Successful “Retirement” for Type A People

If the most fun you ever had was work-related, you’ve probably been dreading retirement. I sure did.

While a lot of blog posts to this site were my outrage and fury at the way legal and medical professionals run roughshod over seniors — an equal number of posts showed my terror at what the hell I would do with my time that was half as much fun as I had at work.

So… I thought you might like an update from the frontlines — from someone who’s now been retired for almost two years. What I’m doing turns out to be what I was doing before — working. In fact, I’m working longer hours than I did before. I just don’t have a boss, I work when I want to (which is a lot), and — thus far — I’m not getting paid(!)

We make choices about what we will do when we’re earning a living. We choose to do this over that — because we know we likely can’t earn enough to live on if we choose “that.” I’ve made those choices. You probably have to.

Examples for me include choosing not to pursue: fiction writing, acting, dancing, languages, jewelry design, and graphic design. I knew my chances of earning a good living were slim in all of them. You may have turned away from some of these too — and perhaps others.

Continue reading “Successful “Retirement” for Type A People”

Finding your senior love-mate

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Aah… the bloom of new love.

There’s nothing like it. Everything is more vibrant — more exciting. For many, life never feels “right” without a significant other in it.

My mother, in a moment of brutal honesty, once said she’d be married to my dad or she’d be married to someone else — but she WOULD be married. And she was, through three husbands, until her soul-mate third husband died… Continue reading “Finding your senior love-mate”

Dance — Like Nobody’s Watching!

What’s not to like about something that is fun, improves your health, reduces your risks of dementia, and — did we mention? — is FUN?

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It’s certainly needed. A study by USC’s School of Gerontology found less than 1/3 of adults from 65-74 were physically active. From 75+, less than 1/6 of us were physically active.

Dance is something we can easily do when stuck at home — because of a pandemic or because of one’s health. And it’s fun — so we’re more likely to keep doing it. And… there are many more benefits. Continue reading “Dance — Like Nobody’s Watching!”

Empty Calendar Syndrome? Time to Draw up Your Bucket list?

I’m just stunned as I write this. It’s a Friday, and Monday will be my official retirement date. This is not a surprise — I gave my notice (as academics do) almost 11 months ago. But I just opened my calendar to the coming month and what did I see?

Absolutely nothing.

It really gave me a chill — which is bewildering. Because, duh! That’s what retirement is, right? No job. No meetings. No assignments. Just — to quote some of my retired friends — complete freedom. Continue reading “Empty Calendar Syndrome? Time to Draw up Your Bucket list?”

Waaaayyy too much time on my hands(!)

I’m one of the lucky ones who still has a job, in my case teaching marketing to college students — now entirely online. But we’re going into the second month of staying at home way too much for my sanity.

Probably like you, I’ve spent too much time thinking, worrying & obsessing about health, politics and world peace. To get away from the angst, I’ve lately been reduced to re-reading the thousands-of-pages-long Diana Gabaldon Outlander books. Which I love, don’t get me wrong. But how many times can one re-read these books without feeling you’re burning through your life?

Hair — frivolous AND constructive?

Looking for something both frivolous AND constructive, I decided to focus on my hair. Continue reading “Waaaayyy too much time on my hands(!)”

Your goal for 2019 — compete at the Senior Olympics!

Olympics1_shutterstock_266028119No, it’s not as crazy as it sounds. Even if you were never an athlete before, you can train and compete against others your age and gender (from 50-90+).

I’m planning to do it — so join me! Here’s how to pick a sport, get the qualifying numbers, find a trainer, and…

  • Improve your health through training
  • Experience the joys of competition — and achieving a goal

Continue reading “Your goal for 2019 — compete at the Senior Olympics!”

Agility training — fun for you and your dog!

Yorkshire Terrier leaps over hurdle in canine competitionIs your dog rambunctious? Does he or she love toys? Chasing a ball? Consider setting up a cheap & easy agility course for your dog. It will increase your bond with each other — and give you both more fun, more laughs, and more exercise.

However, if you have a lazy dog that just wants to sleep and snuggle — this probably won’t work. I have one of each type dog and my snuggle dog STEPS over the jump — he’s not willing to jump even for treats(!) My other dog LOVES the jumps.

Note you do NOT have to be able to physically run like the following video shows to have fun in this sport! If you set it up in your garage (photos at the end) you barely have to move at all. It’s your choice how much exercise you get — fun is the #1 goal!)  Continue reading “Agility training — fun for you and your dog!”

Should you buy an RV?

RV at Nashville ShoresSometimes it seems like senior citizens have all bought RVs and have all hit the road, including myself. But… should you join us?

The answer is very dependent on you and your circumstances — social, medical and financial.

If you are a single woman, don’t stop reading — you may be surprised at the benefits of owning one. I certainly was. The only reason I got one originally was because my dad’s wife suddenly banned animals inside her house. Which meant I couldn’t visit her or my dad, unless I was willing to get a local hotel room and leave my two small dogs inside for hours.

Instead, I got an RV and parked it on her land by the house. Win for my dogs, win for me, and win for her.  Continue reading “Should you buy an RV?”

Adopt a senior pet — find your soulmate!

Seniordog Oscar San Francisco SRDOGSdotcomMany animal shelters across the country have a program called Seniors for Seniors. It’s designed to help senior dogs (or cats!) find homes (instead of death or shelter living). And it’s designed to help senior citizens get new love companions that fit more easily into their lives than puppies.

If you know of a national organization with this title, please let me know because I couldn’t find one. But I did see the program mentioned at almost every large animal shelter across the nation.  Continue reading “Adopt a senior pet — find your soulmate!”

Feeling powerless? Get behind the wheel of an RV.

shutterstock_30555310One of the more annoying effects on your body of living longer is feeling more frail. Even worse, that feeling starts affecting your mind. Feeling frail leads to feelings of powerlessness.

What to do? Go for a test drive of a RV!

There’s a lot I like about owning a RV, but today I want to talk about what it does for your confidence. Especially if you’re a woman.  Continue reading “Feeling powerless? Get behind the wheel of an RV.”