Retirement is a Time for New Beginnings
As we approached the end of our working years, my wife and I both thought that retirement is a time for new beginnings and we completely changed our lifestyle as we transitioned to our senior years. The first thing we did was to build our retirement home in one of the most beautiful places in the country: upstate New York in the Hudson Valley. We took a long time to design our home, and had it built so that we could age in place. Everything was built to be handicap accessible because aging can be hard on the body. The design and building process was intense but very exciting. We didn’t feel competent enough to be our own general contractors, but we know people who followed that path and had a wonderful time creating the house of their dreams. We feel like we did exactly that with a home on the lake in a wonderful little community not far from the Hudson River. We’ve been up here seven years, and we still don’t get tired of the scenery. From the sleepy little towns along the river and dotting the mountainside, to the spectacular foliage in the fall and the crisp, incredibly white snowfalls of the winter, we have come to love the seasons of this area.
Truth be told, we do cheat a little bit by escaping the winter after the Christmas decorations have been put away but, even with that, we have come to realize that retirement is a time for new beginnings by changing our winter location every year. Much against the advice of almost every financial planner we’ve ever talked to, we bought timeshare over the years and enjoyed wonderful vacations with our children by going to places we never would have gotten to if we had to pay for a hotel every night. When the children got older, we faced a choice of getting rid of the weeks that we owned or keeping them or, possibly, renting them out. We came up with a strategy of putting those weeks together for a winter getaway each year after we retired and we have been up and down California and Florida as well as across the Gulf Coast of Texas and the deserts of Arizona and we have had a wonderful time doing it. Retirement is a time for new beginnings, and every winter seems to bring a new favorite place from North Myrtle Beach to Palm Springs to the lovely little community of Jensen Beach in Florida. We’ve discovered favorite restaurants in each place and our travels always give me new ideas for something to write about on this website. In fact, we know another couple who started their own retirement “blog” by reviewing restaurants, hotels and other attractions as they make their way around the world. While that may seem a little out of reach, don’t overlook the possibility because I think you’d be surprised at how easy it is. Starting a website is something seniors are doing all the time and, if you want a new and challenging activity, this might be perfect for you.
Retirement is a time for new beginnings, and you can make that happen right now!
Starting any new hobby might be just what you need to bring a little excitement into your life. Learning new things is what keeps you young and engaged in life and mastering technology gives you access to a whole new world. Yes, I know some people always bring up the dangers of technology but, honestly, there are two sides to everything. It wasn’t long ago that you began a journey with a map in your hand, hoped it was up to date and started on your trip. Now, you can just put your destination in your phone and let the wonders of technology find the best route, warn you of speed traps and the police, and steer you around accidents and construction. If you haven’t made technology a part of your life, you should think about expanding your horizons. Retirement is a time for new beginnings and learning what technology can do for you is a great place to start. We have drawn inspiration from one of our best friends who happens to be an eighty-seven-year-old nun who loves to “zoom” with us to get the latest updates. She has embraced technology to the fullest and can run circles around most people half her age. She has a great outlook on life and believes every day can be a new beginning.
How about you? Don’t just sit there in front of the television. Make today a new beginning. Start a new hobby. Become an expert in a subject that interests you. Make a list of places you’d like to see and plan an itinerary. Retirement is a time for new beginnings and the opportunities are endless. Write a novel, start a business or become an artist. Better yet, do all three. People have so much hidden inside of them and it’s all just waiting to come out in some new way. Never be afraid to explore the possibilities because the world hasn’t seen the “complete” you yet. Everyone is still a work in progress. Take that bold first step and see what’s waiting for you. It’s time to Enjoy Retired Life!
Thanks for visiting. If you like what you see here, please tell your friends. If you haven’t done so already, be sure you take The Self Discovery Challenge for Retirement! It’s designed to help you make the most of this wonderful time of your life. You’re never too old to discover something new about yourself!
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