Do You Have the Discipline to Save for Retirement?
May 21, 2012 by MJP
Filed under Boomer Lifestyle
When our sons were younger and struggling to study or train for an athletic competition, I frequently pulled out this mantra: The pain of discipline is far less than the pain of regret. No one who received an “A” on an exam or crossed the finish line with a personal-best time ever complained about the preparation required. According to a recent article from someone with first hand experience, discipline is something that many retirement non-savers lack.
Test Driving Retirement Activities
March 24, 2012 by MJP
Filed under Boomer Lifestyle
I tried something new this week. One of the benefits of a flexible pre-retirement work schedule is the ability to try new and different non-work activities. I feel that I have a handle on the financial side of our retirement plan. I still need to build confidence that can busy and challenged when I am no longer working. So when an opportunity to explore a new activity comes along, I try to take advantage of it.
Why I No Longer Balance our Checkbook
February 27, 2012 by MJP
Filed under Boomer Lifestyle
For many years, balancing the checkbook was a regular monthly event in our household. Even after we fully migrated our financial record keeping to Quicken in the ’90s, I followed a regimented month-end account reconciliation procedure using paper bank statements.
No more.
A Safe Way to Test Drive Your Retirement
February 14, 2012 by MJP
Filed under Boomer Lifestyle
Admit it. As much as you like to daydream about retirement and its perceived pleasures, you (and me) are also very nervous. We wonder if we will have enough things to do to avoid boredom. We are concerned that we won’t be able to survive on our retirement income. We’re unsure about where we should live when we retire. A retirement test drive help reassure us that our current plan is the correct one or signal us that a different plan is needed. So how do you safely conduct a retirement test drive?
The Yoga for Baby Boomers Experiment
February 4, 2012 by MJP
Filed under Boomer Lifestyle
I started taking yoga classes this week. After several years of thinking and reading about the potential benefits of yoga, I finally searched for a yoga studio and signed up. So far, I am very glad that I did.
Retirement, Financial Independence and Boredom
December 5, 2011 by MJP
Filed under Boomer Lifestyle
One of the great challenges of retirement has to be avoiding be overwhelmed by boredom. We often read and hear about folks who quit the workforce cold turkey then find they are lost in a different world with nothing to do. That is not good for retirement happiness. Today a learned about a surprisingly “extreme” example of this. Read more
Boomer and Retirement Weekly Reader – Boats Out of Water Edition
October 22, 2011 by MJP
Filed under Boomer Reading
Today was a day of beautiful weather, fun time with two of our boys, yet sad because we pulled all of the boats out of the water for the year. Theoretically we could have waited another few weeks but there would be no guarantee that the weather would cooperate.
Boomer and Retirement Weekly Reader – Fall Colors Edition
October 14, 2011 by MJP
Filed under Boomer Reading
It’s been a long time since I rounded up some reading that might interest other baby boomers and those thinking about retirement. It’s not that I’ve stopped reading. (I read many financial planning/retirement planning and retirement living articles every day.) I’ve just overlooked sharing a lot of them with you. This week is different. The spectacular fall colors up here on the Cumberland Plateau have inspired me.
Choose and Cherish Your Golden Days
October 8, 2011 by MJP
Filed under Boomer Lifestyle
Don’t be misled by the title. This post is not about our “golden years.” It is about the kind of day I had today. More specifically, it is about the kind of day I chose to have today. I believe we can all choose to have golden days.
Part Time Condo Living – an Update
September 27, 2011 by MJP
Filed under Boomer Lifestyle
In August of 2009, we bought a condominium in a rural equestrian community based on site plan and floor plan. In November 2010, the condo was finally built and we moved in, as part-time residents. Over the past ten months we have been spending more time here and making it more of a home. I thought I would give you a brief update as to how things are going.
