Tag: #retirement

Posted in #atozchallenge, Challenges

F is for Family – #AtoZChallenge – April 6, 2024

Posted on by R.M. Carlson

Theme: Aging and Associated Issues

#AtoZChallenge

The relationships between generations of families is rapidly changing, not just in the U.S. but in much of the world. The generation that is aging right now is the baby boom generation. This generation changed a lot in the U.S. and in the rest of the world, The generations behind us are very different. The baby boom generation is actually where the attitudes starting changing about taking care of the elderly. Now, the generation behind us, those in their 40s, is called the “sandwich generation” because 40% of households in their 40s include both an elderly parent and children.

Often,the elderly (who are now usually the baby boom generation), don’t particularly want to live with their children. Illness may make it necessary. Money may also make it necessary. In the U.S., assisted living facilities and nursing homes are prohibitively expensive. Other cultures take care of their elderly far better than the U.S.

There are subcultures in the U.S. that still do feel a desire and a responsibility to take care of aging parents. One area where this subculture lives is the area where I live, Appalachia. You find many multigenerational families in my area of the world. In some other cultures in the U.S., children often live thousands of miles from where they grew up which doesn’t foster the ideal environment for a multigenerational family.

The elderly who have strong family ties often report a stronger immune system, less illness, improved mental and physical health, and a longer life overall. Work on your family relationships during your life so they will remain strong and supportive as you age. Check out government eldercare resources for very good information on family life and aging.

Posted in #atozchallenge, Challenges

E is for Education – #AtoZChallenge – April 5, 2024

Posted on by R.M. Carlson

#AtoZChallenge

Education or lifelong learning as you age will keep your mind sharp and help stoke your curiosity about the world. Not only will you stay alert and aware, you can learn the skills for a new “encore” career if you miss working, part-time or full-time. Maybe there is something, besides the job you have either retired from or you will retiring soon, that you’ve always wanted to do. If you study for that new encore career, you can have a fulfilling work life after retirement from your major employer.

If you have a local university nearby, it may have programs that allow senior citizens to attend classes for free. Check with the Admissions Office when you file your application for admittance.

An example might be graphic design. Do you like to play on your iPad or computer? Are you interested in making a little money designing webpages or even entire websites? Is there some other job in graphic design you prefer? You could work part-time and enjoy retirement the rest of the time, but you have to gain the skills. Those will come through education, either in a classroom environment or online through remote learning.

In my case, I was a college professor of finance and business for over 25 years. I was able to retire with full benefits, but I missed working. I missed my co-workers. I missed being able to express my creativity daily. I actually missed everything about working. I had always been a writer and had written a few things for publication. Writing became my encore career. It was hard at first, but I’ve had one book and over 400 articles published.

If you would like to incorporate socialization with your education, you might choose to take classes on a subject of interest in a local university or community college classroom setting. If you prefer to study on your own, you can choose to use online learning via computer. Even though my primary fields were finance and business during my career, my interests now are very diverse. Currently, I’m taking classes (free online classes) in anthropology and genetics. There is a wide array of subjects you can choose from.

You can find online adult education classes at numerous sites online. One is Udemy. You can find classes on a wide array of subjects for reasonable fees. Another excellent platform for online learning is Coursera. If you do an internet search, you can find other platforms for online courses depending on what you want to study.

You can also go the vocational route if that suits you. I have a friend who had a 30 year career as a podiatrist. After he retired, he went to vocational school and became an airplane mechanic.

Aviation engineer workers are maintaining various aircraft systems.

Adult education, or lifelong learning, will help you keep up to date skills and help you feel part of the modern world. It will keep your brain active and alert. Older adults can benefit in many ways from studying something of interest after retirement.

#AtoZChallenge

Posted in #atozchallenge, Challenges

B is for Boredom – #AtoZChallenge – April 2, 2024

Posted on by R.M. Carlson

AtoZChallenge

Boredom: Is boredom a problem in retirement?

Those of you not yet retired may think that I’m crazy for mentioning boredom in retirement. You may look forward to sleeping late, doing what you want, and perhaps traveling. Those of you who are already retired are right here with me on the boredom issue. You’ve found out that there is more to retirement than sleeping late and being a free spirit.

When is boredom a problem in retirement? Often, in America, it is a result of spending most of your working life putting in long hours under a great deal of stress. It’s important to develop hobbies and leisure activities that you enjoy as you will rely on those pursuits when you’re no longer working. Unfortunately, twelve and sixteen hour days leave us tired and stressed and many of us don’t have the time or energy for much leisure or any hobbies. Once the novelty of retirement wears off, we have all those hours in the day to fill.

So what is a retired person to do? At 65 or 70 years old, we may not have the curiosity we once did and we probably don’t have the attention span we did when younger. If you don’t allow yourself to be curious about things you aren’t familiar with, it’s going to be a long retirement. That leads to attention span. You can lengthen your attention span through curiosity.

But now, let’s be realistic. If you have worked all your life, you may feel out of sorts and useless, at least when you first retire. You may be lonely for your co-workers and friends who were related to your job. Your social activities may plunge. You may literally not know what to do with yourself. These things are why you should make a plan before you retire. A plan will help you avoid boredom.

It seems that travel is at the top of everyone’s wish list when they retire. Stay tuned! Travel and associated topics are coming right up and you may be surprised!

Posted in #weekendcoffeeshare

WeekendCoffeeShare #71- Come on In!

Posted on by R.M. Carlson
#weekendcoffeeshare

If we were having coffee this weekend, I would ask you to please come in, sit and make yourself comfortable, and before you sit down, please choose the beverage of your choice off my coffee bar. There are several types of coffee, cocoa and my favorite, a wonderful cinnamon tea.

I’d like to wish everyone hello and good wishes and thank you for joining my weekly coffee share this week. I’ve been away and haven’t participated in the weeklycoffeeshare for a long time now, but I’m glad to be back. I see many familiar faces here and some new ones. I’m looking forward to getting re-acquainted and reading everyone’s contribution this week!

Since I was last here, I took a job(s) writing freelance (and contract) for several firms including The New York Times, DotDash Meredith and Smart Asset. That was several years ago now and I had a wonderful freelance writing career. It was really an encore career since I had been a college professor for 27 years and had retired. All good things must come to an end, however, and I retired permanently in March 2022, However, just because I retired from writing commercially, doesn’t mean that I don’t want to write, so here I am back at my roots, blogging on WordPress. I’m so happy to be back and happy to see all of you!

My next venture may be a book or two. Something I have in my head that’s fiction and another non-fiction book on the area in the U.S. in which I live, Appalachia. You’ll probably hear a lot about Appalachia from me. I’m not ready to reveal all the details yet, but perhaps soon! I found out yesterday that I may have a health challenge to contend with that joins another health challenge that I’ve dealt with for years. Aren’t the Golden Years wonderful!?

I hope to spend a lot of time in the flower gardens here at my home in Kentucky, USA this summer. It was an oddly cool spring and even at the end of May, we’re having some cool weather. I’m ready for some heat and humidity! Well, maybe just heat! Summer is welcome this year after a long fall and winter of COVID-19 and the isolation that comes with it. I hope all of you have done well during the pandemic.

I also want to spend as much time with my little dog, Clara, as possible. Clara, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, is an attention hog so I’m trying to oblige her this summer. She’s 10 years old which is a pretty long life for a Cavalier.

Thank you so much for stopping by my weeklycoffeeshare today. I’ll share more and more with you as time goes on including pictures! For those of you who celebrate it, Happy Memorial Day weekend!