Another Year Begins

Didn't the new century just start a few years ago? Are we really about to start the 15th year of the 21st century? 

I watch a movie from the 1980's or 1990's and it seems so recent, until I realize it is several decades old, and considered "old school" by so many people. 

Oh well, not to worry. As I enter into my 15th year of a satisfying retirement I have so much to be thankful for and so much to look forward to, even if I am in a bit of a personal funk at the moment while I look for a new spark.

My wish for you is a joyous year with as many positive occurrences and as few disappointments and problems as possible. 

Fill 2015 with family, love, memorable experiences, and making the world around you as joyful as can be. If you are struggling I pray that the new year lightens your burden, or gives you the strength and attitude to persevere.

Be safe and be well.

Bob, Betty, and Bailey

Time to Come Clean

I am bored and feeling stale.

Considering my posts for the last several years that is a sentence you probably didn't expect to read on this blog. I preach the importance of staying active and involved, in trying new things, discovering new passions, and making the most of the amazing freedom that retirement provides.

Up until rather recently that would have been accurate for me. But, not right now. I figured I owed you an honest look at a satisfying retirement that occasionally finds itself down a dead end street. My life has been quite blessed, but it is not a fairy tale or a movie with a perpetually happy ending.

I am feeling unhappy with where I live, how I live, and what I am doing with my time. As I quickly told Betty when I mentioned my funk to her, it has absolutely nothing to do with our relationship. That remains as solid as can be; I am very much in love with my wife and family.

No, my dissatisfaction is strictly with me and my lifestyle at the moment. There has been no precipitating event or action. There wasn't a switch that was suddenly thrown and I woke up living a unsatisfying retirement. It is just a feeling that has been building for at least a month.

I am spending too much time reading. I take too many naps during the day. I watch too much Netflix at night to fill the time until bedtime. I realize these are some classic early warning signs of clinical depression, but that isn't it. I am not depressed, I am just without a focus, a spark, or something that really excites me. And, I don't seem to know where to turn to ignite the fire.

An example? I am planning all of our itinerary for our RV trip in July - not because it really has to all happen 7 months ahead of time, but because it gives me something to do. That isn't good.

So, what am I going to do about all this? I haven't a clue. I am stuck in neutral with no clear route forward. I have no doubt I will figure things out. At some point something will click and I will have a full plate again.

But, for now, not so much.

What a Grand Time: Disneyland With The Grandkids

Choosing experiences over things has been one of the basic foundations of my marriage to Betty and in raising our two daughters. We try to make family memories whenever possible.

That approach has been transferred to the next generation. Our oldest daughter and her husband decided that this holiday season would not involve a fully decorated tree and piles of presents for their three kids. Rather, a four day trip to Disneyland and California Adventure Park would make memories that will last a lifetime. And, to make it even more special, one of the days would be "Grandparents' Day" with both sets of grandparents invited to join mom and dad, the three kids, and their aunt in the Magic Kingdom.

Betty and I and my son-in-law's parents piled into our car for the 350 mile trip from Phoenix to Disneyland and back to make Grandparents Day a special day to remember. For almost 14 hours, the ten of us rode every ride we could, saw spectacular shows, ate way too much junk food, watched fireworks, experienced snow falling on Main Street, and made memories for everyone involved.

Our grandchildren had the time of their young lives. They experienced the joy of being surrounded by their family - several generations worth, all sharing the same good times.

Was it worth all that driving and money to see the smiles and feel the love? Was the worth the one lost cell phone (that was eventually found!) and rain coat? Absolutely. We would do it again in a heartbeat. I'd even ride on a roller coaster again!

The reason for the trip!

Scams and The Elderly: Signs To Watch For

A few months ago I wrote about hackers and their ability to make our life difficult. Another concern is the assault on the elderly by those perpetuating scams of various types. As is often the case the most vulnerable are the most likely targets.

The folllowing information was supplied by TrueLink, a service that helps protect folks from this type of indignity. I found the list worth presenting to you.


Red Flags That Your Aging Relative is Suffering from Financial Exploitation

1. Missing funds – This is the obvious one. If mom is a victim of elder financial exploitation – whether it's by a family member, a fraud ring, or a predatory marketing scheme – she's going to have less money as a result. Watch for unpaid bills or extra credit cards lying around, and keep an eye on the gifts being given during the holidays. If she’s giving dramatically less or dramatically more this year compared to last year, it could be time to have a conversation and check out her finances.

2. Lots of phone calls from telemarketers – Telemarketers know that older adults are particularly vulnerable to their tactics. And once they discover a viable target the calls can come nonstop, even if your parent is on a Do Not Call list. Take note of how many calls come during your visit. You may be surprised to find out that telemarketers call your parent more often than you or the grandkids do. Every one of those calls is a financial mishap waiting to happen.

3. New friends – All too often these senior entrapment schemes rely on the perception that the senior is susceptible, isolated, or even lonely. This is a tactic used by con artists, malicious caregivers, predatory telemarketers, and deceptive infomercial offers alike – "Just get the senior talking!" The more they build a trusting relationship, the more likely they are to get their money. If someone is suddenly spending a lot of time with mom or dad, get to know who the person is and what the nature of the relationship is. It might be a good time to do a quick review of their bank accounts and credit cards.

4. Small clues in conversations – Sometimes if dad says something that doesn't quite make sense, you just brush over it. He mentions a grandson's trip to Mexico and you think to yourself "oh, he must mean Florida and got confused." However, he could be talking about falling victim to the grandparent scam, in which someone posing as a relative in a tough situation cons the elderly person into wiring money abroad.

5. Unusual gifts - Family is often the most important thing to a senior, and so “gifts for family members” are often used as bait for financial entrapment by deceptive merchants. They might offer four for the price of one as part of a misleading sales pitch, and then the other three become gifts for family members. Or a sweepstakes or lottery winnings fraud will claim that a senior is going to get to take their family on an exciting trip abroad.

6. Secrecy – Seniors suffering from financial entrapment often feel fear or shame about the situation they are in. If mom or dad suddenly doesn't want to talk about money anymore, that's exactly the time when maybe you should be having a conversation about money.


“Family caregivers know best when something just doesn’t seem right,” says Kai Stinchcombe, whose company, True Link (www.truelinkfinancial.com) offers a service that prevents such financial exploitation. True Link offers a Visa debit card that allows caregivers to set spending limits for specific vendors, receive alerts about unusual purchases, or block suspicious purchases all together."





Satisfying Retirement presents this information for informational purposes only and has no connection to TrueLink nor is the publication an implied endorsement of their services. Satisfying Retirement has received no compensation for this post

Sun City Festival: A Retirement Community Treats Us Well

A major force in the retirement landscape in the Phoenix area is the Del Webb company. It is best known for Sun City, the nation's first planned retirement community that opened on January 1, 1960 in the desert west of Phoenix. Since then three more Sun City communities have opened nearby, just part of 50 communities in 21 different markets.

The newest, Sun City Festival, invited Betty and me for a weekend stay in one of their villas. We were invited to use the facilities, talk with local residents, interview marketing folks, and write about our experiences for Satisfying Retirement.

If your image of a retirement community in the sunbelt is just people spending all their days golfing, you need to readjust your mental picture. This  community is home to quite a few non-retired folks, or those who work at a second career or capacity. Yes, there is a beautiful 18 hole golf course, but so much more to keep the not-quite retired and those done with their working lives busy and productive.

At last count there are 42 clubs featuring all sorts of activities, everything from wine tasting and dancing to pickleball, bridge, and quilting. A life-long learning center affiliated with Arizona State University offers classes to keep one's mind sharp. Betty and I sampled the fitness center, ate several meals at the on-site restaurant, and even enjoyed a happy hour. We spent a very pleasant evening on an outside patio overlooking an enormous pool and spa complex.

Friday night was the community's Holiday desserts party that featured an excellent choral group as entertainment for the 200 or so folks in attendance. In front of the activity center were a few brightly lit cars and golf carts.

 On Saturday we were invited to visit the 9,000 square foot pottery and glass studio along with a huge woodworking shop. Always the artist, Betty fell in love with these facilities. She says they are absolutely on par with anything she has ever seen. Hundreds of residents learn and practice their artistic skills in this state of the art facility.

Linda - instructor at pottery studio

Clyde and Barbara at glass kilns

             

Jacque Petroulakis, Corprate Communication spokesperson for the Pulte Group (owner of Del Webb) notes that one of the most important approaches the company takes is to actively research the wants of today's home buyers. Last year they actually built prototype models inside large warehouses and asked potential customers to walk through and critique the designs and layouts.

The results are obvious. Today's models have elevated dishwashers and lower microwaves. The entrance from the garage does not involve any steps up or down, doorways are wider, and showers can include a place to sit.

If there is a downside, it is Sun City Festival's location. Since only a gas station and mini mart are located here and being 12 miles west of the nearest town, trips for groceries, additional dining options, or medical appointments are bit of a jaunt  But, residents we talked to didn't see this as a problem. In fact, several mentioned they like the quiet and lack of city lights.  A fire department, police, and EMT operation in town means one is not far from immediate emergency help. The nearest full service hospital is about 25 minutes away.

Sun City Festival is designed for active folks who want to live independently. There is no provision to provide assisted living or nursing care at this time. But, community representatives told me when the time approaches for more help with daily living, residents are likely to move to Sun City Grand or Sun City West, both of which offer such services.

Thanks to the folks at the Pulte group and Del Webb for inviting us to spend some time at Sun City Festival. It was a much needed break for Betty and me, and a perfect chance to see the changing face of retirement communities. The residents we talked to were very happy with where they live and extremely friendly. We didn't meet anyone who didn't welcome us with open arms.

Our villa home - very comfortable

 

Note: Betty and I were provided with free lodging, dining credit, and facility use during our stay. Sun City Festival did not have control over or prior approval of the content of this post.
 

The Travel Itch Begins Again: Plans for 2015

The New Year is fast approaching and with it comes a need to firm up our travel and vacation plans. This year has been a blast, highlighted by the two month RV trip to the upper Midwest. What does 2015 hold?

The first jaunt has actually been on our calendar since last spring: The Palm Springs Film Festival. This January event attracts thousands of film fans, movie stars, and desert lovers for a long weekend of events. Mike and Tamara Reddy have been before and thought it would be fun if the four of us experienced it together. So, the tickets are purchased and the RV slots selected.

A month later I have booked an RV space for a three nights at a pretty county park just east of Phoenix, not far from the Superstition Mountains. Usery Park is nicely maintained with plenty of hiking trails for us and Bailey. 

We will be close enough to explore some the nearby lakes and maybe check out the Lost Dutchman State Park just down the road. The camping sites are quiet and have beautiful views of the mountains and city lights.

In April it will be time to head to Show Low in the White Mountains of Arizona for several days. Fools Hollow State Park has become one of our favorite spots. Our campsite overlooks a beautiful lake. There are kyacks and row boats to rent, dozens of miles to hike, and the smell of pine trees to make every day a delight. At that time of year night time lows are still not far above freezing so a blazing fire pit and roasted marshmallows will be part of each evening.

Come June we will be flying to Pittsburgh and then making our way south into West Virginia. Betty has put together a family reunion that will be the first time she has seen some of these folks in years. Arrangements have been made to rent a large cottage at a lake resort for the weekend. Then, back to Pittsburgh to spend time with her brother before we fly home.

South Park Blocks in Portland

Two weeks later, the RV heads north for a two month trip through Utah and Idaho to Portland. We will spend a month in one of our favorite cities before slowly driving down the Oregon and California coast, with a detour to wine country near Paso Robles to meet friends. A few days later we will arrive home just in time for Labor Day and two more months of blazing summer heat.

Oregon Coast

Wine country near Paso Robles

Last year we drove over 5,000 miles during the summer RV trip; next year the total to and from Portland is half that amount. Not only will substantially less gas will be needed but the wear and tear on the driver (me!) will be appreciated.

It sounds like another fun year of blending time at home with family and friends and on the road in the RV. 

Portland International Rose Gardens

Healthcare.gov: What Was Our Experience This Time?

A little over a year ago I wrote about our experiences with Healthcare.gov, the Marketplace health site. As everyone knows, the launch was a disaster. The system crashed and kept crashing for almost the entire enrollment period. I was able to get a policy to carry me from January until Medicare started in May without too many problems.

Betty was another matter. Her application and data were so messed up we finally had to fight our way through to the Resolution Center to resolve her situation. That is not easy to do. Those folks are protected from "customers" like the gold in Fort Knox. You can read about that fun time by clicking here.

So, billions of dollars and thousands of man hours later, what happened this year? Betty's insurance company was not offering the policy she finally got last year, so she had to go through the application process again. Certainly, things would zip right along, right?

Wrong. We got into the same mess this time around. The web site continually crashed the first two days it was opened, and only functioned sporadically after that for at least two more days. Betty's incorrect information from a year ago continued to haunt our attempts to complete an application. Her application was complete, then incomplete, then verified, then needed to be verified....exactly like before.

The folks on the phone can't do a thing: they use the same web site that anyone uses, so when it is in the toilet they are powerless. When it finally works, they are unable to fix something that is causing problems. Calling the 800 number only increases your frustration and does not solve a problem.

Like last year we tried the Advanced Resolution Center but the protective walls are even higher this time around. Those golden men and women who can fix a problem cannot be reached by mere mortals.

We were just about to give up and buy insurance through the health insurance company's web site, losing out on hundreds of dollars in tax credits, when Betty discovered a sheet of paper from last year's battle that included a user name and password that had been given to us by the nice lady who finally helped us.

With nothing to lose, I entered those precious letters and - we were in! Suddenly I was sailing through a new application and 20 minutes later we had signed her up for a new policy, with a small but welcome tax credit. 

Not so fast. Two weeks later and the health insurance company had not received the proper paperwork from the Marketplace. The fine folks at the end of the 800 number said they would have their technical people look at the problem but it could take up to 30 days. With the deadline for coverage only 2 week away that was a non-starter.

With time running out, we decided to skip the whole screwed up system and buy a policy directly from the company web site. Our costs will be substantially more than last year for Betty's policy, with less coverage and more financial risks to us (silver instead of gold). But, at least we won't face bankruptcy over a serious health problem.

The Bottom line: National news reports indicate things went much more smoothly than in 2013. A half a million people were able to go through the process and sign up in the first week.

But, that isn't true for everyone. Once your application gets fouled up by software glitches, you are in trouble. With only 30 days this year to get things done before it is too late to get coverage starting January 1st, there is no margin for error.

The call center people told me that at times the software was performing no better than one year ago. If you had told me that we would have exactly the same experience as 14 months ago after all the money, the effort, and the promises, I would have not believed you. But, for us, that was what happened.

Guess what: Betty has 4 more years before she qualifies for Medicare. Do you want to bet we will go through this same minefield four more times? Or, simply pay whatever the insurance companies want and skip the whole gut-churning experience?

Of course, if the Supreme Court decides tax credits are illegal then the whole for-profit healthcare system as it is now set up will collapse in 2016 under the weight of huge premium increases and no tax help for those not well-off. Betty will become one of an estimated 80 million Americans without health insurance. 

Won't that be something. 


Update: December 11th and Betty finally has coverage directly from the health insurance company...3 days before the deadline.

The RealPad: Is It The Real Deal?

A few weeks ago AARP sent me a new product to test: The Real Pad. It has been designed for 50+ adults who want to use a tablet-type computer device but have been afraid of the technology. With a full compliment of applications, the owner can browse the Internet, send and receive e-mails, read e-books, take pictures and make movies, visit Facebook, make video calls to friends and relatives, play games - in short everything a tablet is designed to do. It has built in WiFi, bluetooth and touch screen capabilities. It comes with one free year of AARP membership (or an extra year if already a member).

With a screen just under 8", it is slightly bigger than a standard size Kindle Fire and on par with an Ipad. It comes with a charger and USB cable. The battery life of approximately 8 hours is quite adequate. My biggest complaint is the cost. At $189 it is quite a bit cheaper than an Ipad and about $10 less expensive than a Kindle HDX. But, to entice someone who is not comfortable with the whole concept of a tablet, a device that is almost $200 seems too high. Fewer capabilities and a price somewhere in the $125-$150 range would probably make it more attractive to the target.

OK, so how about the RealPad itself? It feels sturdy and reacts quickly to touch. The processor and browsing software are not as good as those found in better known brands, but for the target user that isn't important. Things work quickly enough to be very satisfactory. There is a 16GB memory to hold lots of pictures if someone decides to use this as a camera.

The icons are a bit larger than on other tablets, making it a easier for older eyes to find what one is looking for. The best features are the 24/7 customer support and what is known as Real Help: 10 preloaded videos that explain how to set up e-mail, use WiFi, search the Internet, how to use the touchscreen, what apps are, and tablet basics.

One of the settings that many will want to access wasn't readily apparent, especially to a newbie to the tablet world: how to increase font size. If you know to go to Settings, then find Display, then find font, you can change the size from small to what AARP calls, huge. I suggest that font size adjustments should be much easier to find for those unfamiliar with navigating several menu options.

As a test, I asked my wife, Betty, to play with the RealPad. While she is comfortable with a computer, she has never tried using a tablet. I gave her the manual (very good with clear explanations and pictures) and asked her to give it a spin. She did read the first few pages of the start guide, but most of what she tried she did without consulting the booklet.

Not surprisingly, the first thing she found was the camera. With both front and rear facing cameras she immediately started snapping photos and made a few short videos. It took her a little while to find out where the photos are stored, but she managed to review them and then delete them with no real problem. 

She also had fun with the "speak" feature. While connected to the Internet, if you touch the microphone icon and ask a question, the Google search engine will find your answer in less than a second. She tried, "What's the temperature in Scottsdale, Arizona,"  "show me pictures of cocker spaniels," and said the two words we all love, Satisfying Retirement. In each case she was instantly given what she asked for. Yes, smartphones and other tablets do this, but I was interested that Betty figured out how to use this feature intuitively.

She quickly learned to sweep screens either up or down and how to "pinch" or "expand" to make something on the screen larger or smaller. She liked the video tutorials but didn't have the time to set up her e-mail in the tablet. So, for a tablet neophyte Betty had no serious problems.

The RealPad looks and acts like any tablet on the market, and that may turn out to be a long-term problem. This AARP entry will succeed or fail on its ability to convince the tablet-wary crowd that it is easier and more user-friendly than better known versions. It does have excellent tutorials and one of the better user guides I have seen. But, it is not cheap and has enough features and menus to confuse someone who is brand new to this world. 

I commend AARP for trying to get seniors connected. Whether it works will be for the marketplace to decide.


Satisfying Retirement was given a free RealPad for its use and review. There was no additional compensation involved.

A First Look At Next Year's Budget

Making budget decisions can be quite complex

The New Year is a little over a month away, so it is certainly not too early for me to review how how well my 2014 budget held up to our actual expenses and make adjustments for next year. I have lived with a budget for the last 40 some years. 2015 will be no different. 

This was a year of some significant changes: it was the first year I had Medicare coverage for about half the year and Betty purchased health insurance through the government healthcare marketplace. It was the first time we were away from Phoenix for part of the summer. We bought a new car to serve as my primary vehicle and to tow behind our RV. 

So, how did things work out? Pretty well, it appears. I am on track to be about 7% under budget for this year. A quick disclaimer: RV and vacation expenses are part of a separate budget. As I have noted in an earlier post the cost of gas during our 2 month RV adventure and a much higher than expected bill for repairs and maintenance knocked that budget for a loop (29% over). But, the main household budget did well.

What came in under budget:

1) Home Maintenance and repairs - usually there is a few things that go wrong with a 30 year old house. This year everything held together.

2) Medical lab tests - three of the tests Betty and I usually get and pay for are now covered by ACA or Medicare.

3) Pet Expenses - 2013 was not a good year for Bailey: a doggie chiropractor and several x-rays for a troublesome back problem. This year, she has been much, much better.

4) Dining out and entertainment - we found that we are spending more time with family and in-laws, which besides being more satisfying is much cheaper.

5) Betty's car's registration and gas expenses - an 11 year old car doesn't cost much to register, plus it is only driven about 5,000 miles a year. We are putting no more repair money into it but will drive it until it quits, then donate it to a charity.

6) Change in RV insurance - this one part of ownership I keep under an insurance heading in the household budget. By switching companies I was able to pay for only when I expect to be on the road next year, thereby saving $250.

And on the not so good side:

1) Real Estate taxes - even though real estate assessments lag by two years, our home's market value has rebounded strongly from the 2008-2009 disaster, making for a larger tax bill than I had planned for.

2) Yard work - while we were gone for July and August, I paid our yard service several hundred dollars above budget to do the trimming that I normally handle.

3) New set of eyeglasses: I thought I could make it until next year with my old lenses, but the change in my eyesight made a new pair important.

So, for 2015, with our income remaining unchanged, I will:

A) Trim the pet budget by 20%

B) Set aside enough to handle one or two major home fix ups, but not three.

C) Budget more for medical premiums. Betty's ACA plan will be about $37 more each month than this year, with somewhat higher copays and a much bigger deductible.

D) Trim the dining out amount a bit to reflect more family time.

E) Budget more for the real estate tax since it is bound to go up again.


All of this should allow us to stay at a 3% (or less) withdrawal rate from our retirement account and still be prepared for most of what 2015 may decide to throw at us.

How about your expenses for next year...anything lurking in the shadows?

2014: What Do We Have To Be Thankful About?

If you spend enough time with social media, cable TV news channels, newspapers, or on the Internet, the title of this post seems like a reasonable question. Between the mess that is the Mideast, Ebola, political dysfunction, and the general tension of 21st century living, Thanksgiving may seem like an anachronism: a pleasant idea that lives on more in memory than reality.

I disagree.  In America we have survived yet another election cycle with all the drama and cynicism that implies. The results were not pleasing to many, full of joy for others. But, we all woke up on November 5th, complained or rejoiced, and got back to living our lives. As much as politicians like to think what they do is critical to each one of us every waking moment of our lives, most of us spend our days with the political circus far in the background. Their "games" effect us in the long term, but for the most part they occupy their own world.

The fact that we had a contentious election and the country moves forward is the important reminder of our system. With the next presidential election less than two years away, the fun is about to begin again in earnest. It all may be infuriating, silly and wasteful, and often downright counter intuitive to common sense and logic, but there are no coups, insurrections, or massive social upheavals on the horizon.

In two years the country might turn the House and Senate back to the Democrats, not because they have all the answers, but because the public is always ready to "throw the bums out" regardless of who the bums are. That is just the way it is.

Personally, life couldn't be better. My wife and I not only survived but thrived during two months together in an RV this summer. We found new sides to each other, relished the time disconnected from normal distractions and connections, and saw beautiful parts of our country. We also learned being away from family for two months is our limit. 

My dad remains physically healthy. While his short term memory can be measured in days (sometimes hours, it seems) he enjoys getting together for lunch every few weeks and is generally upbeat. A new set of hearing aids seems to have helped his ability to participate in conversations.

Our daughters, a son-in-law and grandkids are happy and doing well. We spend time together frequently and enjoy each others' company.

I have had a series of medical tests provided by Medicare that don't reveal any issues of concern. My overall health remains good.

Financially, I remain on solid ground with no concerns. Betty and I are comfortable with our lifestyle and how we manage our resources. A summer in Portland is planned for next year and a trip to Europe for our 40th wedding anniversary in 2016 looks doable. 

This blog is doing well and remains fun and engaging for me and several thousand readers every day. I am moving forward on a third book that should be published sometime next spring. 

So, what do I have to be thankful for in 2014.....everything. 

I sincerely hope that your Thanksgiving review shows your life to be bountiful and satisfying. Perfect? Probably not. Better than many? Quite likely. 

Enjoy.

When Life Shrinks Your Glass - Get A Smaller Glass

An astute reader left a comment a month or so ago on a previous post. She noted she is a glass half-full kind of person rather than one who sees the glass of her life as half-empty. Then, she added a thought that I loved: if life has suddenly become more of a struggle because of some problem, rather than switch to a pessimistic view, she simply envisions a smaller glass...which is still half full.

I have written a lot about attitude and retirement. There should be little doubt as to which side of the half glass side I am on. But, her comment gave me new insight into how to react to the inevitable stumbles and problems we will all encounter during this stage of life.

Now matter how well you have prepared, how many hours you spend in the gym, how much you exercise your mind, and how many roses you buy your spouse, you are going to go off the rails at some point. It may be a series of small detours that eventually allow you back on track. Or, the derailing may be much more serious, resulting in a change in your life that cannot be reversed.

When that happens what will you do? Will that glass start to look more empty than full? Will you become withdrawn because of your physical limitations or the loss of important relationships? Will you lash out at the world for the unfairness of it all?

Or, will you have the ability to shrink your glass? Will you look at the limitations and be able to say, "OK, I can't do what I once did. I can't live how I once could. This is what I can do now. And even though my glass is smaller, my life is still pretty good, and that glass is still at least half full."

I will readily admit my life to this point has been a rather smooth ride. There have been a few problems, but certainly nothing on the scale of what so many of you share in your life stories on these pages. I will also admit I expect my situation to change at some point. My life is not a fairy tale; it will have some chapters that I would rather not experience but must.

Then my half glass take on life with be tested. I believe my faith will provide me with the support I need to handle what is coming at some point. But, how I will react is still an unknown. When those situations arise I hope I can remember the lesson of the smaller glass.

More than any other part of retirement, be it financial, health, relationships, passions.....whatever....I firmly believe attitude spells the difference between a disappointing or unhappy retirement and one that is satisfying. Why? Because my attitude is 100% within my control. The world can throw everything against me to try and break my spirit. But, it cannot determine how I decide to react.

That is up to me. And, my glass will remain at least half full, regardless of how small a glass life decides to give me.

  

Time To Think About the "W" Word

The following is a guest post from Arar Han and deals with an important topic at this time of year: preparing your home for winter. In addition to the comfort and financial benefits, the author reminds us that personal safety is one of the goals.  I encourage you to consider which of these steps are ones you should take.


Many of us have enjoyed the long summer, but now winter is coming. Preparing your home for the coming season is no easy task, so the time to start is now. This Winterizing Checklist will help you keep winter at bay. With these tips, you will lower energy usage, reduce the risk of home damage, and prevent dangerous slips and falls.

Staying Cozy

1. Buy some cozy blankets and house shoes. Don't wear socks around the house - they can be slippery and cause a fall.
2. Test your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors and replace their batteries.
3. Replace your furnace's air filter. This will increase its effectiveness and improve the air quality in your house. Moreover, this can prevent fires while reducing the energy bills.
4. Turn the furnace on and let it run for a while before you need it. You may need a technician to come relight your pilot light if it went out during the summer. When you first start it up after a long hiatus, it is normal to smell a strong odor. This should be short-lasting. If the smell persists, shut down the furnace and call a professional.
5. Inspect and clean your fireplace and chimney. It is important to do routine maintenance before you sit down to enjoy your crackling fire. Dangerous chemicals can build up in the chimney and flow back into the home. Stay safe by keeping the airways clean, and make sure to open the flue before starting a fire.
6. Check the weather stripping around windows and doors and reapply caulk inside and out where necessary. Seal the outside of your home to keep the winter out and your senior cozy inside. Keep the weather outside, where it belongs!

Preventing Falls

7. Check on your outdoor pipes, hoses, and faucets for leaks. Leaky faucets can create ice slicks all around.
8. Turn off exterior faucets and drain water from outdoor pipes and sprinklers. You'll want to do this before the first frost arrives to guard your home from pipe bursts.
9. Stock up on ice melt and sand for when the ground becomes slick with ice. You can sprinkle it before you as you walk, particularly when you first go outside.
10. Apply non-slip sprays or scuff the surface to create better traction. These sprays create a hard, durable surface that creates texture so that the ground itself prevents slips.
11. Hire someone to keep the sidewalks shoveled and de-iced. Don't wait until the winter is in full force. Prepayment sometime means that your senior will be first to get plowed when the time comes.
12. Make sure all areas that could be slippery have well-secured handrails. You want to prevent falls before they happen, particularly on the stairs and walkways outside of your home.

Keeping Nature at Bay

13. Cover and secure all vents and openings to prevent insects, birds, and rodents from coming in to nest.
14. Trim overgrown branches back from the house and electrical wires. They can become heavy with ice and snow and cause damage to the home.
15. Take care of the gutters. Clean the debris and make sure they are not loose or sagging. Ice and snow can pull gutters off the house if they are not secure. After removing the debris, rinse the gutters with a hose.
16. Check for leaks and misaligned pipes - you want the water to funnel away from the house's foundation to prevent flooding.

Preparing For Anything

17. Equip your car with an emergency kit. The kit should include a snow shovel, blankets, a flashlight, water, and first-aid kit.
18. Create a power-outage survival kit. Power outages are common during the winter months, so you can never be too prepared. Include a portable battery-operated radio, blankets, a flashlight, candles and safety matches. Also include canned food with a can opener, plenty of water, and extra batteries.
19. Make use of weather apps. Know what's coming before hand and stay well informed before winter storms come.
20. Keep in touch with your neighbors so that you can check on each other. They are your closest resource when you need help.
21. Keep in touch with your loved ones on a regular scheduled basis. They will love hearing from you, and you can all check in with each other to ensure everyone stays safe.

Winterizing your home now will make the transition into the colder seasons easier. Prevent problems before they happen so you can enjoy the changing seasons with no worries.

Arar Han is co-CEO of Alert-One, a personal safety technology and consulting firm headquartered in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, with offices nationwide. An NAHB Certified Aging in Place Specialist, Arar holds a dual degree from Boston College, and a Stanford MBA. Originally from Seoul, she currently lives in Palo Alto with her family.

Satisfying Retirement received no compensation for this article.

What Happened The Year You Were Born?

Hard as it is for me to believe, I was born three score and five years ago- not quite like the Gettysburg Address but close. With constant change the only constant today, I thought it might be fun to look back 65 years ago. I wanted to see what things were like in May of 1949 and how different things are today.

The obvious technological advances are common to us all. My family didn't have a television until I was six, and that was a small black and white screen with all of three channels (with Howdy Doody being the most important).

Telephones were either a rotary dial  in the bedroom or a wall phone in the kitchen. There were both morning and afternoon newspapers and my parents got both.



During my early childhood the I remember we received milk deliveries a few times a week. Families were lucky to have one car; the first one I remember was a greyish 1949 Ford.

misterW.com

Supermarkets didn't exist nor did shopping centers or even strip malls. Small retail establishments lined the main street or were on the nearest corner. No one shopped on Sunday since nothing was open. Mom went shopping a few times a week because the refrigerator was small and food preservatives were pretty much unknown.


The #1 song on the radio in May of that year was Cruising Down The River by The Blue Barron Orchestra 





The Top Movie Stars included:


*Bob Hope
*Bing Crosby
*Abbot & Costello
*John Wayne
*Gary Cooper
*Cary Grant
*Betty Grable
*Ester Williams
*Humphrey Bogart
*Clark Gable


How about costs for things we bought?

A new house was $7,500
The average yearly salary was just under $3,000
The average minimum wage was 70 cents an hour
Milk was 84 cents a gallon though most folks bought the half gallon size
Bread (white only for most of us) was 14 cents a loaf
Gas cost 26 cents a gallon and the new car to put it in was $1,420.


And, in world events:

The Berlin Airlift ended in May, 1949.
Russia set off its first atomic bomb
Communist China was established
6,000 were killed in an earthquake in Ecuador
RCA built the first color television
NATO founded
The first VW Beetle sold in U.S. (my first car 18 years later)

What I found both interesting and important to remember were the rather momentous events happening on the world stage. We tend to think of today as a period of tremendous upheaval and uncertainty. But, 1949 saw a major  disaster, the atomic bomb "club" expanding to include Russia, and the establishment of a communist government in the most populous country on earth.

Maybe we can feel a little better about the state of affairs today when we look back and realize there have always been events and actions that can shake our world. 

You might find it fun (and educational) to do some quick and easy Internet research on the year you joined the human race.