"Time to eat" my mother would say. And we would all bound to the table. It was a delightful moment. It still is - even more so. Retirement offers us time to prepare, consume and enjoy food like no other time in our life. With just a little thought, effort - and help - we can take this activity to a new level.

Are we really helping when we help? Or are we just enabling? Sometimes it is hard to tell. But it is an important question. We do want to help but sometimes we goes to far and interferes with someone else's independence. Too much help can be stifling. Retired people have lots of opportunities to help or hinder.

Change comes so fast it is impossible to not feel overwhelmed at times. We hear our children or grandchildren talk and don't quite know the language. We can kick back and let it all go. Must we always be learning something new? Choices, choices, choices.

If we are going to a lead a retired life with meaning it is obligatory to pause: to pause and think. When we retire we have a bit more time for reflection. We need to build it into our busy schedule. Time to think.

Parents give meaning to our lives as children; then teachers and then bosses. Family and work responsibilities shape much of our interests and time. Then comes retirement and many of us find ourselves in a unique position. We can finally choose our own meaning. For some, it is not so easy. (Part 1)

Is being irresponsible always bad? Some people seem to look on it as nothing more than taking a bit of a risk. That can't be all bad. Retirement rids us of lots of responsibility and opens the door for walking a bit more, or even a lot more, on the edge.

We can spend a lot of time on things of which we have no control. Our thoughts and sleep can be cut short. It might be best to accept what we must and focus on those things we can control or at least influence. Our life can be better.

There is no friend like an old friend. Someone must have said that. Retirement allows us time to reach back and reconnect. It also allows us time to reach out and make new friends. It may involves a little risk and require a little effort

Retiring and exploring go hand in hand. At least they can. Many believe they have to jump on a jet to far distant places to explore. Not so. Many new experiences can be had very close to home for those attuned.

Retirement is about more than money. Choices need to be made concerning money. But there are many decisions that do not concern financial and investment issues. We need to think about these.