “retired” was a euphemism for out of work, and were concerned about how to tiptoe around that possibility.  Other people responded by asking what I did all day, usually accompanied with the assertion that they would die of boredom if they retired.  And to be fair, when you list out what you can recall that you actually “do” all day, it does sound kind of boring. 

But Bob Lowry recently made me realize that I now have solid credentials for a new identity.  After five years of retirement, at the next cocktail party I attend, I think I can safely call myself a professional retiree.  Not only have I spent all these years blogging here about retirement, I’ve blogged about it for U.S. News & World Report, as well as a few other finance blogs.   I’ve enjoyed contributing content to magazines and blogs, and to a book called “65 Things to Do When You Retire.” 

In my role as professional retiree, I was interviewed for Laura Vanderkam’s book, “All the Money in the World,” and for one of her Fortune magazine articles, and then most recently for a post at Free Money Finance.   I was even on the radio a couple of times.

But back to Bob Lowry.  He just published an eBook, “Living a Satisfying Retirement,” in which he interviews a bunch of retirees about our experiences in retirement.  Although as far as actual identities go, ours are all changed in the book.  But if you’re a regular reader of the blogs listed in the back of the book, you’ll find it pretty easy to figure out who’s who.  And since I’m embracing my new identity as a professional retiree, I’ll save you the guessing:  I’m “Shirley L.” 

It’s a great read even for a “professional” like myself.  There are so many responses that I can totally relate to, like “Gail P’s” least favorite part of retirement, “Still only having 24 hours in a day.  That was a big surprise to me and I still feel cheated.” 

I love “Roger W’s” advice to new retirees to “Go with the flow.  Don’t think that you can, or have to figure it all out ahead of time.  You will become a different person in retirement than you ever imagined, but the amazing thing is that the person you become will be pretty much up to you.”

And while it was almost unanimous that people did not miss working, it was almost as unanimous that folks missed some of the day-to-day relationships of the workplace as well as “the camaraderie,” as “Doug N.” puts it.

Bob also included some not-yet-retirees in his book.  I was surprised to read that for most pre-retirees, their target retirement date has not been affected by the recession, although financial concerns did loom fairly large.  And I’m happy to read the last question, “What is the one question you’d like a retired person to answer for you?” because it gives me plenty of new ideas to blog about!

Related Posts:

            It’s Not Losing and Identity, It’s Gaining a Chance to Create a New One

            Discovering Who I Am Without Work

            Reflections on My First Year of Retirement (Part Two:  Loss of Identity)

 

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Improvising Retirement

Oh my poor neglected blog.  I've been obsessed with my new hobby, at the expense of my old one.  I’m spending every spare moment at the piano.  I wake up in the middle of the night humming songs in my head.  In some ways, playing the piano is much easier than blogging.  With piano, you just play the notes that are already printed on the page.  With blogging, it’s up to you to figure out what to put on that blank page.

But last week it was that already printed page of my piano book that frustrated me.  I was learning “At Last,” a song which should be full of soul, think Etta James.  The simple arrangement in my beginner piano book was competing with the Etta James version playing in my head.  I tried to play what was playing in my head instead of what was written on the page, but my piano skills just aren’t advanced enough yet to achieve that sound.   So all I achieved was frustration.

I explained this to my piano teacher last week at my therapy session, I mean my piano lesson.  His diagnosis was that I’m ready to start learning how to improvise.  He sent me home with the bare bones version of “Autumn Leaves.”  It’s a page from what is known as a “fake book,” something I had only just recently learned about from my piano-playing uncle, aka, play-a-hymn-any-hymn-Jim.  Jim spent his childhood piano career accompanying parishioners at Sunday morning services.  He was the son of a preacher man, my grandpa.

My uncle gave up the piano several years ago when his arthritis made it impossible to keep it up.  But before that, he would entertain his fellow Rotarians with old standards at their weekly meetings.  Before he gave up his beautiful baby grand piano, he asked my cousins and me whether any of us wanted it.  I regret to report that we all turned him down.  So he gave it to the music department at U.C. Berkeley.  How I wish I could play that decision over again.

Anyway, he did keep his mountains of piano books and sheet music.  I just popped over there last week and combed through his stash.  In the piles of paper were these fake books.  I only took one of them because I didn’t really understand what they were and I couldn’t make any sense them.   The songs are really just skeletons—the melody notes, chord notations, and lyrics.  It’s up to the musician to improvise exactly how to play it. 

So now I understand.  And I’m having so much fun learning how to fill in the blanks, adding what’s in my head to what’s on the page.  Just as much fun as I had when I first started writing what’s in my head onto the blank page, or blank blog screen as the case may be.

When I retired, I had no idea how much I would enjoy blogging or how much of my time would revolve around writing.  I knew I wanted to pick up the piano again, but I never thought it would take me five years to get to it.  And after I retired, I certainly didn't think I’d ever be interested working in my old field again, even part-time.  But now I know that retirement is part advance planning and part live improvisation.  And if you're comfortable with improvising, you're going to have a lot more fun.

(Several readers have made the great suggestion that I include a little description of the photos that I include in my blog posts.  The photo above is Rasheed and the Jazz Collective at Washington Square Park in New York City's Greenwich Village.) 

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What I Did on My Summer Blogcation

If there were such a thing as an Internet postcard, the one I would have sent to you all would have read, “Having a great blogcation, wish you were here.”  Really.  I missed you.

I spent the first week of my blogcation agonizing about whether I wanted to blog anymore.  On the plane ride to Montreal, I got an idea for a blog post and wrote it.  But I held back from posting it in order force myself away from the blog.  I finally decided to stop thinking about it and just enjoy the time off.

So here’s how I spent my summer blogcation:

First we headed off to a home-exchange vacation to explore Montreal, Quebec City, and Mont Tremblant.  And I want to tell you all about it.

I also got inspired to get really fit.  I borrowed a set of P90X DVD’s from a friend.  I had never heard of P90X, but apparently only three other people on the entire planet haven’t heard of it.  I guess I’ve been living under a rock that blocks late-night infomercials.  Now I’m getting in great shape.  And I want to tell you all about it.

I also rode in a 30-mile community bike-ride/fund-raiser and am doing another, 45-mile one, next weekend.  I dabbled in a vegetarian diet.  I enjoyed tons of free music downtown—an amazing line-up that occurs almost every single night of the week in my community during the summer.  I hosted a bunch of dinner parties and I even cooked!  I want to tell you all about all that too.

There were also some rocky stock market gyrations while I was on blogcation.   So I rebalanced my portfolio.  And of course, I want to tell you about that too.

I also followed politics.  A lot.  But I am a recent convert to the philosophy that it’s not polite to discuss politics or religion with friends, so I’m not going to tell you about that.

That’s still a lot of stuff I want to tell you about.

When I write about retirement, I’m really just writing about getting the most out of life:  engaging in meaningful activities, doing all that I can to stay happy and healthy, and of course making sure that my financial house is in order.  So I’m going to try and organize my future posts around these themes:

            Money Mondays: I’ll discuss the primary concern for most retirees and soon-to-be retirees.

            Traveling Tuesdays:  I am not alone in my thirst for travel in retirement.  I share this passion with 61 percent of respondents in a recent AARP survey of boomers nearing retirement.  I stretch my travel dollars by swapping homes for my lodging; I’ll share what I’ve learned over the years.

            Wellness Wednesdays:  In the same AARP survey, 84 percent of respondents ranked “taking better care of my physical health” a high priority, which made it the top concern of those entering retirement.  Good health is one of the secrets to a happy retirement, and I’m working on that too.

            Photo Fridays:  What does retirement look like to you?  A picture is worth a thousand words.  On Fridays I’ll post my pictures of retirement and I’d love if you would share yours too.  (Just email me your photo and how you would like it credited.) 

Of course that may be a little ambitious for a blogger that never even posted 4 days a week in the first place, so I may supplement with some older posts that have since been buried in the bowels of my archives.  And if inspiration hits me on another day, of course I’ll post as the spirit moves me.  (And conversely if a break is what I need—I’ll just take it!)

Related Posts:

            Re-entering the Earth’s Atmosphere

            Why Vacation in Retirement?

            The Myth of the Skinny Retirement

 This is a post from Retirement:  A Full-Time Job.  Subscribe--it's free!

Going on Blogcation

Forgive me dear readers, for it has been three weeks since my last blog post.  And I neglected to post links to my most recent U.S. News articles:  Overcoming Overcommitment in Retirement and 6 Secrets to Filling Your Time in Retirement.  For those transgressions I feel some guilt.  And because I strive to banish guilt in retirement, I have decided to let you all know that I’m going to post even more infrequently or not at all for the next several weeks.  Guilt free.

We’re headed off soon to a home exchange to Montreal and then later this summer to another one in Australia.  And I think I’m going to use this time to see how it feels not to blog.

Writing about retirement.  The truth is I may be growing weary of writing about retirement.  I started this blog as a way to sort through my feelings about transitioning into retirement, and share some of the things I’ve learned, both on my own and from the great insights of commenters and fellow bloggers.  But now that I’m entering my fourth year of retirement, I have fewer and fewer “aha!” moments.  The training wheels are off and I’m pedaling pretty fast these days.

Reading about retirement.  With the blog always in the back of my mind, I have tended to analyze everything I’m doing and feeling in retirement so that I can write about it.  Instead of just sitting back and enjoying it.  And I spend an inordinate amount of time reading retirement blogs, articles and books so that I can share those insights as well.  I think I might be tired of that too.  I think I want to read more fiction, and in the form of actual books.

Living out loud.  To blog is to live more publicly than one does without a blog.  I think the most interesting posts I read or write are those that share personal stories.  Having said that, sometimes it’s a little overwhelming to live out loud.  The great part about blogging is connecting with people, but subjecting your thoughts and life choices to the public invites scrutiny that is sometimes unsettling.  For me it’s been way more positive than negative, but I am feeling a little tug toward anonymity. 

Self-conscious writing.   I took a fantastic writing class at the local community college for two years.  My teacher’s greatest gift was encouraging us to “go deeper.”  That’s where you get the best writing.  But because of the whole living-out-loud nature of blogging, I find myself a little bit guarded in my writing.  I am eager to do some writing just for myself, just to see what comes out when I’m not thinking about someone actually reading it.

So there is my full confession.  I’m not sure where this blogcation is going to lead.  Will it get the creative juices going again, luring me back into retirement blogging?  Or will it give me an idea of a new topic to blog about, perhaps a completely new direction?  Or will it be a welcome change to my retired life?  I don’t know yet, but I will be sure to report back with the answer.

Related Posts:

What’s the Difference Between Vacation and Retirement?

Adjusting to Retirement

Vacation from What?

Travel in Retirement:  Why Get Away When There’s Nothing to Get Away From?

 

How to Survive the First Year of Retirement

It seems like it should be easy to adjust to retirement, after all what’s so hard about not working?  For the most part it is pretty easy to acclimate.  My tips for navigating that first year are in my recent U.S. News post, 5 Tips for the First Year of Retirement.

For help handling the issue of guilt in retirement, read Doug’s post at Military Retirement & Financial Independence, Dealing with “retiree guilt.”

And for a really inspirational read about how volunteering can help you find the new you in retirement, read Bob’s post, Pushing Back Against the Box.

Over at Graceful Retirement there’s an interesting discussion about whether consumers’ “new frugality” spurred by the recession will stick.  I think we consumers have a short memory, a sentiment echoed by one commenter on Grace’s post Frugality:  Temporary, Tenuous, and Not Really our Style, with the idea that we have reached “frugality fatigue.”

On the subject of understanding your investments, read Charlie Farrell’s article, TIPS Aren’t Much Help for Retired Investors.   I have some Treasury Inflation Protected Bonds in my retirement portfolio and I must admit, they don’t work at all the way I thought they did.  Shame on me.

And finally, to combat memory loss in retirement, new research shows that getting out for a brisk walk, at least three times a week for 40 minutes a pop, will help.   A regimen that I admit is much easier to follow for those of us in the San Francisco Bay Area experiencing unseasonably warm weather.  A lot harder to manage if you're buried under several feet of snow right now!