Attacked by my Microwave!

There are numerous articles and statistics to support the theory that over 75% of accidents happen right in your home and I certainly have helped to prove that theory.

I’ve had a few accidents in my home and until this microwave incident; the oddest accident happened when I fell while trying to get out of my recliner and broke my right foot.   While it hurt a lot physically, I think more than anything it hurt my pride because I just felt so stupid and careless.   And since it happened in September (off ski season), I couldn’t even make up a good story, “like I was flying down a double-black diamond” when I lost control.

But nothing prepared me for the injury I suffered recently when I hit myself on the left side of my head while closing the microwave door.  Yes, I know, it’s hard to picture that happening, but my microwave is elevated above the stove and again while hurrying, I slammed the door into the left side of my head.  I didn’t think much about it until 2 days later when I suffered severe episodes of vertigo. 

After much research and talking to nurse Ginny (my sister), I discovered I was suffering from BPPV (Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo) which is caused by the crystals in your inner ear being knocked loose.  See http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/vertigo/DS00534/DSECTION=causes

I had to go to a therapist for a canalith repositioning procedure during which I was rolled off the edge of a table to try and knock the crystals back in place.   It’s so dis-orienting, that I felt like I was being rolled around in a washing machine!  

While it’s not life-threatening, it’s devastating because before I experienced this, I hadn’t really thought much about how important balance it.   And as we get older one of our biggest fears is our loss of independence and I learned first-hand how your ability to stay balanced affects everything – walking, doing daily chores and especially driving.

So, learn from me and slow down because the therapist told me this is not an uncommon injury, especially for older people.    It's so hard for me to break those habits, as I've been a fast-paced, type A person my entire life.   Also, protect your balance by doing some strengthening exercises.  Check out http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/More/CardiacRehab/Strength-and-Balance-Exercises_UCM_307384_Article.jsp

It's a good time of the year to check out your home for potential accident areas, so for additional home safety tips, go to: https://www.westmetrofire.org/DocumentCenter/Home/View/553

AM I PROTECTED?

 Are you one of us Boomers who willingly spent the last 40 years working a 40-hour work week in exchange for the dream of a carefree retirement? 

So, let's say that your dream came true and now you and your spouse are enjoying the fun-filled days of retirement, traveling, visiting friends, grand kids and overall, very satisfied with your golden years.

 

BUT, you are depending on your spouse's pension to make your dreams come true, so what happens when one of you die?   ARE YOU PROTECTED?

 

I felt compelled to write about this as I recently met 2 ladies who I feel are representative of the surviving spouses (mostly women)  who up until the day their spouse died thought they had covered all bases in retirement planning.   Little did they know that when he died, they might be forced to visit free food kitchen like the poor little, old lady shown above.

 

One lady had knowingly agreed to and accepted that her husband's pension would run out when he died and had hoped that she would still be young enough to find work.  Unfortunately, she's been looking 2 years for a job.

 

The other assumed that she was covered by her husband's pension and would receive 55% of his base pension upon his death only to find out that he had never changed his beneficiary from WIFE #1.   I can only imagine her shock when she found out.

 

LADIES -   it's in your best interests to ensure that your husband has totally protected your financial security. 

 

PAY ATTENTION:  Many companies now require your signature on his retirement papers if he is waiving your right to a partial pension upon his death.    Thoroughly read those retirement papers and know what you're signing before you accidentally forfeit your rights to any or all of his pension.  I say "LADIES" because most of you will outlive your husband.

 

 

 

 

7 Deadly Sins!

WILL I HAVE ENOUGH MONEY??

 

That's definitely the number one concern of anyone facing retirement.      We all like to think that we have adequately planned for our retirement, but for most Boomers, it's frightening to think that I might outlive my money.  A new book, "The 7 Deadly Retirement Sins" by Ryan Zacharczyk, CFP offers some excellent tips to ensure your money doesn't expire before you do.    The first part of the book is a fictional account of a compilation of many retirees who have faced several of the same issues we all do in retirement.   It's just to give you a little insight into what others are facing.

 

The 7 Sins according to Mr. Zacharczyk are:

1.  Retiring too early or living above your means.

2.  Improper Investment Asset Allocation.

3.  Collecting Social Security at the wrong time

4.  Working with the Wrong Advisor or No Advisor

5.  Paying too much in Fees and Expenses

6.  Trying to Time the Market

7.  Lack of Health Insurance

 

Overall, I felt he made some excellent points regarding retirement planning and the only one I disagree with is # 3.   He advocates holding off as long as possible to take Social Security (SS).  I disagree as in most cases it will take a person 7 to 8 years to recoup what they could have gained in taking SS as soon as possible.   My thoughts on taking it early are:

 

1.  You may not live until full retirement age.

2.  SS may no longer be available.

3.  The present value of money.

 

Obviously, if SS is going to be your only retirement income, you may want to postpone it as long as possible.

 

BOTTOM LINE:   You can never over plan for your financial security in retirement; so, why not take a few hours and read his book.   It's an easy read with some very insightful tips.

 

For additional info go to:

www.amazon.com/The-7-Deadly-Retirement-Sins/dp/1938686004

DAY 3 - Northwest Coast Tour

 It was a crisp, sunny day as we left Portland headed down the coast to Newport, OR.   We made several stops along the way, with the first at Cannon Beach.  It was so exhilarating as I had time to walk the beach and I loved wading in the Pacific Ocean, but it was bone-chilling cold!   http://www.cannon-beach.net/cbhaystack.html

From there we went to the Tillamook Cheese Factory for a brief tour and cheese tasting.  This is one of the top 10 tourist attractions in Oregon, so during the summer months it gets between three to five thousands visitors a day!   That was shocking to me as it's not that large.  I tried some of their world famous ice-cream which was great.   http://www.tillamook.com/

Later in the day we stopped at the Depoe Bay and Whale Watching Museum and Center.   I was disappointed that we didn't see any whales even though there had been 8 sightings that morning.  But then a little further down the coast we took the old highway 101, on the Otter Crest Loop and saw several whales. http://visittheoregoncoast.com/cities/depoe-bay/

Our last stop before arriving at the Elizabeth Inn was the Yaquina Light House.  I found the exhibits in the Interpretive Museum there quite informative and enjoyed learning about the struggle to build it in that remote area. http://www.yaquinalights.org/

The picturesque Elizabeth Inn is located right on the Ocean with breathtaking views from most rooms.   We have a spacious, ocean view room with a fireplace.  With free salmon chowder at 5 pm every afternoon and fresh baked cookies every evening at 8 pm, I can overlook the fact that they have only one elevator.   That's the only negative  - you could wait several minutes for the elevator!  http://www.elizabethstreetinn.com/

Day 2 - Northwest Coast Tour

I love flowers as they remind me of my grandma Rosa because every year she planted several varieties of roses in our back yard.  So it was interesting that our first stop today in Portland was the oldest, continuously operated public rose test garden in the U.S., the International Rose Test Gardens.  Those were my favorite 2 roses in the gardens.   For more info: http://www.rosegardenstore.org/

From there we had a 1.5 hour bus ride up to the historic Timberline Lodge nestled at the foot of majestic Mt. Hood. The Lodge was built between 1936 and 1938 as a Works Progress Administration project during the Great Depression.   In 1977, it was declared a National Historic Landmark.  We had a scrumptious lunch of salmon, roasted potatoes and broccolini there.   I found it interesting that several famous movies, including "All the Young Men" and "Hear No Evil" were partly shot on location at the Timberline Lodge. For additional info: http://www.timberlinelodge.com/     
Here's our group outside the Lodge!



The sweeping view of the Columbia River Gorge was just one of the many spectacular sights  we saw today as we drove back to Portland.  The massive area covering almost 300,000 acres spans southern Washington and northern Oregon.  It is called the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, is federally protected and is managed by the U.S. Forest Service. 

But the most impressive sight of the day was saved for last --the Multnomah Falls which is a magnificent double waterfall.    http://www.oregon.com/attractions/multnomah_falls

TOUR TIP: Don't pay all those extra baggage fees! Lighten your load by picking one color and building your travel wardrobe around that.  I prefer black because it goes with everything. Two pair of black slacks, one pair of jeans, 5 tops, a jacket and good walking shoes are all you need for a 10 day trip.

Check out Sunrise Tours at www.travelsunrise.com for the Northwest Coast 2013 Tour dates.

Sunrise Tours

I'm so excited as today I started the Northwest Coast Tour with Sunrise Tours. We arrived this evening in Portland Oregon; state #41 for me on my quest to visit all 50.

We went directly to dinner at the German Restaurant der Rheinlander. And having lived in Germany I can vouch that it was truly authentic German food. We started the meal with a cheese fondue as our appetizer. The main course was served family style with generous portions of perfectly cooked chicken schnitzel, grilled bier sausage and pork loin accompanied by spatzle, sauerkraut and red cabbage. Apple strudel was the perfect ending to a delicious meal.  http://rheinlander.com/

It was a fun evening with lively entertainment provided by an accordian player and singing waitresses.

In Portland, we're staying at the contemporary Hyatt Place, well appointed with spacious rooms and a real plus is free WiFi.

Sunrise Tours specializes in trips for senior citizens and I like that the price of this trip includes 2 meals a day and all event fees. http://www.travelsunrise.com/

Alaska - The Glaciers

The #1 attraction for me in going to Alaska was to see the glaciers so we booked an inside passage cruise. And I certainly wasn't disappointed!   It was really cool as to see the Hubbard Glacier and numerous, small ice flows in the water.

I liked that the ship stayed in Glacier Bay for an hour so we could take time to enjoy the natural beauty. And we were so lucky because that day we had the best weather of the trip and could sit on the deck and balcony and enjoy the breathtaking scenery!

While in Juneau we hiked to the Mendenhall Glacier. I was stressed out because the Forest Ranger told us that there had been some bear sightings that morning so I felt like my head was spinning on a lazy susan looking all around for the bears!

The shots of the glaciers below were taken on a prior trip by my friend, photographer Sam Markman. He did a phenomenal job of capturing the intense coloring and stratification in the glaciers.
For additional shots of this spectacular area, check out his work:
http://szmarkman.zenfolio.com/p877784342

Alaska - On Board Ship

The boarding process for our 7 day cruise was a breeze with us getting to our room within 30 minutes.

We booked 5 months in advance and were upgraded for free to a balcony room. I really enjoyed that because I've heard how claustrophobic those tiny cabins can feel without a window.

I loved exploring all aspects of the ship from the spa to the casino to the many dining venues.

We opted for anytime dining for our evening meal; which was very convenient because we didn't have to rush back to the ship when we were in port.
Overall, the food was tasty but the desserts were exceptional. And the chefs really showed off their culinary skills with the dessert extravaganza with over 30 different cakes, tortes and pasteries.
I had a lot of fun in the casino playing in 2 Texas Hold'em Tournaments. The free shows every evening were colorful and very entertaining

TRAVEL TIP: If you're a cruise virgin like I was, then I strongly recommend going to the Caribbean or somewhere warm for your first cruise as there were many features of the ship like the pool and outdoor movie theater that we could not enjoy because of the cold weather.

Also, you can get a spa service at a 40 to 50% while the ship is docked in port.

Alaska - Days 5-7

We left very early in the morning on Day 5 to head from Denali National Park to the Copper River Princess "Wilderness" Lodge.  It was quite an uncomfortable ride as much of it was on the Denali Highway, an unpaved gravel road.
 http://www.icdc.com/~neubauer/denali.htm

This was something I wasn't prepared for as we spent 9 hours on the bus!!   It made me realize that I hadn't paid enough attention during the planning phase of this trip and made me think of several key travel points to remember when planning for future trips.
1.  How am I getting from Point A to Point B?
2.  How long will I be on the bus or train?
3.  What do I really want to see when I get there?

I was very disappointed when we got there.  I'm not sure what I had hoped to see, but the location, while beautiful, was very REMOTE!!  I just did not pay enough attention to the word "Wilderness" in the brochures, because we were in the middle of nowhere for 2 nights!   With cold, rainy weather and most of the local tours costing $200 or more per person, plus several hours again on the bus,  we decided to just stay in the lodge and read.

 

Another important point I seemed to miss in the Princess brochure was that a large part of the Alaska land adventure is hiking and spotting animals in their natural habitat.   But the one day we decided to go for a walk in the Copper River area, there was a bear sighting, so I definitely stayed in.  One of our fellow travelers ventured out and had a run-in with the bear.   I could feel her fear as she recounted her bear sighting to us.    

On Day 7, another 8 hours on the bus to Whittier to catch our cruise ship, the CORAL PRINCESS!  I was excited about that as this was my first ocean voyage!  I was really impressed with the size of the ship, standing at over 16 decks high.

TRAVEL TIP:
Princess Cruise lines strongly suggests you pack one suitcase for land travel and one for the cruise ship which they will store for you.    That worked out great as I only had to lug one suitcase around.

Princess tours excelled in organization.  As soon as we arrived at a new hotel, we received an info packet with  info on the area, available tours and luggage tags.    They would deliver and pick-up your luggage right at your door.

TRAVEL TIP: If you're willing to eat early, the up-scale restaurants at the Princess Lodges all offer several early-bird dinner selections at significant savings!

If Alaska is on your Travel Bucket List, I would strongly recommend only 3 days on land seeing Mt. McKinley and Denali National Park!http://www.princess.com/learn/destinations/alaska/why_visit_alaska/wilderness_lodges/copper_river/index.htm

Downsizing your Keepsakes

Have you decided to downsize to a smaller home?

Do you have to move your parents out of their home?

In either situation, you're faced with the overwhelming tasks of deciding where to move, what to keep and what do I really need in my new home?   

With moving being one of life's most stressful events, it's even more traumatic for older adults especially when they feel forced to move.  It's so upsetting for them to have to sort through piles of items that may mean nothing to you but are jam-packed with special memories for them.

Like my mom who has lived in her home for more than 50 years.   She has a collection of miniatures that reek of cigarette smoke and have been discolored over the years which I'd love to toss out.   But when she looks at them she has wonderful memories of the many hours she babysat and watched her grandchildren playing with them.

The book "Don't Toss my Memories in the Trash" provides a thorough step-by-step guide to break down the move into manageable tasks. Chapter 2 lists detailed questions that you can discuss with your parents to help them make the choice while they still can rather than you having to force them out of their home.

As many BOOMERS and their parents have been in their current home for years, they have no idea how to plan for a move, so Chapter 13 is helpful as it provides a checklist of everything you need to know before signing the mover's contract.  Forms provided in the final section will help you stay organized during the move and give you some peace of mind during this stressful event.    

Don't start packing until you've read it!
Check out the book and other tips at:  www.organizationrules.com

APPLE Help

If you are a computer savy Boomer and love APPLE products, don't forget the free help they offer for the first year. It's so easy to use.
Just go to www.apple.com/retail/geniusbar/
and in the upper right hand corner is the "make a reservation button". Click on that and follow the simple steps.

Today was my third visit and I've always found the associates to very helpful and pleasant. I had issues trying to understand the BLOGGER App. I got them all resolved and this is
my first BLOG using it.

From a McMansion to 2B/2B

For Sale: 2B/2B Villa - 
No Basement 

Most Boomers looking for a new home would ignore that ad even though they want to downsize.  It just makes sense for them to move to a much smaller home because they no longer need that McMansion that they raised their kids in especially with increasing utility costs and rapidly shrinking pension benefits. Really, they should just move to that 2 bedroom/2 bathroom (2B/2B) villa just like the one I tried to sell last summer,  but some just can't get rid of their stuff.  

I got so tired of showing my home to potential buyers and then having them ask "But, honey, where's the basement?"    

 

To which I'd reply "no basement"; then I'd get that very perplexed, shocked look with the same comment:   "Well, were do you put all your stuff?"   

 

I really wanted to shout back "Just how much "stuff" do we really need at this age?"

 

Don't get me wrong, I have some valuables that I just can't part with, like the dishes that I bought in Italy.  They are so precious to me because my late friend John and I spent hours going through the pottery factory near Abano, Italy searching for the perfect pieces among the pile of seconds.   I could never part with them!

 

But if you've reached that point in your life where your tired of spending all your time and money on a big house and are ready to downsize,then consider:

.....Gifting precious possessions -- give grandma's china to your daughter now.

.....Keep part of it -  reduce your favorite china to 6 place settings rather than 12.

.....BUT always Respect your spouse  --  don't throw away something your spouse loves and hope that he or she won't notice.

 

 .....and for a good laugh about the misplaced importance we all put on "stuff", check out the George Carlin's humorous take on how we so ridiculously revere our stuff, while dissing other's stuff:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvgN5gCuLac       

 

My BID!

I took my first overseas adventure trip in 1970 when my friend, Ruth, and I did Europe on $5 a day.  We visited 14 cities in 28 days!!

It was such a life-changing event for me that over the past 42 years I have spent thousands on travel and in 1988 even moved to Germany so I could more easily travel and ski throughout Europe.  Ruth moved to England and lived there for 10 years near London.

I've never regretted one dime that I've spent on travel and just cannot understand the mindset of people who feel travel is a waste of time and money.  I've been to 43 states and 23 countries, but there are still places I've not seen, so long before the movie the "Bucket List", I had created my own BID (before I die) travel list.  #1 on the list was Egypt, which I visited in 2008 and then Alaska.
But it just seemed that my dream trip to Alaska to see the whales and glaciers was just like an elusive butterfly and that every time I planned a trip something happened.

Well, my 2012 Alaskan Adventure seemed doomed too!  I had planned a two week land/cruise tour starting in late May and wouldn't you know it, I was diagnosed in late March with a blood clot meaning no air travel for at least 2 months, cutting it too close for comfort.

 But I diligently took all my meds, rested a lot and luckily, I had a team of pro-active, life-affirming doctors who allowed me to go!   Soon I'll BLOG about my exciting Alaskan adventure.

What about you -- what's on your dream trip list?

Surely, you have wanderlust in your heart for a far-away, exciting place.   Well, I challenge you to begin planning for it NOW!  Take action and make that dream trip just as soon as possible, because as that old cliche' goes "Tomorrow is promised to no one" and that's especially true for us Boomers!

p.s. -- there's always a way to make it happen!  In 1970, I funded my European trip with the insurance money I received when my car was stolen.  When I got back, I still didn't have a car, but I didn't care because I  had memories that have lasted a lifetime and fueled my wanderlust for decades!

A Simple Request

Let's help make a WISH come true for a Boomer.  

Wish of a Lifetime is a program for senior citizens similar to the Make a Wish Program for kids.   Their mission is to inspire an entire generation and to create a cultural shift on how we view aging. They believe that growing older doesn't mean you have to stop dreaming and living a life of purpose.

By granting lifelong wishes to seniors who have overcome tremendous challenges in their own lives, the foundation is able to spread its inspirational stories of hope.
Wish of a Lifetime needs your help to fulfill the wish of a 70 year old who is in the end stages of COPD.   Tom Burgett has been fascinated by the vast diversity of cultures throughout our World.   Unfortunately, Tom’s ability to travel has become unfeasible given his current medical condition.

Whether your home or on vacation, why not take just a few minutes and brighten Tom's day with a postcard highlighting the culture, landscape or people of our world.  Send to:
 

 Wish of a Lifetime  
Attn: Tom Burgett
1821 Blake St. Suite 200
Denver, CO 80202

SO FAR:   785 Postcards from 65 countries and 47 states



Do you know a senior citizen with a special wish or need? If so, please contact WISH OF A LIFETIME program at:  http://seniorwish.org/

 

An Invitation

Don't you just love getting invited to a party or being asked to join a group of like-minded friends in a new adventure?  

     Normally, I do but this is one invitation I wasn't quite ready to get......one dictated solely by my age.   And it made me feel so old, because since I've hit that magic number -- 64.5 years of age --
I've been invited by the Federal Government to begin the MEDICARE application process.  

And what a process!!    Let's face it -- the Government sends out your notice 6 months in advance, because it takes that long just to review the complicated maze of paperwork. 

Parts A, B, C or D --- what do I really need? 
It's like trying to figure out a jigsaw puzzle with my eyes closed!   And I even have an advantage over other Boomers because as a retired Federal employee, I'm used to the terminology and their long-winded way of explaining a simple procedure.  Still I get a headache just reading through the Government brochures and the numerous private supplemental policy offerings I've been receiving daily in the mail.
One thing I know for sure - though it's expensive, I'm keeping my Anthem-Blue Cross Federal Plan as my supplemental coverage as many of the nationally offerred plans just don't cover enough.

And please be wary of those "FREE" supplemental plans.   That's right - FREE -  no monthly charge, but just how good could that be?     NOT MUCH!!
        I found this out the hard way recently when my 87-year old mother was hospitalized.   She'd been bragging for years about the free supplemental plan she had.   Well, I never could get her to change plans and her recent hospital stay cost her over $2,000 when it probably would have cost her ZERO had she been paying for a better supplemental plan.

If you're on MEDICARE and have any tips to effortlessly get through the process, please share them.

Some helpful websites: 
Medicare:   http://www.medicare.gov/
AARP:  http://www.aarphealthcare.com/understanding-health-products/medicare-supplement.html

Great Retirement, Great Sex!

Do I dare mention "sex" in the same sentence with retirement as it seems the younger generation think of us as shriveled up and half dead? 

 

Several studies have shown that instead of enjoying a blissful sex life in retirement, many Boomers find that stopping work is a depressing and demoralizing experience, resulting in a loss of confidence in both social situations and the bedroom.

 

But Mr. Gould busts right through many of the myths surrounding older-age sex and tackles the delicate issues of body image, sexual dysfunction, and overcoming the embarrassment of re-entering the dating field.    I especially liked Chapter 5, "The Magic Three", referring to your physical health, your mindset, and your sex life. 

 

Great Retirement, Great Sex  will take you through the pleasures and pitfalls of life after work, showing you how to plot a more satisfying, joyful course for retirement.   Check out his BLOG at: http://greatretirementgreatsex.blogspot.com/ 

 

For more info:   http://www.amazon.com/Great-Retirement-Sex-retire-Volume/dp/0985333006

 

HAPPY MOTHER's DAY

If you're a Boomer and still have your mom, well then you're blessed just like I am!

I know --- everyone thinks they had the best mom in the world, but I'm so confident that I'd put my mom up against any one's.

She had 9 kids (5 boys & 4 girls) in less than 12 years (no twins). And the 9th baby was born when she was only 34!!

She survived a tough younger life, being one of 8 and living through the Great Depression. We often heard stories about the Depression when for months all she had to eat was bread and tomatoes as well as her life during WWII (the Big One), when downtown St. Louis was open 24 hours a day and she often went out dancing all night!

So today, I'd like to honor her for being the wonderful mom she was and still is. Somehow, she found the time to be there for all 9 of us; often, getting by on as little as 5 hours sleep for days in a row. At one point, we thought she was a short order cook, because if you didn't like what she made for dinner; she'd find the time to make something special for you. And you can just imagine all the loads of wash she did on an old, manual Maytag washer!

At 85, she's in good health, lives at home and cooks for herself. She still enjoys reading and spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

So, Boomer friends, take the time today to remember your special mom whether she's still here with you or with God!

YANNI

I love the music created by YANNI as it truly feeds my soul. I was so fortunate to see him for the first time in 1995, but even more thrilling was meeting him. It's hard to believe, but I was actually rendered speechless!!

In 2009, when I heard he was appearing here in Denver, I immediately bought tickets. But I was very disappointed as he seemed to have 'sold out'. He didn't even look like YANNI as he had cut that gorgeous long black hair!! I didn't enjoy his concert as it had a very commercial edge to it and I was very offended by some of the sexually charged dance numbers.

So, when our local PBS channel recently announced that they were sponsoring a YANNI concert, I wasn't sure if it would be worth it. But, I'm so glad I went last Friday night as he once again delivered a mystical concert that left us begging for more. He played in the more intimate setting of the Wells Fargo Theater, which was a much better fit acoustically for his music.

Check out his website at http://www.yanni.com/ to find out if he's playing in your area! You won't be disappointed!!

Women and Aging 2011

Attention all Female Boomers

We face many unique aging issues -- everything from discrimination in getting a home loan to lower retirement pay to becoming the primary caregiver for our aging parents.

In an effort to open the dialogue on these and other issues related to female Boomers, the Volunteers of America Organization is excited to announce its third-annual discussion on aging issues on May 10, 2011 at the National Press Club in Washington, DC.

The Women and Aging 2011: Implications for an Aging Population, is an in-depth discussion around the need for policy that addresses the cultural shift sparked by a rapidly aging population. This year's panel will be moderated by Dr. Bob Arnot and feature Arianna Huffington of the Huffington Post, Debra Ness of the National Partnership for Women and Families.

You can read more about the event and their work on women's aging issues at:
http://www.voa.org/bloggers

CHANGE!!

Have you ever heard that expression --The only person who likes "change" is a wet baby?

We all know how true that is and most of us will do anything to avoid a major life change. Yet, here I am at 63 willingly taking on one of life's most stressful changes -- moving!

See, I've had that nagging sense of wanderlust for quite awhile since I currently spend 3 to 4 months a year either in Summit County or St. Louis and feel like I've been using my home as nothing more than a crash pad for the past few years.

So, last week I put my house up for sale and have now started that dreaded process of cleaning and giving away or pitching most of my stuff, because my new retirement lifestyle does not include owning a big home. I'm creating my dream retirement lifesytle around what I love most --4 months in the mountains, 4 at the beach and 4 in St. Louis with my family and friends.

OK -- I know you're probably thinking that I've gone off the deep end, but "WHY NOT?" After all, at age 40 I took a huge leap of faith by moving to Germany and leaving behind all my family and friends. At that time, I had never lived anywhere but St. Louis, so it was really difficult at first. I didn't know anyone, didn't speak the language, and felt very lonely and depressed for a few months, but it turned out to be the best adventure of my life.

Are you a Boomer who's afraid to follow your dream because 'fear of change' is holding you back? If so, and you really want to make a major change in your life, then check out the book "Take the Risk" by world-renowned neurosurgeon, Dr. Ben Carson.

http://www.amazon.com/Take-Risk-Learning-Identify-Acceptable/dp/0310259738

I'll keep you posted and would love to hear from you about any dare-devil life changes you've made since retiring or are working on!