9 Ways to a More Rewarding Retirement

Above, RV travel is one way to enjoy retirement.

As time goes on, retirement is on the horizon for more of the baby-boomer generation. As we move deeper in years, more baby boomers are starting retirement. The baby boomer generation is usually defined as people born from 1946 to 1964 (following the end of World War II).

I retired early eight years ago. I figured I'd better retire while my health was still excellent. It was a good thing that I did, as I had a heart issue crop up three years after retiring.

RisMedia has a list of nine ways to a more rewarding retirement, some of which I am doing.

They begin with:

No matter how long you’ve looked forward to retirement, cleaning out your desk for the last time can come as a bit of a shock—especially if you haven’t thought much about how you will spend your days beyond scuttling the alarm and sleeping in.

But, psychologists say, retirement these days can last for many years, and having a plan beyond the financial can extend it for many more.

To read more, go here. 

Is The RV Lifestyle Right For You?

Above, at Goulding's Lodge Campground near Monument Valley. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Since the Baby Boomer generation are now in retirement age, figuring out what to do with one's leisure time is uppermost on their minds. 

Many are taking to the highways in their RVs, either full-time or part-time, and enjoying the "RV lifestyle". 

But is the RV lifestyle right for you?

This question is asked by RV Life and there are some signs to look out for.

They begin with:

RV fever is sweeping the nation, especially during the past few years. But is the RV lifestyle right for everyone? Let’s take a look.

Many people are abandoning their homes and apartments and hitting the road. This is a personal choice for everyone. Many RV dreamers now wonder if the RVing lifestyle is the right fit for them. Of course, this is not a one-size-fits-all solution.

Some people feel right at home in an RV, while others can’t wait to get home. If you choose to live in your RV full-time (or at least most of the time), there are a few qualities and personality traits that can help you feel comfortable in this setting. 

The following signs can reveal if the RV lifestyle is a good for you. Ultimately it’s your choice though. If you have a deep love for RVing, you can certainly get by, even if you only have a few of these traits.

To read more, go here. 

Retirement: How Baby Boomers Are Changing The Formula

"Ah, you young people. Making the most of life. While it lasts." - Count Dracula (Bela Lugosi) in Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein.

My friends in Jamestown, New Mexico are in my baby boomer age group (60s). All of them are active retirees. None just sit around in rocking chairs. That's not to say that they (and me) are free of medical ailments of varying degrees. But, in general, we all don't let those stop us from being active.

The same goes for friends who I've known for around 20+ years in Godzilla fandom and E Clampus Vitus. They are still enjoying social activities and participate in screenings, conventions, camping and plaque dedications.

All have one thing in common: just laugh at the foibles that getting on in years present.

An interesting book on how baby boomers are changing the formula on retirement was published in November that discusses this.

From Palo Alto Online:

Members of the baby boom generation — now in their late 60s and early 70s — are upending the traditional concepts of retirement, says Woodside resident Richard Haiduck, who spent months prior to the pandemic interviewing dozens of retired people for his new self-published book, "Shifting Gears: 50 Baby Boomers Share Their Meaningful Journeys in Retirement."

With longer lives and greater affluence than their parents' generation — plus a history of political activism — boomers are reinventing this stage of life with more activity, more passion and more experimentation, Haiduck said.

In his book, which was released in November, Haiduck offers 50 brief retirement stories from those whom he interviewed.

"Over time, I recognized a generational trend that couldn't be ignored," he wrote in the prologue to the book, "Active, engaged retirement is a driving force for this generation."

 To read more, go here.