Losing my Dad was something I thought I had already prepared myself for.

He had dementia, and over time, we lost him in small pieces. I believed I had grieved already… but when he actually passed, the grief was unlike anything I expected.

In this video, I’m opening up about: What it feels like to lose a parent later in life. 
How grief can change our understanding of our own aging.
How my relationship with my Mom has shifted — and become more precious.
How family dynamics change when someone we love is no longer here.
And what it means to move forward with love, awareness, and purpose.

 If you're in retirement or approaching it, you may find yourself reflecting on family, legacy, and time more than ever. You’re not alone. I hope this brings comfort, connection, and understanding to anyone who has walked through loss or is supporting a loved one through it.

Thank you, Dad, for the lessons that continue long after you are gone.


Please check out my video about the 8 signs you may be ready to retire ✅https://youtu.be/_T1BDpPC9lo?si=G8cJNG443pMgDG7r
Please check out my video about what I wish I had known before I retired ✅https://youtu.be/H7pPGcUp3o0?si=dOaQlRovInW3603p
Please check out my video on the 8 legal steps you can't ignore when you retire ✅https://youtu.be/k47IzMkJTQI?si=TqxjVq2V81ahWkoy

Please join our Facebook Group www.facebook.com/groups/lifestartsatretirement

Are you dreaming about traveling in retirement — or already living it? After a full year of travel, we’ve learned a few hard-earned lessons. In this honest video, we share the biggest travel regrets retirees have (and how you can avoid them!).

From waiting too long to see the world, to trying to do it all at once — these are the moments we wish we could do differently. Whether you’re planning your first trip or your fiftieth, these insights will help you make the most of your retirement adventures.

📍 TIMESTAMPS
0:00 — Introduction
1:06 — Travel While You Can
2:00 — Don’t Rush
3:10 — Get Rewards Cards
4:14 — Experiences vs. Stuff
5:54 — Tried to Do It All
7:06 — Spend the Money
8:56 — Didn’t Record the Memories
9:45 — Money vs. Time

✨ Watch this before you plan your next trip!

💬 Join the Conversation What’s your biggest travel regret or lesson learned on the road? Share it in the comments — your story might inspire someone else to travel smarter and live fuller.

🧭 About This Channel Welcome to Life Starts at Retirement! I’m Maureen — traveler, storyteller, and cruise lecturer exploring what it means to live your best life after retirement. Subscribe for weekly videos on retirement lifestyle, travel tips, and inspiration to make every day an adventure.

The final stage of retirement is the stability phase — the point where life feels balanced, purposeful, and truly yours.

In this video, Retirement’s Stability Phase – Building a Life You Truly Love, I explain how retirees move from uncertainty to confidence, creating routines, relationships, and meaning that make retirement deeply fulfilling.

You’ll learn:
✅ What the stability phase of retirement looks like day to day
✅ How to build routines that feel joyful, not rigid
✅ Why strong relationships and purpose create lasting happiness
✅ Practical tips to create a retirement you truly love If you’re planning for retirement or already there, this video will inspire you to build a chapter filled with peace, purpose, and joy.

🔔 Subscribe to Life Starts at Retirement for more real insights, inspiration, and practical tips to help you make retirement remarkable.

👩‍💻 I’m Maureen Dobranski, and this is Life Starts at Retirement. On this channel, I talk about the real journey of retirement — not just the money side, but what it actually feels like to live day to day after work and to make your retirement remarkable

📍 Today’s filming note: While you’re watching this, I’m actually traveling — enjoying another cruise, this time I'm in Venice!

Please check out my video about the 8 signs you may be ready to retire ✅https://youtu.be/_T1BDpPC9lo?si=G8cJNG443pMgDG7r

Please check out my video about what I wish I had known before I retired ✅https://youtu.be/H7pPGcUp3o0?si=dOaQlRovInW3603p

Please check out my video on the 8 legal steps you can't ignore when you retire ✅https://youtu.be/k47IzMkJTQI?si=TqxjVq2V81ahWkoy

Please join our Facebook Group www.facebook.com/groups/lifestartsatretirement

After the excitement fades and disenchantment sets in, many retirees enter the reorientation phase — the stage where you start asking, “Who am I now?”

In this video, Retirement’s Reorientation Phase – How to Find Yourself Again, I share how to navigate this powerful stage of self-discovery and build a retirement filled with clarity and purpose.

You’ll learn:
✅ What the reorientation phase of retirement really means
✅ Why identity and purpose feel uncertain after leaving work
✅ Practical ways to explore new passions, routines, and goals
✅ How to rebuild confidence and create a fulfilling life after work

If you’re feeling restless or unsure in retirement, this video will help you find direction, rediscover yourself, and create a chapter you truly love.

👩‍💻 I’m Maureen Dobranski, and this is Life Starts at Retirement. On this channel, I talk about the real journey of retirement — not just the money side, but what it actually feels like to live day to day after work and to make your retirement remarkable

📍 Today’s filming note: While you’re watching this, I’m actually traveling — enjoying another cruise, this time I'm in  Salerno, Italy!

🔔 Subscribe to Life Starts at Retirement for more real-life insights, inspiration, and practical tips to make retirement remarkable.

Please check out my video about the 8 signs you may be ready to retire ✅https://youtu.be/_T1BDpPC9lo?si=G8cJNG443pMgDG7r

Please check out my video about what I wish I had known before I retired ✅https://youtu.be/H7pPGcUp3o0?si=dOaQlRovInW3603p

Please check out my video on the 8 legal steps you can't ignore when you retire ✅https://youtu.be/k47IzMkJTQI?si=TqxjVq2V81ahWkoy

Please join our Facebook Group www.facebook.com/groups/lifestartsatretirement

The honeymoon glow of retirement doesn’t last forever — for many, it’s followed by the disenchantment phase, when retirement feels empty, aimless, or even disappointing.

In this video, The Disenchantment Phase of Retirement – When retirement feels empty, I explains why this stage happens, how long it can last, and most importantly, what you can do to move through it.

You’ll learn:
✅ Why the disenchantment phase often surprises retirees
✅ Common feelings of boredom, restlessness, or loss of purpose
✅ Practical steps to overcome emptiness and find direction
✅ How this stage can actually lead to growth and fulfillment

If you’ve ever wondered “Is this all there is?” in retirement, this video will give you clarity, reassurance, and tools to navigate the tougher side of life after work.

🔔 Subscribe to Life Starts at Retirement for more honest conversations, real-life insights, and practical tips to create a retirement full of meaning and joy.

👩‍💻 I’m Maureen Dobranski, and this is Life Starts at Retirement. On this channel, I talk about the real journey of retirement — not just the money side, but what it actually feels like to live day to day after work and to make your retirement remarkable

📍 Today’s filming note: While you’re watching this, I’m actually traveling — enjoying another cruise, this time through Pisa and Florence, Italy!

Please check out my video about the 8 signs you may be ready to retire ✅https://youtu.be/_T1BDpPC9lo?si=G8cJNG443pMgDG7r

Please check out my video about what I wish I had known before I retired ✅https://youtu.be/H7pPGcUp3o0?si=dOaQlRovInW3603p

Please check out my video on the 8 legal steps you can't ignore when you retire ✅https://youtu.be/k47IzMkJTQI?si=TqxjVq2V81ahWkoy

Please join our Facebook Group www.facebook.com/groups/lifestartsatretirement.

The honeymoon stage of retirement feels like pure freedom — no alarms, no deadlines, just fun and adventure. But what happens when the vacation feeling wears off?

In this video, The Honeymoon Stage of Retirement – Freedom, Fun and What’s Next, I explore why this stage is so exciting, why it doesn’t last forever, and how to prepare for what comes next.

You’ll learn:
✅ What the honeymoon phase of retirement really feels like
✅ How long it typically lasts
✅ Why some retirees start to feel restless or aimless
✅ Practical tips to enjoy it fully and prepare for the next stage

If you’re planning for retirement or already there, this video will help you understand what to expect so you can make the most of this exciting chapter.

🔔 Subscribe to Life Starts at Retirement for more insights, real stories, and tips to create a retirement full of purpose and joy.

👩‍💻 I’m Maureen Dobranski, and this is Life Starts at Retirement. On this channel, I talk about the real journey of retirement — not just the money side, but what it actually feels like to live day to day after work and to make your retirement remarkable

📍 Today’s filming note: While you’re watching this, I’m actually traveling — enjoying another cruise, this time I'm in Spain!

Please check out my video about when you forget the money, you get happiness! ✅https://youtu.be/9OqDFDeKq2M

Please check out my video about 9 fun things to do after you've retired! ✅https://youtu.be/XDfNiTpcJ1Y?si=OLYcKPb982DWIZVS

Please check out my video on the 8 legal steps you can't ignore when you retire ✅https://youtu.be/k47IzMkJTQI?si=TqxjVq2V81ahWkoy

Please join our Facebook Group www.facebook.com/groups/lifestartsatretirement.

Retirement doesn’t start the day you stop working — it actually begins years earlier in what I call the Pre-Retirement Phase. This is the stage where dreams and reality collide, and how well you prepare now can make the difference between a retirement that feels exciting… or uncertain.

In this video, I’ll explain:
✅ What the pre-retirement phase really is
✅ The emotions you’ll face — excitement, anxiety, and uncertainty
✅ The biggest mistake people make (focusing only on money)
✅ Practical tips to prepare for retirement beyond finances
✅ Real-life examples of how to plan for purpose, connection, and joy.

The pre-retirement stage is your golden opportunity to experiment, build routines, strengthen relationships, and start shaping the life you want after work. Don’t let it slip by focusing only on spreadsheets — because retirement is about more than money. It’s about meaning.

This video is Part 2 of my 6-part series on the Emotional Stages of Retirement.

Make sure you subscribe so you don’t miss the next stage!

👩‍💻 I’m Maureen Dobranski, and this is Life Starts at Retirement. On this channel, I talk about the real journey of retirement — not just the money side, but what it actually feels like to live day to day after work and to make your retirement remarkable

📍 Today’s filming note: While you’re watching this, I’m actually traveling — enjoying another cruise, this time through Belgium!

🔔 Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe

Please check out my video about loneliness in retirement ✅https://youtu.be/a4_OEVoJGcc?si=NlomXsaUbvJIBA4k

Please check out my video about the 3 stages of retirement....Go Go Phase, Slow Go Phase and No Go Phase. ✅https://youtu.be/4-_kDrQnwN8

Please check out my video Forget the money...this is what makes retirees happy! ✅https://youtu.be/9OqDFDeKq2M?si=iFNcv16bvdr2jjBR

Please join our Facebook Group www.facebook.com/groups/lifestartsatretirement

Retirement is more than numbers — it’s an emotional journey. In this video, Life After Work – The 4 Emotional Stages of Retirement, I walk  you through the ups and downs most retirees experience: the excitement of freedom, the shock of change, the challenges of restlessness, and finally, the joy of finding balance.

You’ll discover:
✅ The 4 key emotional stages of retirement
✅ Why the “honeymoon” feeling doesn’t last
✅ How to handle the tough moments of disenchantment
✅ Practical tips to build purpose, joy, and stability after work If you’re planning for retirement or already living it, this video will help you understand what to expect — and how to make your next chapter the most meaningful one yet.

This is the first video in a series of 6!  Please join me next week for Pre-retirement - The dreams and the reality!

🔔 Subscribe to Life Starts at Retirement for more real conversations, practical insights, and inspiration to make retirement remarkable.

Retirement spending isn’t as simple as “save a million and live on 80% of your income.”

In this video, I break down surprising new insights from a JP Morgan study that reveal how retirees actually spend their money. You’ll learn about the curve of retirement expenses, why partial retirement often leads to higher spending, and how volatile costs—like healthcare or travel—can shake up your budget. If you’re planning for retirement or already there, this video will help you rethink the old rules and prepare for a more flexible, confident retirement lifestyle.

 #RetirementPlanning #RetirementSpending #FinancialFreedom #LifeStartsAtRetirement


Please check out my video about the 3 stages of retirement....Go Go Phase, Slow Go Phase and No Go Phase. ✅https://youtu.be/4-_kDrQnwN8

Please check out my video on the 4 stages of retirement! ✅https://youtu.be/sELWGP7Iyus


Please join our Facebook Group www.facebook.com/groups/lifestartsatretirement.

In this video, we share with you some of the BEST things you can do with your time during retirement!

Retirement isn’t the end of the road—it’s the start of a whole new adventure and so in this video, I’ll share 9 of the best things you can do in retirement to fill your days with joy, meaning, and excitement.

Whether you’re looking for fun hobbies, new travel ideas, or simple ways to stay connected and engaged, these tips will help you make the most of this new chapter in life. From staying active and exploring your passions to finding new ways to give back and connect with others, these ideas are designed to spark inspiration and remind you that the best years can still be ahead.

Retirement is your chance to do more of what you love—and maybe even discover something new.

 Timestamp
00:00 - Find a hobby
02:20 - Use your knowledge
03:40 - Volunteer
04:35 - Travel
06:33 - Be active
07:48 - Become a writer
08:35 - Learn, Learn, Learn
09:45 - Get a part time job 1
11:15 - Connection

Please check out my video about loneliness in retirement
✅https://youtu.be/a4_OEVoJGcc?si=NlomXsaUbvJIBA4k

Please check out my video about the 3 stages of retirement....Go Go Phase, Slow Go Phase and No Go Phase.
✅https://youtu.be/4-_kDrQnwN8

Please check out my video on the 4 stages of retirement!
✅https://youtu.be/sELWGP7Iyus

Please join our Facebook Group www.facebook.com/groups/lifestartsatretirement