Retirement Talk for Boomers, Seniors, and Retirees

Retirement can oftentimes bring the choice of staying where you have been living for many years, or moving. Sometimes we are torn. We like it where we live, but – we are drawn by what we don’t have; the old, “grass is always greener” trick.

Retirement gives us time to breath, time to letup, time to sit in quiet repose. We should know by now that we aren’t really going anywhere. We may as well take our time. Slow travel can really help.

"What Now" of course relates to retiring and what comes after that. Some of us have big dreams. I knew a guy in Alaska who retired and set off to sail around the world. He had a new boat made in Norway. He flew there to pick it up and sailed south and east. He didn’t get far; the Caribbean. He got attacked by pirates.

And what did we do with our lives once we retired? Did we do what we thought we would? We did want to get involved in our community. This involvement took an expanded turn with the invention of the Internet and Podcasting. Perhaps your’s will also. I serve this podcast as a tale of retirement as it may progress.

Some folks I know have spent the last few years living home free. They go somewhere they have never been; rent an apartment or house and settle in for several months. Their last stop was in Ecuador for six months.

Long ago, my friend, Glen died at age 39: brain tumor. He never had to consider the question of when he should retire. That can happen to anyone. Death is an equal opportunity employer. It can come very unexpectedly.

One thing about retirement: the appreciation of food accelerates. We can enjoy the growing, the planning, the cooking, the colors, and the eating. We have eaten and wished we had more. I should guess that many people may go to their grave thinking of food they have grown or food they have enjoyed.

Parents want their kids to learn to think. We want them to think for themselves. We want them to become independent. It isn't something with which we humans are born. At the same time we try to encourage independent thinking and we try to teach our children to listen to our advice or directions.

Sometimes I feel so out of it. When I stepped into the world of retirement I never thought I was leaving the real world. Now it seems like I see something, read something or hear of something of which I know nothing every day.

And what did we do with our lives once we retired? Did we do what we thought we would? We did want to get involved in our community. This involvement took an expanded turn with the invention of the Internet and Podcasting. Perhaps your’s will also. I serve this podcast as a tale of retirement as it may progress.