Happy New Year

Greetings from beautiful Vancouver, the Canadian city of rain and mild weather.

All the best for a happy new year. I wish you one filled with adventure, stmulating conversations, dear old friends, interesting new ones, and a joy of life.

M.

Baby Boomers Redefining Retirement

Hi:

Well this is it. Within a couple of days the first baby boomers will turn 60. Defined as those born between 1946 and 1964, about 10 million of us are steadily marching towards old age. But is it old age in the traditional sense? No, boomers are redefining retirement.

Although the average age of Canadians retiring has now dropped to around 60, retirement looks pretty different than it did even a decade ago.

Those with government pensions seem to retire around 57, while those who are self-employed or work for smaller firms with no pension continue to slave until the old manditory retirement age of 65.

Just because people are retiring from their "old" or permanent jobs, though, doesn't mean they are retiring from work. About half of those retiring want to continue to work.

However, it won't be at their old jobs, nor will it be full time. Many will work a couple of days a week, continuing to do the most enjoyable aspects of their profession and dropping the tedious parts.

Others will try something completely different, such as working in small boutiques, garden centres, home renovations or selling specialized products in which they have knowledge and interest.

Many are working on the net, writing articles, buying and selling on e-bay or other sites.

Boomers will probably challenge and win the mandatory retirement barriers put in place at a time when few expected to live much past 65.

In the past, mandatory retirement was a blessing; a relief from long hours and primarily physical work.

However, we have moved from the 30's when 80% of the work was unskilled "labor", a term used quite accurately, to an era where few continue to do the long arduous physical tasks, and many are not willing to retire.

People enjoy the mental stimulation of working and participating in all the wonderful developments on the frontiers of technological and educational advancements.

People are retiring from work, but not from life.

M.

Boomers Look at Big Picture in Retirement

Hi:

Today's boomers are an educated, professional, intelligent lot. As with the rest of the world, through a wide variety of media, they have had heavy exposure to much the world has to offer.

Boomers are wanting to carve out their own retirement in their own style. They research, gather information both randomly and purposefully. Boomers today have the benefit of past experience and the current trends.

Many are taking advantage of the Christmas season, and post-holiday season in January to go on extended trips to places they have dreamed about.

While still working, underneath their casual interest in a particular place is a comparison process. They find out the cost of real estate, note food prices and restaurant bills, look at the lifestyle and see if it matches up with their idealized dream retirement.

A trip to Mexico in the winter months uncovers thousands of snowbirds. They are down there for the few months each year when it is cold and dreary in Canada or the US. The same can be said for southern Spain and the Algarve in Portugal. Thousands of tourists from Germany, Sweden and England make their ritual trip to the sun in winter.

Health and mental well-being improves with the weather. Baby boomers are taking advantage of their relative wealth and time available to enjoy their life away from the vigours of winter.

Here's to it!

M.

Birdhouse Design

Hi:

The birds are at it again. Every morning the juncos, sparrows, chickadees and finches show up to feed.

We have two birdhouses, which we alternate every day or so, as they go through a lot of seed. We wash them fairly regularly, especially if it's quite damp, as the seed can go moldy.

We have two styles of birdhouses. One we call the Leaky Condo Birdhouse, because it has a flat top with not much overhang. It reminds us of all the California style condos built in the Vancouver area. Designed for the desert, built in a rainforest. Of course they leaked - no overhangs!

The Leaky Condo Birdhouse is not as popular with the birds as the "Good Birdhouse". There is no protection for the birds and the seeds get wet.

The "Good Birdhouse" is made in BC of cedar. The roof lifts to load the seeds. There is a very generous overhang on the shoped roofs and place for the birds to perch.

Who knew that good design extends even to birdhouses and the climatic conditions of the region where it hangs. The birds knew.:)

M.

Winter Solstice

Hi:

What a great time of year. So many people have time off between Christmas and New Years that the streets are quiet and there is a different mood in the air. An absence of busy-ness.



I guess that is true if you avoid the shopping crowds and the giant consumer splurge that takes place.


It's my contention that we are a bit wiser as baby-boomers. The people lining up for the X-box are primarily young adults. We have what we need and know we don't need yet more gadgets or the latest model.



It's not that we don't or won't embrace new technology, but we have seen the same patterns before. There is always another bargain, another great deal around the corner. And do we really need it anyway?




It's funny to read the flyers that come to the house, especially for the small kitchen-appliances. Oh boy, a hot chocolate maker. We can store that along with our yogert makers.



Instead of rushing the malls, some time out in nature or even our own back yards wakes us up. Feel the cold wind. It's great to be alive.



M.

Picasso

Hi:

Went to the Picasso Exhibit yesterday at the Vancouver Art Gallery. Interesting, but somewhat disappointing. Not a big collection, considering he was such a prolific artist.

Picasso's art doesn't speak to me. I don't share his sense of being. When asked who are my favorite artists or genres, the answer is broad. I like color, mood, emotions and he doesn't do it for me.

I'm glad the Vancouver Art Gallery is presenting these collections, however. We are members and go to four or five shows a year. It's also fun to go downtown and see the ever-increasing crowds on Vancouver's streets.

M.

Time Off, Experiences, not Presents

Hi:

How much stuff do you really need? This question is one that needs to be answered. How many people troll the mall, trying to find the one perfect gift for the person who has everything? If that person needs something, they can buy it for themselves.

The joy of giving and of receiving loses some of its flavor when we have too much. In reality, many baby boomers are there. They don't need any more things.

Apparently, buying experiences is a trend. People also are paying for presents of cosmetic surgery for their partners, in exchange for exactly the same thing. Gift certificates for botox and other procedures are popular, as well as gift cards, as then people spend on what they want.

Others I know forego gift exchanges altogether, but spend their money on holidays. Why not.

This focus on consumption, consumption, consumption, is of course, the real point. It's a reflection of our affluent society.

However, age does give perspective. Many eschew the gift giving consumptive commerical aspects of Christmas and just enjoy the time off. Time out in nature or just staying home and puttering about during this winter solstice period is the real gift. With a mental break comes perspective, and that is precious.

M.

Christmas Decorations and Stuff

Hi:

It's a good idea to move along some of your Christmas decorations at this time of year. Many people tend to accumulate more and more each year, sometimes by design and sometimes by accident.

But times change, trends move on and other people can use your stuff if you don't need it. I'm not talking about getting rid of your tattered old ornaments that your kids made and have great sentimental value. No, I'm talking about the things you never use any more, the extra old ornaments and baskets and baubles that would be better recycled.

A MCC store near where I live has a special room they set up each year for Christmas decorations. Many people's circumstances change, and the decorations are appreciated, especially by families who have small children. The Mennonite Central Committee's collections go to help people in other countries. These are the folks that run the 1000 Villages store.

It may not be too late, even today to take our stuff there. I've tried to bring a box a year but still have eight boxes to store. Too much! If it's too late for that, perhaps you might sort as you are putting things away and have a specially marked box that you can pop over next year without even opening. That way you won't be tempted to go through it again.

M.

Leisure and Personality Types

Understand your personality type.

When you are planning your leisure and time away from work it's an interesting exercise to frame your use of time with the MBTI profiles. Myers-Briggs Type Indicators points out that there are two types of people.

One type "J's" or Judgers like to organize their outer world. They prefer to plan what they want to do and work their plan. They strive to finish their projects and work sequentially.

"P's" or Perceivers, on the other hand, like to let the outer world evolve. They prefer to make decisions on what to do based on how they feel that day and/or on what's transpiring or emerging. They don't want time restrictions because they need to see how things are evolving and make decisions based on where they are at that moment.

Both of these ways of working can have a huge impact on your leisure life after work. This is especially true if you are part of a relationship with different operating styles.

Thinking about how you live in this world can be a useful exercise in finding greater happiness, especially if you are free from the confines of a work schedule.

You can ask, did your work schedule restrict you? Did it keep you grounded? Will you still need to keep a schedule once you are not working? Or, are you delighted at the prospect of having days with no structure to do exactly what you please?

M.

Try a new job or hobby on the side

When I talk about life after work I generally get one of two responses. Some people can hardly wait, and are eagerly anticipating all the things they will finally be able to do once they have the time.

Others are not looking forward to the luxury of spare time, but in fact have a negative view of not working. The comment I often hear from them is that people often die within two years of retirement so they want to keep working for a long time! Of course, wouldn't we all if that were indeed true.

Keys to happiness are few: good health, great relationships, abiding interests and intellectual stimulation. For those who are not hobby-prone, don't like crafting things and aren't particularly social, not working could present some challenges - boredom for one.

A suggestion is that people start to develop other interests outside of work long before they stop working to earn a living. Try another career that you could do on the side, that you might move up to more hours after you retire from your regular job. Get involved in community service; plan great trips, or determine to become an expert on one particular interest and learn all you can about it.

Intellectual stimulation is an important part of all of our lives; make sure you have it in retirement.

M.

Doing something different at Christmas

Hi:


Well it seems that a lot of boomers are experiencing different Christmases and holiday seasons. For one, they are getting used to sharing their kids and grandkids with ever increasing numbers of people as people grow up, marry and alternate the big day with the in-laws. People move on and create their own traditions with their new babes. The centre of the family shifts, and grandparents find themselves going over to their kids home, instead of vice-versa.

I've heard of quite a few people who are celebrating early as their kids are not available on the 25th. I've know quite a lot more who are taking off to Hawaii, Mexico and other more exotic places.

Many are foregoing gifts and instead opting for trips and experiences. How much more stuff do we really need? Some write a cheque to their favorite charity.

We're having a big family get-to-gether, but besides that am meeting small groups of friends for lunch. That way we can catch up with each other's busy lives and connect.

M.

Life after work not what it used to be.

In the ol' days, retirement meant slowing down, doing nothing, retiring from life, so to speak. Today people are retiring younger than ever. They look forward with great anticipation to the next phase of their life. What's the difference between then and now? In a word, options.

Todays boomers are traveling the world, building new homes, volunteering in unusual and unique ways, enjoying their freedom and expressing themselves creatively.

Boomers have benefited from the tremendous boom in property values. Now they are looking at different lifestyles that are opening up to them. Seeing a bigger picture, they are devising game plans that will meet their needs and goals.

Making decisions about retirement planning is an interesting experience. Choices on how and where to live, what to do, and what's important can be challenging.

Clarifying values is always helpful. Living life in a meaningful and progressive way is what planning is all about. How will you make it happen?

Cooking Smaller Meals

As time moves on and people eat differently, it's interesting to experiment with different foods, unusual ingredients and ways of cooking.

I know lots of people who find it just as cheap to eat out in small ethnic restaurants as to cook.

Many people - generally women, but not always, are simply tired of cooking. They have been doing it for thirty or forty years. It seems that just when couples get their trophy kitchen, they often stop cooking as much at home.

One thing I tend to forget and yet find useful is to cook double portions and freeze the rest. It's the same amount of work at the time, but half the work later. Good planning can help to give us more time.

M.

Volunteering

A lot of people who volunteer while working have a great focus that they can extend forward to their life after work. Besides giving them a network of people with similar interests and motivations, it can add a lot to life.

You might consider what you want your volunteer life to look like. Do you want to do a couple of hours a week? Or, do you want most of your time free and then work on a few big projects for a few weeks a year?

For example, you might work on a fund-raising event that requires a great deal of management skills and much commitment as the event approaches. The satisfaction from this work is something that money cannot buy. However, this event only happens once a year, and for the balance of the year you aren't actively involved with the organization.

Others take a less high profile approach. They might volunteer two hours a week at a bird santuary. The assume one small job and do it well. They help keep that volunteer organization running. The small job adds some structure to life but is not a huge commitment of energy.

Either way, making a difference in areas that you feel are vital to a good society or way of life adds to your life.

M.

New Genre - Time Running Out

Pete McMartin from the Vancouver Sun, October 10, 2005 talks about a new genre in literature "for those who feel they haven't lived enough, done enough, seen enough". He seems to feel that it's about "the feel of death's breath", and "our appetite to consume". He's talking about baby boomers, of course.

I disagree. I feel it's about the joy of looking forward to unstructured time. It's about having some fun. I feel it's very positive - about people now getting back to their roots and going for what they wanted to do but never did, or about being open to possibilities. How great is that?

What do you think?

Mahara

Travel

Hi: Just checked out luxurylink.com. This site auctions vacations. Seem to be an excellent opportunity to get some good deals, especially if you can travel right away. For example, the three-day safari in Africa at Kruger Natioanl Park for two is posted at $679.US, as I write this.

The accommodation appears to be high-end. However for comparison purposes, we bought a three day Kruger safari package for $450.00 for two in 1989 - sixteen years ago! That package definitely wasn't high end. We were holidaying in Africa and arranged it while we were there.

Also checked out an offer in Seville, Spain. It is for four nights for two for $755 US. Again a wonderful city. It's especially exciting to go during East week, or Santa Samana. The city is abuzz with celebrations and festivals. The Sevillians have a long history with horses and that was demonstrated as hundreds of people ride on horseback or in horse-drawn carriages throughout the city. Both men and women dress in colourful and elegant costumes as they parade through the streets.

If you read James Michener's Iberia, you gain a good sense of the history of the area and how the celebrations have evolved over the hundreds of years.

If you haven't used luxurylink's services, but will be checkng back regularly to see what they offer.

M.

Hi:
There was an interesting article about retirement in the National Post this last weekend. It's attached.







Mahara

Your Next Great Adventure

Baby boomers beginning to consider the next phase of their life are exploring their options about a variety of topics. Some are considering retiring and traveling, others are wanting to start a new career that would satisfy or develop another side to their personality. Lots of people I know want to start experimenting with the creative side of their personality, while others want to go back to music, painting or other creative pursuits.