Rock Your Retirement Show

Rod and Tina Holt wanted to explore Australia after working hard physical labor all their lives.

They decided on a life on the road in a RV, known as a caravan in Australia.  Now they are RVing across Australia.

Rod, being very independent loves the freedom of the wide open road, not to mention the absence of stress!

But just how do you start to live the RV life?

Henry and Rod had a great discussion about living this lifestyle, caravaning and how free it feels.  He asked them how they started (after all, moving into such a tiny movable space isn't something that you do every day for sure!)  The Holts started small.  They new that they needed to acclimate themselves to this lifestyle so they started with short trips to get acquainted with living in an RV, and then they decided to see every corner of Australia.  That's when they began RVing across Australia.

During the interview Henry gets them to discuss issues such as:

* How to choose the right RV for you

* Important issues to look for

* Where to store your RV

* How to stay safe on the road

* The pleasures of going where ever you want to go

Rod took control of his life at an early age, and this allowed Tina and him to design a life around their own priorities.  They were more concerned about their lifestyle than getting a good education and then working for the rest of their lives.

Rod cares more about freedom, meeting new people, and exploring!

If you want to learn more about how to include RVing into your Retirement lifestyle, or how you can actually live in an RV, check out Rock Your Retirement Episode 48, How to Live in an RV.

What about you?

Tell us about your experiences in an RV in the comments below.

Diane Valenti loves to travel and is especially enthusiastic about philanthropic and sustainable travel.

She is the founder of Llama Expeditions, which gives private guided trips to South America. These trips are for the young at heart who looking for life changing perspectives. Oh, and for her 9-5 corporate job, she consults with Fortune 500 companies to design learning experiences that help employees reach their potential at work.

In 2008 Diane and her father took a trip to Machu Pichu to fulfill one of his bucket list items. It was a magical experience that really moved her. Diane decided she wanted to create these experiences for others.

With each tour she makes a donation, and she also gives the opportunity for her guests to donate.

She chooses the organizations who get her philanthropic attention by researching them at Idealist.  Diane wants to leave a trace…but the right kind of trace.

This is not what some people call “voluntourism”.  These groups are not painting walls, only for the next group to repaint them.  (Yes this happens!)

These are trips where you really get to know the people.  And you get to see that your donation makes a difference.

And that's how you can participate in sustainable tourism.  It's Philanthropic tourism at it's best.

Today's Freebie:  The Traveler's Guide to Changing the World which you can find by going to http://RockYourRetirement.com/Travel

You can reach her at http://llamaexpeditions.com

Special Thanks to:

* Angie Strehlow who helps us get great guests that help us with our retirement lifestyle while keeping everything on track…and helps with these show notes!

* Les Briney, my husband, and Danny Ozment of Emerald City Pro who edits the show and makes my guests and me sound terrific

* Henry Shapiro, host of Retired Excited that airs on Fridays

* YOU for telling your friends about the show, leaving comments below, and sharing episodes you really like on Facebook, and reviewing the show on iTunes

This post about retirement and Retirement Lifestyle first appeared on http://RockYourRetirement.com

Why are life stories important?

There are things in the world that most folks just don’t think about.

Maybe till it is too late.

Janella Hodgson records the life stories of people as they approach the end of their life. Maybe they are terminally ill, or maybe they are simply aged and worn out.

She is a volunteer for Eastern Palliative Care, which is an organization that provides Palliative and Hospice services.  These include home and nursing care  to recording and transcribing the stories of people who have moved beyond medical help.

People want their story told.  You'll find out their motivation, their reactions, and why Janella wanted to be a voluntary biographer.

You'll find answers to the question “Why are life stories important?”.

Interestingly, for the biographer a successful outcome for their work is not necessarily a published biography, nor is that the over-riding purpose of this program. But you are going to have to listen to the interview to sort that out.

Eastern Palliative Care is always looking for more biographers. They provide effective guidelines and comprehensive training to their volunteers to ensure their clients are safe and respected. This is obviously not something that appeals to the masses, but if you are one of those special people with empathy and a few skills, you can find more information by clicking on the link below and working your way to ‘Volunteers’ which you will find under the ‘Supporting EPC’ tag in the menu.

And as an aside, you may be able to contact a hospice or palliative care agency in your area to see if they are looking for volunteers to do this type of work where you live.

What do you think about these types of programs?  Is this something you could do?  Have you told your story yet?  Did your loved one get to tell his life story?  Let us know in the comments below!

Special Thanks to YOU for telling your friends about the show, leaving comments below, and sharing episodes you really like on Facebook, and reviewing the show on iTunes

I asked Karin to come on the show to talk to us about the documents we need to have a great retirement.

Karin Schumacher has been an attorney since 2001. She is regarded as compassionate, accomplished, and dedicated at Elder Law & Advocacy, Legal Aid Society, and San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program. She has effectively served over 12,000 clients.

She talks about her grandfather who was a very “well to do” business owner. (He owned 3 auto supply stores). At the time he passed away in 1975, he had over ten million dollars. He wanted his children and his grandchildren to receive that. The problem was that unbeknownst to him, the Corporate Trustee he used, did not have his best interest at heart. All of his hard earned money had been squandered. Now in 1975, there was far less oversight on Corporate Trustees and a lot fewer regulations than there are now.

Put these documents in place BEFORE they are needed. Also update or review them on a regular basis because life events and circumstances change frequently.”

Karin goes over each of these in greater detail during the interview.  Below, is the list of documents we need to have a great retirement:

* Advanced Healthcare Directive- This is basically your end of life wishes. It is a 55-page document that goes over your medical wishes should you become incapacitated.

* Power of Attorney (Springing or Immediate) Springing POA- Only takes place upon incapacity. Immediate- Be cautious here because the moment you sign an immediate POA, the power goes to the agent. However, a POA is one of the documents we need to have a great retirement.  Kathe likes the Springing kind.

* HIPAA Release (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) – Prohibits Healthcare providers from releasing information unless you have completed a HIPAA  release form.

* Trust- If you own a home and or assets in California above $150,000 then a Trust will assist in avoiding probate.

* Will – If you are distributing assets by other means and don't own a home, then be sure to create a will.

To get today’s Freebie, What Documents Do I Need Before I Become Incapacitated, go to http://rockyourretirement.com/Incapacitated

Contact Information for Karin: www.AfsarEstatePlanning.com

Special Thanks to:

* Angie Strehlow who helps us get great guests that help us with our retirement lifestyle while keeping everything on track…and helps with these show notes!

* Les Briney, my husband, and Danny Ozment of Emerald City Pro who edits the show and makes my guests and me sound terrific

* Henry Shapiro, host of Retired Excited that airs on Fridays

* YOU for telling your friends about the show, leaving comments below, and sharing episodes you really like on Facebook, and reviewing the show on iTunes

This post about retirement and Retirement Lifestyle first appeared on http://RockYourRetirement.com

*Rock your Retirement discusses retirement issues, but neither Rock Your Retirement nor Kathe Kline provides legal advice.  Please be sure to consult your own attorney.

If you go to sea at fifteen, by sixty five you will have seen and learned a few things.

Rob Anderson certainly has.

They didn’t talk about what Rob is doing in retirement. But they did have a hilarious discussion about his experiences as the Captain or First Mate of the various ships he has worked on.

He tells of experiences like towing oil rigs, and doing duty as the medical officer.  There were burials at sea, and a story about what happens when you are shaving without any clothes on while travelling in rough seas. Henry challenges us to guess how that turned out. There were plenty of other stories but you know how colorful a captain of the ship can be, so Henry couldn't air those stories.  Ha!

In the later part of the show they talk about the times Rob was the Captain of the ship, “Sea Shepherd” and he was also captain of the ship the “Steve Irwin”.

Sea Shepherd is the organization whose ships deliberately challenge the Japanese whaling fleet while they slaughter hundreds of whales in the name of scientific research. It was at this point that Rob became seriously serious.

If you are interested in conservation on land or sea, then you can possibly work with Greenpeace.   Note:  We aren't recommending them, we are just giving you the information!  You can also visit The Sea Shepherd website. You can get involved, donate, or purchase Sea Shepherd items.

Rob mentions that you can go on board the “Steve Irwin” when it is in dock at Williamstown, talk to the folks, and maybe arrange to sail with them if appropriate.  (This is for you Aussies!  Can I call you Aussies?  I'm not sure of the protocol here.)

Join the discussion below.  Let us know about your own ship activities and conservation efforts!

Special Thanks for telling your friends about the show, leaving comments below, and sharing episodes you really like on Facebook, and reviewing the show on iTunes

What are the 5 Golden Rules of Retirement you never knew? I talked with Bart Astor. Bart has appeared on numerous TV and radio shows, including ABC’s “Good Morning America,” PBS’s “MarketPlace,” Ric Edelman’s “The Truth About Money,” AARP Radio, “Two Boomer Babes,” and Boomer’s Rock radio. So as you can imagine, I was honored to have him on my show!

Bart Astor is a recognized expert in life’s transitions and eldercare. He is the author of a plethora of books including AARP Roadmap for the Rest of Your Life. This book does talk about money, but it also talks about health, work, lifestyle, and pursuing your dreams. And that's what this show is about!  I wanted to find out what his 5 golden rules of retirement were…

When we are working, and thinking about retirement, one of the issues we have to deal with is our ego. Our identity. Who are we?

In Bart's writings, he's talked about 5 golden rules of retirement, or for setting the roadmap to what he calls a successful “Second Adulthood.”  Bart goes into more detail about this in the interview but…

Those 5 golden rules of retirement are:

*

You get to choose your own goals

*

Most of what happens to us in our lives is not really a surprise

*

The level of your activity influences your choices (This includes mental and physical activity)

*

Quality of life is about retirement lifestyle

*

Don’t judge yourself

Books

* AARP Roadmap for the Rest of Your Life: Smart Choices About Money, Health, Work, Lifestyle … and Pursuing Your Dreams

* Graduate from College Debt-Free: Get Your Degree With Money In The Bank

* Baby Boomers Guide to Caring for Aging Parents

* What Can You Do with a Major in Biology?

* How to Care for Your Aging Parents

* CliffsNotes Understanding Life Insurance

* KAPLAN YOU CAN AFFORD COLLEGE

* The Official Guide to Financing Your MBA

To get today's Freebie, Level of Activity Scale, go to http://rockyourretirement.com/LevelOfActivity

Contact information for Bart: Twitter: @bartastor  *  Email: [email protected]  *  Website: www.BartAstor.com

Special Thanks to:

* Angie Strehlow who helps us get great guests that help us with our retirement lifestyle while keeping everything on track…and helps with these show notes!

* Les Briney, my husband, and Danny Ozment of Emerald City Pro who edits the show and makes my guests and me sound terrific

* Henry Shapiro, host of Retired Excited that airs on Fridays

* YOU for telling your friends about the show, leaving comments below, and sharing episodes you really like on Facebook, and reviewing the show on iTunes

This post about retirement and Retirement Lifestyle first appeared on

The common belief is that artists have to starve for years before becoming successful.

Agnes Parcesepe is living proof that it doesn’t have to be the case. She started painting young, and is still painting in retirement.

Agnes talks about her progress from simply liking art in her youth, to taking up painting later in life. She then transitioned from student to teacher in a few short years. This artist has won a myriad of competitions, she's had international exhibitions, and patrons have purchased her paintings purchased and hung them all round the world. Amazing stuff when you stop to think about it.

She has a passion for creativity and painting, and love of the natural world.

This is not to say she makes her living painting, because she doesn't.  But that isn't her objective anyway. The objective doesn't have to be money when you are painting in retirement .  Agnes'  intense drive to improve and commitment to complete projects has funded her hobby and given her immeasurable satisfaction and a part income.

Henry and Agnes discuss how to take YOU can take up painting in retirement.  They tell you what your first steps need to be, how and where to learn, and then how to become better known and how to market your works.

You might ask…”What medium should I use”?  Agnes very strongly recommends experimenting with a wide variety of mediums to really establish which you like best and which one suits your style and subject matter.

Painting in Retirement does not cost a lot to enter, and it is also relatively portable.

Like photography or bird watching you can engage in painting or drawing at home, on holiday, in the city, in the country … anywhere.

You can see Agnes’ works on her website at www.agili.com.au or contact her if you like at [email protected]

At one point in the interview Henry and Agnes discuss a health related issue that Agnes has been overcoming with natural therapies. You can listen to the episode by clicking on the play button or subscribing on your smartphone.

Join the conversation!  Tell us what you think in the comment box below!

Special Thanks to:

* Angie Strehlow who helps us get great guests that help us with our retirement lifestyle while keeping everything on track…and helps with these show notes!

* Les Briney, my husband, and Danny Ozment of Emerald City Pro who edits the show and makes my guests and me sound terrific

* Henry Shapiro, host of Retired Excited that airs on Fridays

* YOU for telling your friends about the show, leaving comments below, and sharing episodes you really like on Facebook, and reviewing the show on iTunes

This post about retirement and Retirement Lifestyle first appeared on http://RockYourRetirement.com

Today Gary Knight came on the show and told us about San Diego Futures Foundation (SFFF).  This organization helps seniors and low income individuals get computers at a reduced rate.

SDFF also teaches their recipients how to use the technology, which is often a hurdle in their target populations.

Gary Knight is the Executive Director of the San Diego Futures Foundation (SDFF), a 501(c)3 nonprofit established to improve lives in San Diego through technology. SDFF provides equipment, software, training, services, and technical support to San Diego nonprofits, small businesses, and disadvantaged residents.  SDFF is working to bridge the digital divide in San Diego, and helps low-income households, people with disabilities, and seniors.

Prior to joining the San Diego Futures Foundation, Gary Knight was the president and chief executive officer of the San Diego North Economic Development Council.  The council is a coalition of public and private entities whose main objective is to attract, retain and develop business in North County. It has almost doubled its membership since Knight took over in 2004.  As president, Knight pushed for improved transportation options, greater educational opportunities, and reliable/affordable power supplies.  Gary also provided strong support for the proposed desalination plant in Carlsbad and the new Palomar Hospital in Escondido.

Gary sits on a number of Boards, Committees, and Advisory Groups all across San Diego.

The organization not only helps those over 65 (and on Medicare) or those people of any age who are on Medi-Cal (California's version of Medicaid) or Cal-Fresh (California's version of Food Stamps) but it also helps anyone volunteer.  Seniors can get a computer for little to no cost and then learn how to use it.  SDFF gets seniors involved in technology.

This Technology program works by partnering with:

* Connect to Compete

* Designed for kids who are on the Free Lunch program

* Low-Cost Internet

* Low-Cost Computers

* Groups of people who want to volunteer by setting up computer labs at schools

* SDFutures.org which is part of SDFF and provides computers and IT support to non-profits

* Girls who Code, a school program that encourages girls to go into technology fields

Are the computers FREE?  No, because of some issues in the past, the computers are not free. These high-end computers start at about $100.  Some people do get donated computers depending on the availability, need, and other factors.  These low cost and free computers help get seniors involved in technology.

SDFF re-formats the donated computers according to Department of Defense Standards.  They also send unusable computers to a salvage company that meets their security and disposal requirements.  Additionally, their staff undergoes background checks.  Donors can feel good about donating their computers without having to worry about their data getting into the wrong hands.

Hospital re-admittance rates are about 30% compared to only about 10% when the senior has something to look forward to.  Working on a project or volunteering gives them something to look forward to.

Gary told us a retirement lifestyle story about a man who was in a wheelchair because of a leg amputation due to diabetes.  He rolled up to Gary and exclaimed, “You saved my life!”  That was interesting to Gary since he had never met him.

He explained that he had received one of their computers at a very low point in his life (right after his amputation).  The gentleman had loved to work on cars and attend car shows before he lost his leg but was now confined to a wheelchair.

By using the computer to join chat rooms and view car events online, he felt invigorated again with a newfound purpose in life.  By the time he met Gary, he had started a web site for car buffs where they shared stories that made him feel ...

Des Easton loves Long Distance Motorcycle Riding!

Traveling by motorcycle is fun, exhilarating but pretty energy zapping. Traveling hundreds of miles a day, day after day, sounds exhausting, But that is what retiree Des does .. for fun!

Members of ‘Far Riders’ and the ‘Iron Butt’ groups set themselves challenges of long distance rides most bikers would not consider. But don’t get the idea that this is a dangerous undertaking. They plan and practice, sometimes for years, before attempting these feats, and travel strictly in accordance with the law and speed limits.

Des explains the discipline and preparation which has allowed him to complete twenty thousand kilometers in twenty days. A challenge most of us wouldn’t even consider driving in a car. But he and his friends love it.

He describes the routine required, from planning fuel stops to committing to a special diet. Your first thought may be .. “I bet they cheat,” but he nails that thought by explaining the protocols and confirmations riders have to complete for their trips to be formally recognized by their association.

Long distance motorcycle riding is certainly not for every retiree, but if you are an experienced motorcyclist this is a new challenge, and a new group of slightly deranged fanatics you can hook up with. Even if you don’t ride, this is a great tale of courage and achievement. And Des tells a really gross story about one of his exploits!!

Web sites mentioned in the interview:

Far Riders website: www.farriders.com

Iron Butt Association website: www.ironbutt.com

Special Thanks to:

* Angie Strehlow who helps us get great guests that help us with our retirement lifestyle while keeping everything on track…and helps with these show notes!

* Les Briney, my husband, and Danny Ozment of Emerald City Pro who edits the show and makes my guests and me sound terrific

* Henry Shapiro, host of Retired Excited that airs on Fridays

* YOU for telling your friends about the show, leaving comments below and sharing episodes you really like on Facebook, and reviewing the show on iTunes

This post about retirement and Retirement Lifestyle first appeared on http://RockYourRetirement.com

Lorraine Ladish is a 21st Century Communicator, helping empower women and others to achieve their goals. She is the founder and CEO of Viva Fifty! a bilingual community that celebrates being over 50. She’s worked as an editor and social media coordinator for a number of online publications. Her next book on embracing age will be published by HarperCollins in 2017. 

By choice, Lorraine always worked, but never on a payroll.  She thought everyone did what they loved.

Her Dad wanted her to be a Marine Biologist because he thought it was stable and she’d make a lot of money.  Now she makes more staying at home than Marine Biologists do.

Lorraine tries to inspire women to live their best life every day and to celebrate being over 50!

She wants to inspire women who speak both English and Spanish to live their best lives. When you do something you are passionate about, it makes you feel purposeful, happy and helps to avoid a downhill spiral in retirement.

The sections of her website are:

* Mind

* Body

* Grace (Beauty)

* Escape (what to do when you aren’t working)

* Relationships

It turns out English speakers are looking for beauty and Spanish speakers are looking for Relationships

She caters to all types of people. There is no “one size fits all” for being over 50.

* People are entering their 60s with young children

* Some 50-year-old women are having children!

* Some grandparents are raising grandchildren

Lorraine gave some great advice: Do what you love. Spain has a caste system that is difficult to break.  She did it, and if Lorraine did it you can too!  Think of what you wish you had done or would do for free, for example, YOU could write a book. Think of the one thing you want to do, and then just do it!  You CAN love being over 50!

Books: 

Tu mejor edad: Para tener una vida extraordinaria (Spanish Edition)

* ¡Emprende! De mamá sola y sin recursos a empresaria digital

* Estoy Embarazada, Y Ahora Que?: Confidencias Para La Nueva Madre (Spanish Edition)

* REACH! from single mom on welfare to digital entrepreneur

* Miedo a Comer (Spanish Edition)

* Diario del exito (Spanish Edition)

* Volver a empezar (Coleccion Psicologia) (Spanish Edition)

* 7 estrategias para sacar partido a los libros de autoayuda (Spanish Edition)

* Nino creativo,