Happy holidays?

    Negative energy can dispirit and dismay almost any person from time to time. That it does even has a name: situational depression. “... life changes may also cause bouts of depression such as retirement, death of the spouse, unresolved family disputes or extreme isolation and loneliness,” according to the ehow.com's platform regarding senior citizen health. At the holidays, the changes that have occurred over time can seem overwhelming. “For many seniors, the holiday season can trigger melancholy as they think about lost loved ones, struggle with health issues or worry about money problems, according to the American Geriatrics Society,” reports wellsphere.com.

    Marian Eure in her about.com article, Holiday Blues and Seniors, discusses strategies that seniors can use to lighten their mood and be more forward thinking around the holidays. She advises to avoid isolation, go out and interact with people. And if getting out is hard, invite people in. If there is no close family or friend circle near, try volunteering at holiday events to meet new people. Use moderation when celebrating with spirits or rich foods, particularly with medications or medical nutrition issues, when spending for holiday gifts or other obligations and in feeling the need to be constantly joyful and festive. Relax and take a break from good cheer anytime it begins to feel forced or too intense.

    Included here are links to the full text of these informative and timely articles. Retooling Retirements wishes you all the holiday season you want and deserve. Best wishes!

http://www.ehow.com/about_5086866_causes-depression-senior-citizens.html

http://www.wellsphere.com/women-s-health-article/some-senior-citizens-have-holiday-depression-and-might-need-help/897801 

http://seniorhealth.about.com/od/mentalemotionalhealth/a/holiday_blues.htm 

The 2012 Purpose Prize

"Encore.org, a nonprofit that promotes second acts for the greater good, selected five Americans 60 and older to each win a $100,000 Purpose Prize for changing lives in new and creative ways. Wow. Encore.org  has made it a mission to encourage those whose work gives them a sense of meaning and a feeling of accomplishment. This financial bonanza is the holy grail,”according to Forbes magazine in its article, Changing Lives: How Five Americans Won $100,000 Purpose Prize, written by Kerry Hannon on 12/06/2012.

Marc Freedman, founder and CEO of Encore.org, when he announced the winners, said, “Each of them identified a significant, seemingly intractable social problem. Guided by experience, drawing on creativity and anchored in pragmatism, they set out to find solutions. In their 60s, they are changing the world – and with it perceptions of what is possible for millions of others flooding into the second half of life.” All five recipients have used their life experience as much as their academic preparation or specific job skills to make an impact on an ill that they dedicated themselves to help heal. A woman who reaches out of addiction to help others in prison, an attorney who takes on predatory lenders and a founder of a foster grandparents program all offer personal journeys of self discovery and public service that worked toward the greatest good and brought them the accolade of the Purpose Prize.

Its worth the read to learn more at: http://www.forbes.com/sites/kerryhannon/2012/12/06/changing-lives-how-five-americans-won-100000-purpose-prize/

In regard to giving thanks...

   On April 15, 1865, President Abraham Lincoln was murdered in America by Americans. He was slain by a politically motivated gunman who wanted this country to veer away from its path as a democracy embracing the importance of equal participation in citizenship for all toward a more narrowly defined idea of what and who were constitutionally equal and how that definition would carry the nation. That President Lincoln at the time was conflicted about those definitions himself, was a man of his time and socialization and really didn't know how the whole thing would play out in a “liberal” future, but was gunned down for what his murderer believed was a departure from conservative vision is a great irony of the American 19^th century.

   On November 22, 1963, President John. F. Kennedy was murdered in America by an American. If one subscribes to the “single gunman theory,” the President was slain by a politically motivated assassin who wanted this country to veer away from its experiment in an unfettered democracy toward a controlled communist system of government. That President Kennedy at the time was conflicted about and being criticized at home for his “liberal” agenda regarding civil rights and universal suffrage but was gunned down for what his murderer believed was a very conservative anti-communist stance is a great irony of the American 20^th century.

   Tomorrow is Thanksgiving. It is the first Thanksgiving since the nation has emerged from another overly heated election cycle where ideas about what is democracy, what is communism, what is liberal, what is conservative, what is “America” and who is “American” have been, some 200 years later, addressed again. We have much to be thankful for as our mission was accomplished without murder and in the knowledge that whether it be perfected or flawed, our America, although tested, remains true to the democratic principles and procedures we hold up to the world as what makes us the greatest human experiment of all time. This year we can give thanks that we have served our fallen heroes and ourselves well and in the spirit of the promise of our future, are not, so far, the great irony of the 21^st century.

“Its In the Bag” Roast Turkey Recipe

because some of you asked...

Turkey (fresh or thawed) 16 to 18 pounds

1 Medium peeled onion

1 Medium unpeeled washed apple

1 stick butter/margarine

scant salt and pepper to taste

1 2 liter ginger ale

1 heavy brown paper grocery bag

roasting pan

Preparation: Fresh turkeys should remain refrigerated until preparation time, and frozen turkeys should be thawed in the refrigerator taking up to three days, so plan ahead. The metal binding that keeps the turkey legs together is MUCH easier to remove when the turkey is thawed. Rinse the turkey inside and out and remove the giblet package. Use the stick of butter/margarine so the short, snub end is touching the bird, rub the stick all over the outside using most of the stick discarding the rest.

Placing the bird BREAST SIDE DOWN (chubby part on the bottom), place the onion and apple inside the bird. Unwrap the giblets and put them inside the bird also. Then put the upside down bird in the brown paper bag, wrap the leg ends with foil and place it all in the roaster. Pour 1/2 the ginger ale over the bird and close the bag loosely by rolling the open edges together.

Cooking: Roast in a preheated 375 degree oven a total of 7 hours which means if it goes in at 8:00 A.M., it should be ready around 3:00 P.M. . (Ovens vary: learn yours!) The brown bag WILL NOT catch fire, but will become brittle so use care when reopening it. At the 3 hour mark, slide the bird carefully half way out of the oven, open the bag, pour the rest of the ginger ale on it, close the bag and return it to the oven.

At the 6 and ½ hour mark, slide the bird half way out of the oven again, rip the bag down the center to allow the bird to really brown up if desired and return it to the oven. At 7 hours, remove the bird and let it sit and rest for 20 minutes. Then attempt to remove the onion and apple (they may be cooked away), lift the turkey and flip it over onto your serving platter. Do not be alarmed if its so done and ready that it falls apart into big, juicy servings without any carving necessary.

Making a Move...

Anticipating a change in living arrangement is often a part of the retooling parcel. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development offers a comprehensive and easy to digest web page entitled simply “Information for Senior Citizens.” There is content linked to the page for those that wish to remain in the home they currently occupy. One timely topic found there discusses reverse mortgages. Another consideration treated is finding apartments and other more communal options. Topics regarding 55 and older communities and information on facility assessment and care are among many included on the page.

The Department explains, “ Looking for housing options for yourself, an aging parent, relative, or friend? Do some research first to determine what kind of assistance or living arrangement you need; what your health insurance might cover; and what you can afford. Then check here for financial assistance resources and guides for making the right choice.” They even offer a link to “talk to a HUD-approved housing counselor if you have questions about your situation.”

Check out the page at:

http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUDsrc=/topics/information_for_senior_citizens

Sunday, November 11, 2012

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  Courtesy of:      http://www.inquisitr.com/tag/veterans

  
  

  
  

  
  

  Thank you for your service.

Halloween anyway...

With a super storm about to bear down, some families could be gathering unexpectedly without that usual "planned ahead" itinerary, their Halloween high jinx may have been postponed or canceled and the young and old, who couldn't wait for trick or treat or the neighborhood Zombie Walk, might be wrestling with both cabin fever and disappointment long before the authorities sound a welcomed "All Clear."  

I've mentioned in a previous post how much great information the Internet portal "Grandparents.com" has provided me in the past on all manner of topics pertaining to family and children.  Right now, this tip, that was scheduled for notation on the blog any way, couldn't be more timely!  For Halloween, they have hit the ghoul on the head again.  Not only do they offer a diverse collection of holiday activities, crafts, fun foods and other frolics suitable for the spookiest of good times, they have granted access to all they've put together on ONE page on the site.  Follow this link:

 http://www.grandparents.com/grandkids/holiday-activities-and-crafts/halloween-food-activities-one-page 

for instructions to make Muffin Top Monsters for breakfast, mix up glow-in-the-dark-slime, print coloring pages and start telling scary stories.  This site is a great resource and the time to check it out might never be better! Stay safe and spooky out there!

Senior Savings...

Most folks I know like a bargain, no matter what their age. That being said, many over 50 embrace a bargain savvy lifestyle with gusto. Whether looking for a deal is a budget requirement or just a satisfying strategy toward “having it all,” finding and claiming senior discounts is “the hidden object game” of retirement. According to author, Emily Brandon, in How to Get Senior Discounts on the U.S. News Money platform, “Many stores provide discounts only to seniors who ask for them. 'Most businesses won't advertise or promote their senior discount, so it's very difficult to locate them,'says David Smidt, president of SeniorDiscounts.com. 'Wherever you are doing business, ask whether there is a senior discount available.'”

As I am a bargain hunter and hope to share some of what I discover in the marketplace here with you, I read on to discover several “not your usual 50 cents off a sub” senior discounts worth noting in another article, 10 Great Senior Discounts, also by Emily Brandon. With the holiday season fast approaching I liked that “Kohl’s shoppers age 60 and older get 15 percent off in-store purchases on Wednesdays. And Ross customers age 55 and older get 10 percent off purchases made on Tuesdays. In some cases, the day of the week a discount is offered varies by location,” according to Brandon.

Also good to know were her travel tips on hotels, Amtrak, Greyhound, car rental companies and national chain eateries that offer discounts: some attached to a $16 a year membership to AARP, but others just with proof of age. Of note was “The America The Beautiful pass “for people age 62 and older, just $10 ($20 via mail) will get you a lifetime pass that provides you and up to three other adults—or a carload of people—free admission to more than 2,000 national parks and federal recreation sites.”

Check out her photo slide show/article at http://money.usnews.com/money/retirement/slideshows/10-great-senior-discounts

mind games...

The benefits of taking proactive measures to keep brain activity vital as one grows older are well documented. One engaging way to develop and enhance memory, problem solving and several other key functions is to solve puzzles and challenge specially designed “brain games” that target brain function enhancement in one way or another. There are several available portals on the internet that have these games available for players of all ages. Some charge monthly or yearly fees to play long term, but they are comprehensive and allow players to communicate within the platform.

A similar no cost option is found within the AARP web offerings. They invite potential gamers to“have fun working your memory and problem-solving and language skills with these new online games. Adjust the game to your skill level and see how you rate next to top players.” Some featured game offerings are “Entangled Figures” designed to “keep your brain in shape by identifying elements of a jumbled object” and “The Squeaking Mouse” that “strengthen your visual and auditory memory by matching animals with their calls.” Many of the AARP games are offered free online, but there is a section of games available to those who have chosen to join AARP's membership at $16.00 per year. Check out 

http://www.aarp.org/health/brain-health/brain_games/ 

and enjoy the work out!

A grand time...

A website I enjoy as  both a non-traditionally aged parent and a senior interested in remaining savvy and social is “Grandparents.com.” The site maintains that “our goal is to connect and inspire today's families. As the Trusted Resource for Grandparents, we strengthen the ties between family members, promoting well-being and giving timely information and expert advice on what really matters to you, from health and money, to travel and retirement. Our stories and videos celebrate the role of grandparents, and encourage you to tell your story, passing on a meaningful legacy to your children and grandchildren,” and they do a comprehensive job.

I first logged on when seeking resources for an inquiry into volunteering opportunities for Baby Boomers and discovered their initiative to engage seniors via their “Grand Corps,” an internet clearinghouse of volunteer opportunities across the nation. Once on the site, I stayed to explore the more than 50 resource portals that encompass information about grand kids, family and relationships, work and money, food and leisure, health, marketplace deals, games, advice and much more! The contests and give-ways section is always fun to share one's dreams with, and “5 Things I Learned This Week” covers random, but always provocative topics I look forward to browsing.

So sign on and take a look. The Community section has some good conversation this morning!

The next move...

The 2012 article, Top Ten Trends in Senior Housing by George Yedinak looks forward to a time in the senior housing industry when change is no longer “stop-gap” reactionary movement within the industry due to crisis economic conditions, but rather, is more of an evolutionary process born of pro-active response to emerging trends that will drive the industry's development long term. The commentary offered is valuable as Americans move in greater numbers into 21^st century retirements.

As more Baby Boomers look toward senior care housing as a resource for living, the risks and costs associated with their potential care will rise substantially, not only because there are more older Americans, but, also in part, because people are entering residential care when they are older, sicker and their care costs more than ever before. Although benefits for seniors may change drastically due the political realities of today, someone will still have to pay these bills. Coming out of a resource and revenue shrinking recession, without perhaps government supports, the industry is trying to determine just who that “bill payer” is going to be moving forward.

The discussion of the proposed shifts in what care is provided at what stage of aging, where and by whom is an excellent springboard for thinking about this future as a senior, a family, an industry and a culture: well worth the read! http://seniorhousingnews.com/2012/01/09/top-10-trends-in-senior-housing-for-2012/

School rules...

     Emily Brandon, in her article, Forget Tuition: How Retirees Can Attend College for Free, written for U.S. News and World Report Money, covers well the retirement retooling trend of beginning or returning to the college campus after “retirement.” Some seniors report that they are now at school preparing for the work they will do next during their “retirement” careers. Others are re-visiting degrees and coursework they left behind years before as life moved in other directions. Still others are checking out topics and ideas that they have long wanted to explore but just never had an opportunity to do.

     These returning students are, in many cases, taking advantage of NO TUITION programs for citizens over 60 or 62 years of age at both private and public institutions, under graduate and graduate, across the country. Some of these plans are state initiatives while others are offered by the institutions themselves. Classes are offered usually on a space available basis and can be available as an “audit” which means access to classes, no obligation to test or write papers and no credit granted upon completion. Exciting for those who are just shy a few credits for that long ago degree, many institutions also offer the senior program on “for credit” classes.

     Be advised that “no tuition” does not mean no cost. Most schools do require the payment of other fees like parking and lab access and the purchase of books and other materials. Textbook access has changed over time too; so for some, books can be rented not purchased or viewed on-line, all at a cheaper cost than ownership.

     Seniors report that the related costs are often far outweighed by the benefits. Of course, the first benefit is intellectual enrichment...no matter what age, education can really never be taken away from a scholar. New faces and places, access to libraries, fitness centers and interesting programming are also cited as benefits of a return to campus. At some campuses, seniors can actually live on campus at extended care facilities where services for seniors change as their needs change over time. These facilities are often operated in conjunction with the institution's gerontology degree programs.

     Does this idea appeals to you? If so, read the article at: http://money.usnews.com/money/articles/2009/04/20/forget-tuition-how-retirees-can-attend-college-for-free . Also do a Google search for “senior citizen college programs” and you'll discover just how many schools are fueling this trend and just how close you may be to joining in!

On the house...

Veterans Day this year is Sunday, November 11^th. Many businesses across America offer veterans special deals and some freebies on or around Veterans Day as a salute to their service. A comprehensive list of what offers has been made public at http://www.vetsfirst.org/veterans-day-discounts/ . Here are the free meal highlights for those of you who served:

Applebee’s Restaurant

  Free dinners from a new Veterans Day menu.

Outback Steakhouse

  Free Blooming Onion and beverage.

Golden Corral

  Free buffet dinner from 5-9 PM (usually the Monday night after: call your local location)

Subway

  Free six inch subs.

Krispy Kreme

  One free doughnut of any variety

Coushatta Casino Resort

  The Louisiana casino and resort is offering a free seven-clans lunch or dinner buffet.

MarketPlace Grill & Express

  Free entrees

Masala Wok

  The Northern Virginian restaurant is offering a free entree.

Hy-Vee supermarkets

  The mid-western supermarket chain is offering a free breakfast.

Abuelo’s Mexican Food Restaurants

  All veterans and active-duty military receive a free entree

Entertainment freebies like free admission to all national parks and retail offers can be found at the site as well. Thank you for your service and take of advantage of the honors coming your way! I might see you there...

Full circle

1907

The William McKinley Monument, burial site of the President, First Lady Ida and their two daughters, was dedicated in Canton, Ohio on September 30, 1907. Pictured here is the dedication ceremony that was attended by Theodore Roosevelt, who is standing on the left in the front row. My grandmother, Esther Zerbe Walther was 10 years old when she attended the ceremony that day. Prior to McKinley's election, she had been a next door neighbor to them on Canton's Lincoln Street which today is called Fulton Road.

When I was a girl, she told me the story of collecting pennies at school to help finance the building of this structure and how proud the town was to have it. I'm sharing this remembrance with you in celebration of all our family stories and as a reminder to share them with your young even if you have to pull out that old “chocolate cake incentive” to capture their attention. After I post this little piece, I will share the story with my 12 year old and send it into the next century as he shares it once again in a future distant. Its lovely to know that Esther and I and he will all share this memory, despite the gulf of time and place, together and with forthcoming generations.  

Photo of the Monument today taken by my son on July 4th, 2012.

(special thanks to Don and Bud)

Toward a greater good...

How to invest one's time during retirement is a key consideration for many. Some build their entire retirement experience around how they will use their time. Relocating to a lake house in a moderate climate to pursue a passion for spending time at bass fishing has no doubt fueled more than one angler's retirement path.

Others, who do want to take leave of a full time career quest, seek to focus some of their time and labor into effort that, while not necessarily commercial, still offers value toward a greater good. These folks often seek to volunteer for a cause or organization whose mission speaks to them. Volunteering used to mean just that...providing skill and service without compensation toward a mission. 21^st century volunteering is that and more. There are still thousands of organizations and good works initiatives that count on the gift of unpaid service. Many, however; employ volunteer coordinators who work hard not only recruiting helping hands, but developing plans for rewarding service with incentives like gift cards, banquets

and other spiffs. Others have linked to the Corporation for National and Community Service to access the commitment of seniors who volunteer with more traditional work-similar benefits.

Persons over 55 years of age can commit to public service through the Corporation by joining the Senior Corps. “Senior Corps connects today’s 55+ with the people and organizations that need them most. We help them become mentors, coaches or companions to people in need, or contribute their job skills and expertise to community projects and organizations,” according to their website at http://www.seniorcorps.gov/about/sc/index.asp . Whether they act as foster grandparents, peer companions for other seniors or non-profit team members at food banks, housing renewal sites, grade schools or other agencies, these Senior Corps members can receive an hourly stipend, transportation funding or both along with other incentives like accident insurance. These volunteer opportunities are not jobs, any stipend is not an earned wage so does not count as such against pension work restrictions and can offer those who serve worthwhile experiences, new faces and places and a modest boost to the budget during their service year.

Learn more by accessing http://www.seniorcorps.gov/about/sc/index.asp 

If a cat is a requirement of retirement...

better read this!  Thanks to FB buddy, G for sharing.

"Most diets fail because we are still thinking and eating like people.
For those us who have never had any success dieting. Well now there is
the new Miracle Cat Diet! This diet will also work on humans! Except for
cats that eat like people -- such as getting lots of table scraps --
most cats are long and lean (or tiny and petite). the Cat Miracle Diet
will help you achieve the same lean, svelte figure. Just follow this
diet for one week and you'll find that you not only look and feel
better, but you will have a whole new outlook on what constitutes food.
Good Luck!

DAY ONE

Breakfast: Open can of expensive gourmet cat food. Any flavor as long
as it cost more the .75 per can -- and place 1/4 cup on your plate. Eat
1 bite of food; look around room disdainfully. Knock the rest on the
floor. Stare at the wall for awhile before stalking off into the other
room.

Lunch: Four blades of grass and one lizard tail. Throw it back up on
the cleanest carpet in your house.

Dinner: Catch a moth and play with it until it is almost dead. Eat one
wing. Leave the rest to die.

Bedtime snack: Steal one green bean from your spouse's or partner's
plate. Bat it around the floor until it goes under the refrigerator.
Steal one small piece of chicken and eat half of it. Leave the other
half on the sofa. Throw out the remaining gourmet cat food from the can
you opened this morning.

DAY TWO

Breakfast: Picking up the remaining chicken bite from the sofa. Knock
it onto the carpet and bat it under the television set. Chew on the
corner of the newspaper as your spouse/partner tries to read it.

Lunch: Break into the fresh French bread that you bought as your part
of the dinner party on Saturday. Lick the top of it all over. Take one
bite out of the middle of the loaf.

Afternoon snack: Catch a large beetle and bring it into the house. Play
toss and catch with it until it is mushy and half dead. Allow it to
escape under the bed.

Dinner: Open a fresh can of dark-colored gourmet cat food -- tuna or
beef works well. Eat it voraciously. Walk from your kitchen to the edge
of the living room rug. Promptly throw up on the rug. Step into it as
you leave. Track footprints across the entire room.

DAY THREE

Breakfast: Drink part of the milk from your spouse's or partner's
cereal bowl when no one is looking. Splatter part of it on the closest
polished aluminum appliance you can find.

Lunch: Catch a small bird and bring it into the house. Play with on top
of your down filled comforter. Make sure the bird is seriously injured
but not dead before you abandon it for someone else to have to deal
with.

Dinner: Beg and cry until you are given some ice cream or milk in a
bowl of your own. Take three licks/laps and then turn the bowl over on
the floor.

FINAL DAY

Breakfast: Eat 6 bugs, any type, being sure to leave a collection of
legs, wings, antennae on the bathroom floor. Drink lots of water. Throw
the bugs and all of the water up on your spouse's or partner's pillow.

Lunch: Remove the chicken skin from last night's chicken-to-go
leftovers your spouse or partner placed in the trash can. Drag the skin
across the floor several times. Chew it in a corner and then abandon.

Dinner: Open another can of expensive gourmet cat food. Select a flavor
that is especially runny, like Chicken and Giblets in Gravy. Lick off
all the gravy and leave the actual meat to dry and get hard."

If you picture that future, be advised: above represents your new truth!

Rethinking work...

Changing what it means to “work” is a significant part of the transition to retirement for many. 21^st century retirees report that they are not about ejecting work from their lifestyles all together, but often are more interested in changing industries or work roles within a framework of their new retirement lives. That being said, some shun the idea of long term re-training that besides being time consuming can be expensive. Yet after trying to reclaim a work life on their own, they just can not find a fit. In her article,“8 Best Job Ideas for Retirees & Seniors,:” by Kira Botkin at www.moneycrashers.com writes, “The Department of Labor’s Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) provides retraining and job opportunities for people 55 or older if they do not work and have had difficulty finding a job. Through SCSEP, you can learn new skills while working an SCSEP job at a nonprofit organization, such as a daycare center, hospital, library, and recreation center. They also offer seminars and classes, and partner with community colleges. Participants earn minimum wage and must work about 20 hours a week. But once you complete the program, you receive job search assistance in order to obtain a higher-paying position.”

Where I live the program is called the Senior Employment Program and is operated under a countywide umbrella agency called Mature Services. Senior participants there work about 17 hours a week, must attend a day long training session about once a month and can be enrolled in the program for up to 24 months. The program provides participants with insight into what new vocations and positions might be a good fit, a peer group to explore and experience with and a paycheck, that although small, does not count as wages earned against certain pension programs because of its training allowance status. Often agencies where these “trainees” are placed hire them on after their program is completed. Call your local state employment office to get the facts on how this federal program operates where you live.

Anticipating Relocating

Most of us know that many people embark upon some kind of relocation in anticipation of or during retirement.  Some folks make the decision to drastically relocate in order to experience another climate or living culture.  Some move far away to be closer to people important to them.  Others stay close to where they live already but choose to resize from a single family home to a smaller dwelling making life easier and less homestead-centric.  For some the idea of settling in a living community focused on senior comfort as needs may change during an anticipated long residency has merit.

I’ve moved several times in my adult life and know that relocating across the street or across the country requires a great deal of “groundwork.” It encompasses organization, logistical preparation, the ability to handle many tasks all at once and often large commitments of cash and other resources. In other words, it’s complicated, stressful and daunting to think about, set in motion and accomplish.

What I didn’t know, however; was that relocating “senior citizens” is now big business. An article on line about the topic caught my eye and before I knew it I had entered a web world full of articles, ads and associations dedicated to the topic. Just like other topics on the web, there is almost too much to handle. So, after perusing what’s out there, I’m ready to provide my Top Five Web Resources on the subject. (I’ll do this “Top Five” list on other topics here to help readers collect resources as we proceed.)

Here we go:

1.  “When Seniors Relocate” (authored by Lynda K. Fowler, Ohio State University Extension, Crawford County and revised in 2004 by Christine A. Price, Ph.D., Extension State Gerontology Specialist, The Ohio State University as part of the Ohio Department of Aging’s “Senior Series,”) is an easy to access discussion about reasons for moving, moving’s impacts and some things to consider about where one might live.  You can find it at:

   http://ohioline.osu.edu/ss-fact/0143.html

2.   “Moving to a New Home? Make the Transition Easier” gives a helpful checklist for thinking about the why, when and where’s surrounding senior relocation.  Check it out at:

http://seniorliving.about.com/od/housingoptions/a/moving_easier.htm

3.  “Specialists in late-life downsizing on the rise” by Leanne Italie of the Associated Press takes a look at the thriving industry that relocating retirees has become. Go to:

http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/wellness/story/2011- 12-07/Specialists-in-late-life-downsizing-on-the-rise/51696336/1

4.   The website for The National Association of Senior Move Managers at http://nasmm.org/index.cfm treats a variety of relocation topics, provides downloads for use in planning and, of course, explains why hiring a professional move manager is a good idea. 

 

5.   “Moving Tips for Seniors” by Diane Schmidt is a master portal in About.com that offers access to other articles on this topic worth reading ranging from how to decide to make a move to hands-on tips about resizing the home.  Find it at:

http://moving.about.com/od/movingseniors/tp/seniors_moving.htm

I’d love to hear your take on this topic…react and interact…its always free here at Retooling Retirements.

Income and Encore.org

In the past, life spans were shorter and some of those lives were plagued with medical concerns that are less burdensome today than they may have been two decades ago, but even those who had the best of health then well into their elder years were hard pressed to find something personally, financially or socially significant to do with their lives. As Boomers began to seek what was next, however; their generational spirit of adventure, social responsibility and personal engagement brought them to an idea that work at "retirement" didn't end but just changed to meet the new needs it was to satisfy.   

One organization taking on the challenge of helping folks refocus and renew their post retirement ideas about and ways of accomplishing work is San Francisco based Encore.org. Here's how they describe themselves on their Facebook page...

"What kind of work will 78 million boomers do in their 50s, 60s and beyond? Tens of millions say they are interested in encore careers with purpose, passion and a paycheck. Get started at http://www.encore.org/

Mission

To engage millions of boomers in encore careers that provide continued income doing work that is personally fulfilling and helps address some of society’s biggest challenges.

Company Overview

Encore careers combine purpose, passion and a paycheck for those who want to use their experience to make a difference in the lives of others. In a recent survey of adults age 44 to 70, half said they wanted encore careers that improve their communities."

Take the time to visit their site, be informed more completely about this important piece of the retooling retirement thought and be inspired by the stories of real people doing real things in real time in their real retirements.

Moving forward...

In the opening post, I listed some of the facets of constructing a retirement that folks consider and implement.  Although these facets can be as numerous and individual as each person considering them, major decisions about different income strategies,  new living places and spaces, changes in what it means now to work and to play, diverse approaches to health and longevity, and shifting family and social roles need to dovetail together both in planning and doing to create what is hoped to be a bright future.

I want to set right to the task of considering these things in this forum. The next several posts will begin to share what I've recently seen, heard, thought and learned about each of those major decisions. I want to be clear that these topics will never be handled here (or anywhere else) once and for all, there probably will not be a time when everything about every one of them has been explored or will there not be room for what you want to share about what you've seen, heard, thought or learned about them.

Consider what I post as a launching pad for further discovery and please, don't hesitate to participate...more heads are better than one, ya know?

First, lets nose around ideas about different income strategies.

WHAT NEXT?

"What next?" As retirement draws near, many Baby Boomer folks are asking themselves and those close to them just that question.  There is so much to think about:  different income strategies,  new living places and spaces, changes in what it means now to work and to play, diverse approaches to health and longevity, shifting family and social roles and as much more as the humans doing the thinking can, well, think about.    

Retooling Retirements is a place for readers to discover what others are thinking and saying about 21st century retirement, to share what others are doing in those retirements, and to think about and to set about doing a retirement that makes sense to them, all in one easy to access Internet space.

Visit here often, share your perspectives and information and feel free to harvest what is offered here as well. At Retooling Retirements, a bridge from the rocking chair of the past to the adventure of today and the promise of tomorrow is built one post at a time. Join us and enjoy!