If you are of retirement age, you might sometimes reflect on what the legacy of our generation will be. Several things have made me think recently.

The first was a little girl walking in park with a t-shirt that said “Save our Planet”. I know we do not want to be known as the generation that destroyed the earth for our decendents. The second was when I received our water bill and realized that a hose not turned off completely can result in as much as 970 gallons of water wasted in 24 hours with as little as 1/16″ leak. It made me think there are a multitude of things that can make a difference. And starting small, may indeed help save the planet.

Certainly, the environmental revolution has been greatly advocated by a Baby Boomer, Al Gore. While he has long been an enviromentalist, it was his documentary “An Inconvenient Truth” that really got people thinking about what is now a common term, Global warming or more generically one’s carbon footprint. The internet now has many websites with ideas to start thinking about what we can do as individuals to make a difference in what happens to our planet.

The new 3 R’s get people thinking in a different way: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Think of these terms in priority order. The foremost thing to do is reduce what we use in the first place. Reduce what we need and we reduce what is produced in the first place, including enery. The second term, reuse, is as simple as giving your unnecessary things away to another family member, friend,or community member. It is a better thing to do than recycling, since reuse does not involve any reprocessing costs or energy usage, other than the energy we use to take our unwanted things to a new home. Finally, there is recycling, which is now available for many people through their communities. Recyling has become much more commonplace in the last ten years and is now more economically feasible too. People will actually pay for many recycled goods now.

Another idea that is catching on at the grocery store is that instead of the usual paper or plastic, it’s now “BYOB” bring your own bag. People are bringing a reusable bag to carry their groceries home. And people are more conscious of what they are putting in the bags. A little meal planning helps make sure that no food is thrown away.

The internet and libaries offer recycle guides, which tell what can be recycled and how to do it. And reuse can be as simple as putting a “Free” sign an item that no longer is useful for you, but may be just what someone else is looking for. Also, many cities have Reuse Centers where you can find everything from bicycles to door knobs at reasonable prices.

Perhaps our greatest wastage in this country is energy. Have you ever thought to do an assessment of your home for energy efficiency, or better yet, to have your utility company perform an energy audit? They will identify where your home is losing money and it is usually done for free or at a very low cost. Households use about one fifth of the total energy consumed in the United States and the average household spends about $1,500 a year. 42% of an average family’s energy bill is spent to keep homes at a comfortable temperature. A two degree adjustment in the thermostat (lower in the winter, higher in the summer) can lower heating bills by 4% and prevent 500 pounds of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere.

So, there are many simple things we can do. It is not too late for our generation to be known as the generation that began the environmental revolution to save our planet!

“The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.” St. Augustine

It’s summer.  The time many people looked forward to all year when they were working.  A time to break the routine and relax.  So, why is it when we retire that we think vacations are no longer necessary?  Maybe its because we think we do not deserve a vacation since we haven’t earned it by working.

This is garbage.  Retirees have earned the right to vacation too through many years of hard work and sacrifice. Variety truly is the spice of life.  Traveling, even a day trip, stimulates the mind and gets us out of our routine.  Even though the price of gasoline can make some long distance trips prohibitive, with a little planning, a day trip or a week-end getaway can make everything seem fresh again.

Our brains need to be challenged. Just like our bodies become unresponsive when we do the same workout routine every day, our mental skills aren’t as sharp when we do the same thing day in, day out.  Meeting new people, seeing different scenery, eating different food, all help to improve our minds. Retirees are prone to establishing routines and these routines can sap the energy and mystery of new life experiences.

It is true that when you are working, vacations take a higher priority in our lives and are highly anticipated and planned for.  A report published in the Journal of Travel Medicine in 2005 said workers who felt most recuperated after their vacations had:

Visited warmer, sunnier places.
Enjoyed more free time.
Exercised more.
Slept more.
Made new acquaintances.

Granted we can do these things every day when we are retired, but do we?  If you have found yourself in a rut since you retired, perhaps the time is right to change the scenery and take a vacation.    The internet provides information on special summer events and activities.  With our current economy, many places are offering discount packages to offset the price of fuel.  Libraries also offer sources of information for summer activities.

So, even if you are retired, don’t feel like you can’t take a vacation.  You need one.  And you will return with a renewed appreciation for where you are in life.

I hesitate to write this month’s column because people who know me, may now start looking a little more closely. However, in the interest of sharing ideas on retirement and aging, I submit the following:

First, let me preface this by saying I have had no cosmetic surgery, not that there’s anything wrong with that. However, one of my friends has, and she invited me to an informational seminar at her doctor’s office one evening. Our area seems to have a lot of plastic surgeons who sponsor events to give you an idea of how much better you could look.

There were about fifty other women who were also curious about what they could do to improve their appearance and the office manager gave us a brief overview of different options. There are many different things, from lasers to chemical peels that can reduce wrinkles.

As the evening progressed they had a raffle for different prizes. When we arrived we were given three tickets and we had a choice of putting them in different bowls for a drawing. I had my eye on a gift basket filled with expensive skin care products, so that is where my first ticket went. My second ticket went into the bowl for a facial and eyebrow waxing. And my last hope was tossed in a bowl for a photo-facial, a procedure that reduces wrinkles and sun damage. As the drawing started, there were elated screams as people won Botox injections. My hopes were dashed as a name, other than mine, was drawn for the gift basket.

A hush came over the crowd as the drawing for the most expensive gift, valued at nearly $2000.00 took place. Facial Fillers or injectables as they are called, held little interest for me. I had seen the demonstration earlier in one of the treatment rooms and the needles and pained expression on the recipient, had frankly scared me.

And then all of a sudden I heard my name. How can it be me I wondered? Apparently, I had put my ticket in the wrong bowl. My immediate reaction was to say, please draw another name because I have no interest in the prize. But I didn’t. I wondered if there had been a cosmic intervention. Was there a reason I had won this prize I wondered?

My friends congratulated me and my husband encouraged me to buy a lotto ticket to see if my good fortune held. But I agonized. I was scared. I didn’t know if I wanted this prize. I would look in the mirror and try to imagine how I would look without my prominent laugh lines. Certainly, I would look better, but did I really look that bad?

Apparently, I did, because everyone encouraged me to go ahead.

After many sleepless nights, I decided to call and make an appointment. Again, cosmic intervention: they had an opening that day and could do it that afternoon. And the rest, as they say, is history.

My husband took me to my appointment and bravely sat in the treatment room as I had my procedure. I sat in a semi-reclined position as a nurse rubbed numbing cream on my face. Then she came in with a syringe and began making small injections into my laugh lines. It hurt a little, but certainly not a lot. The whole procedure took about 45 minutes. I was told to go home and put ice on it and rest. Other than that, no restrictions.

I was done and it would take about three weeks to completely heal. Initially, I was bruised for a few days, but that was it. I don’t look that different to me, but when I look at the before picture that was taken, I can definitely tell a difference.

It is expensive and I can see how it could become addictive. To me, when some wrinkles are diminished it is almost like the others become emphasized. But the reason I am happy I did it is because I was afraid. And sometimes it is just feels good to do something that is scary.

I would encourage anyone that is not happy with their appearance to explore this option. Whether or not you decide to proceed, at least you will know what is available.

And believe me, there is a lot.

When my husband and I first retired I was very keen on the idea of starting a business with him. I didn’t really care what we did, as long as there was an income and something that provided a chance to use creativity. We had both retired from the nine to five world and I was not quite ready to retire completely.

My brother and sister-in-law had opened their own coffee shop and it looked like fun to me. It looked like fun until I heard that they often got up at 4:00 a.m. to make sure everything was ready for people on their way to work. It looked like fun until I heard the horror stories of trying to find reliable help. And it sounded like fun until they were forced to sell their business.

Fortunately for me, my husband brought me back to reality with the statistic that half of all small businesses fail in the first year. And for those that succeed, another fifty percent will fail within the next five years.

I thought I had lost the urge to work with my husband until I recently read an article about couples who work together and saw a book entitled Couplepreneurs: Prosperity through Partnership, written by Jean Charles. The book is written to help couples already in business together, or couples who are thinking of going into business together. However, Charles also notes that most small business fail within the first few years of operation, regardless if whether or not they are run by married couples. But if done carefully, husband and wives might have a better chance of succeeding than regular business partners.

Having a plan is key. I guess that was the step I could never get past. I never fully developed a plan. However, I do believe one of the advantages of being in business with a partner is that you know their work and life ethic. Often you complement each other’s strengths and weaknesses.

However, one lesson I learned in retirement, is that it is an adjustment in itself. To start a business at this stage of the game takes a lot of courage. And the thought of jeopardizing all that you have worked to have over the years is daunting. No matter what idea or plan you come up with, as the National Federation of Business Education Foundation points out, 39% of small businesses are profitable, 30% break even, and 30% lose money.

Retirement is different things to different people. If starting a business, or being your own boss has always been your dream, and you and your partner work well together, it might be a worthwhile idea to explore.

Many studies show the advantages of owning a pet. They offer companionship. If you are a responsible pet owner, they offer you an excuse to get some exercise when you take them for their daily walk. They give unconditional love and offer a deeper connection to a world outside ourselves. They can offer protection and often become a member of the family. Some research has gone so far as to suggest pet owners live longer.

Retirement then seems like the perfect time to have a pet. When you are home you can enjoy the animal more than when you were working and came home after a long day, giving them some quick affection and a half-hearted walk. There is no question that animals thrive in an environment where the owner is present. Too much separation is not good for an animal and leads to behavior problems. Depending on what type of pet you have, they can live for many years and become part of the daily interactions in our lives.

If you have ever owned a pet, you will eventually have to deal with the inevitable loss of a pet. This recently happened to two sets of friends and how they have handled it represents different approaches to having pets in your life.

Even though retirement does seem like the perfect time to have a pet, I think it is a mistake to get a replacement pet spontaneously. Which is what one of our friends did. While walking past a Pet Supermarket, which was sponsoring an event for rescue dogs, one of the caged dogs pulled at her heart strings. She got the dog that day and never looked back. The dog has become a welcome member of their family and filled a void that they were feeling.

My other friends are still dealing with their grief and it is too soon to contemplate getting another pet. Good advice for the grieving process applies to pets too. And while quickly replacing a pet can sometimes work out, I think waiting six months to do anything makes sense.

Retirement can be a time of many changes. Perhaps, traveling has always been something that you have wanted to do. However, a pet is a responsibility that must be taken into consideration when making traveling plans. Pets thrive on structure, consistency and discipline. Perhaps, retirement is a time when you would like to break away from all the years of structure that you have had in your daily life and enjoy some spontaneity that being a pet owner may preclude.

Recently, I felt like we have been given a reprieve on how easy it is to get in shape and stay in shape. Experts are now saying 30 minutes a day of walking can do wonders. Ten minutes of stretching a day and ten minutes of weights three times a week is enough to keep bones strong. And the piece de resistance ten minutes in the sun, without sunscreen, is actually now considered a requirement to aid in Vitamin D production.

In retirement, I figure I should always have time to do the things to keep me in shape, but unfortunately, when I look in the mirror, I can see that working out is not always enough.

There are things that age you and there are things that you can do to help. When you reach the age of retirement, you are probably no longer a kid, but there are age appropriate changes you can make that will make you seem younger to the outside world and yourself.

Number one is to start with the basics and that means new underwear. The other day in my yoga class, a fellow yogi was doing a Downward Dog with her granny panties showing. Not a flattering look and one that screams it is time for an overhaul. Start with basics and that means updating undergarments.

Next starting at the top, when was the last time you changed your hairstyle? If you are still sporting the Farrah Fawcett waves of yesteryear, it is time for an honest assessment from a friend, or perhaps, it is time to try a new hair stylist. And gray hair? Get rid of it. It is easier than ever with great new hair color products available at drug stores. And get some bangs. Once you reach a certain age, almost everyone looks better with a little face framing fringe.

Skin is one of the most tell-tale features of aging and one that probably has the most products out there to help. Sunscreen is still a necessity for the face and more than ten minutes in the sun can cause damage. However, there are tinted moisturizers with sunscreen that are easy to apply and make a huge difference in your appearance. Also, there are now microdermabrasion kits available in the drug store that can really help with cell turnover. And don’t forget the body. Lumps and bumps are always less noticeable with leg tanning spray. Plus it gives you an opportunity to forego pantyhose; especially the ones with a reinforced toe. And speaking of toes, manicured nails are always a way to stay ahead of the aging game.

And last but not least, teeth. Dental hygiene is so much easier now with the home whitening kits and great looking teeth can make you look and feel great.

There are many things you can and should do to look better because the benefits of looking better are not superficial. The better you look, the better you feel.

It is hard to read the paper, or listen to the news, without hearing about the housing recession. According to an article in The New York Times, the median price of American homes is expected to fall for the first time since federal housing agencies began keeping statistics in 1950. The outlook for 2008 calls for a continuation of the negative trends which have taken place in housing for the past two years and which threatens to push us into a recession, which many economists believe we are already in.

Personally, I think people have it all wrong about the housing market. While it is true that many people made money on the housing market in the 1990’s and even into this decade, this is not the reason most people purchase a home. A home is where we live, where we raise our kids, where we celebrate great occasions, where we discuss our hopes and dreams and where we spend most of our time. I don’t know about you, but when I purchase a stock or bond or make another investment these things give me very little pleasure. Yet when we purchase a house, this is one of the happiest times of our lives and we look forward to decorating and fixing it up and making it into a home!

During the last few decades home ownership has risen and more people are able to enjoy the American dream of owning our own home. This is a good thing and has brought joy to many lives. However, during this housing rush we also starting building larger and larger homes that frankly are expensive to furnish and maintain and use prodigious amounts of energy. I grew up in a home of less than 1200 square feet with four other family members. We were very happy in this home and I still carry many great memories from my time spent there. Now the two of us live in a home of over 2000 square feet and sometimes look a homes much larger than this with three or more bathrooms, huge closets and living rooms as large as a small bowling alley. Do we really need these things to be happy?

Perhaps, it is time to reevaluate the American Dream. Let’s measure our houses not on the square footage and number of bathrooms but on the ability to house and shelter us and allow us to live our lives fully. Our home is not an investment. Who really cares if you make thousands of dollars or ten dollars on your home, because this is not why we bought it in the first place. And let’s make homes that people can afford to buy without a sub-prime loan that are easy to maintain, use minimal energy and don’t require a king’s ransom to furnish.

As retirees we too need to put our home ownership into perspective. Most of us do not have our families living with us and can manage in a smaller home. Location is perhaps even more important in home ownership during our retirement years as we balance where we want to live with our access to our families, good health care and ease of maintenance. But the same basic value of home ownership is still there as most of us want our own home to enjoy. So don’t get hung up about the value of your retirement home decreasing. It really doesn’t affect most of us in the short term and certainly doesn’t matter in the long term. The American Dream of home ownership is still valid.

As we approach retirement age, most of us look at life in a different way than when we were younger. With age comes increased awareness about so many different things, but one that becomes very apparent is that life is what you make of it. For many people that were very involved in their work and have not developed hobbies or social networks outside of the workplace, retirement can be a difficult transition indeed. However, increasing research points to one thing that makes life easier and more enjoyable at any age and that is exercise.

With the start of the new year, many people say January is the best time to make changes in your life. If exercise is not part of your daily lifestyle, this is the month to make it happen. It can begin with just thirty minutes a day.

Exercise is simply sustained movement of the body, and at least 30 minutes of this sustained movement everyday is the key to an active lifestyle. Walking, bicycling, swimming, light weight training and jogging are just a few of the ways we can exercise for our sustained 30 minutes. Or better yet, combine several of these activities on different days or perhaps several in one day to make up your 30 minutes and you have an exercise program that can dramatically change your quality of life.

Two doctors have made a commitment to get Americans moving. Bob Sallis, M.D. a family medicine doctor and Ron Davis, M.D. a preventive medicine doctor, have launched an initiative that they hope will make a difference in the nation’s health called “Exercise is Medicine“. Understanding that health is determined to a large degree by lifestyle choices, including physical activity, they hope to drive home the medical importance of exercise to physicians and other health care professionals. “Why physicians are so quick to accept research data on expensive medications while essentially ignoring even stronger data on the benefit of physical activity is at the core of this program,” Sallis says.

Exercise has been shown to lower blood pressure, blood sugar and weight; improve cholesterol, sleep and bone and heart health while decreasing the risk of cancer. All of these benefits can be had for just thirty minutes a day by something as simple as exercise.

As more and more baby boomers are nearing retirement and looking for ways to stay young and fit, it is essential to incorporate exercise into the daily routine. And what better way to start the new year?

A million people relocate every year and that is expected to rise as more and more Baby Boomers begin retiring. With the Holidays approaching, it is a time to reflect on keeping in touch with friends, both old and new. There is a reason the old adage advises, “Make new friends, but keep the old; one is silver and the other is gold.” To look at it another way, as we age we have more memories and these memories become more valuable when we can share them with friends.

One way to keep in touch during the holidays is through the use of holiday cards. While the cost of the cards and the postage has increased through the years, I believe it is still the best way to communicate with friends during the holidays. Who doesn’t get excited after receiving a holiday card from an old or new friend with a hand written message. Take your time when you prepare your greetings and make every card unique and special, as special as your friends are to you!

Email has also changed the way to stay in touch with people. So far, this season, we have received one group email wishing us all well. For some reason, it takes away the feeling of being special when you see twenty other people receiving the same sentiment. Still it is an attempt to stay in touch with people and let them know you are thinking of them.
Newly made friends sometimes are neglected when it comes to the Holidays. One friend recently told me she would not be sending a card because she sees me often and there isn’t anything new in her life that I do not know about. This may be true, but how often do we really express just how special this friend is to us and how much we appreciate their friendship and companionship?

The writer, Anais Nin, had an interesting way of looking at friends. She said, “Each friend represents a world within us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born.” For me, this is really what the holidays are all about, a chance to reflect upon what our friends and experiences have held for us this year and a time to wonder just what fun and meaningful moments we will experience with them in the coming year!

When writing this column, I often look to different resources for inspiration. So, when I saw the library was having an extension class on “How to Save Money for the Holidays”, I thought it would be perfect information to share. However, when I called to register for the class, I was told it had been changed to “Things to Bake for the Holidays”. Hmmm. Technically, I guess that is a way to save money, but not quite what I had in mind. So, I will share tips I have gleaned through the years on how I save money for the holidays, on a retiree’s budget.

The holidays are a fun time to get together, even though it is a busy time of year. It doesn’t have to be fancy, but there are a few tricks. Instead of an open bar, serve beer or wine, or one special cocktail or punch. Guests will have a choice, but you will not spend a fortune stocking the bar.

Keep decorations simple. Candles, candles, candles. One trick my mother always did at holiday time was to have different shapes and sizes of red votive candles on her mantle. It was simple, but elegant, and a decorating trick I still copy. I also peruse magazines and catalogues for decorating ideas. I don’t always buy things I see, but I often come up with a less expensive alternative.

If you are entertaining early in the holiday season, which always get things off to a great start, and you don’t have your tree decorated, or maybe you forego a tree, you can still get evergreens. Often places that sell trees will gladly give away branches that have been trimmed. These can be made into a wreath, or just put in a bowl to scent your rooms. The sense of smell is a very under utilized.

Food does not have to be elaborate. Just having a variety of snacks, ready made, if you are pressed for time, or not inclined to cook. If you do have time, make something special. It doesn’t have to be expensive, just something that people can put on a plate and eat without silverware.

A Holiday Open House, over 20 years ago, that still sticks in my mind, had many of the elements I have described. What made it particularly special, as we were leaving, the hostess stood by the door, with a basket of freshly baked pumpkin muffins. She gave each guest a muffin, wrapped with ribbon, as they departed. I had mine for breakfast the next morning and it brought back memories of a delightful party.

Another creative hostess gave flower bulbs, wrapped in mesh, for forcing in the cold winter months. Again, I had fond memories of that party as I had a pretty hyacinth blooming on my windowsill in late January.

As I think back to holiday get-togethers, money should not preclude one from having fun. As retirees, we now have time in our lives to enjoy things that we might not have been able to when we were working every day. Why not make it a memorable holiday for people who are, or aren’t still working. Just getting people together is appreciated.