Summer is my favorite season and when you live in the Northeast, it's a short season.  I'm starting to feel somewhat robbed of the time due to my constant thoughts about fuel and energy prices for this coming winter.  Lately I find myself thinking about alternative heat sources (while the temperature is 85), wind power, solar power, and other such ideas when I'd really rather be thinking about which beach I'd like to go to. 

I haven't had much time to read for the sheer enjoyment of it due to work, school and kids and I had been looking forward to reading a few novels this summer.  Instead, I find myself reading books on wind power and passive solar homes.  I've made more trips to the books store than to the beach this summer!  And all conversations about vacation destinations become discussion about the rising cost of airfare (I don't know about you but I'm not paying for a little bag of peanuts on top of the already skyrocketing ticket price), gas, and food.  So there is now a fire pit in the yard for evening campfires, the pool has been set up, and tiki torches have been strategically placed to promote a vacation-like atmosphere in our own yard. This is not the summer I had envisioned.

The good news is we own over 70 acres of forest and will be selling some firewood to help offset the cost of oil this winter.  We will also be donating some wood to the town to help some of the elderly folks in the area.  And all of my summer reading has me convinced that our next house should be a passive solar design.  I guess overall, the current energy crisis hasn't totally ruined my summer.  It may actually serve to save me lots of money down the road.  Excuse me now, while I slip into my bathing suit, grab a cocktail and the latest copy of the Plenty magazine, and head outside to my backyard vacation spot.  It is summertime here in vacationland!

        

Well it sure has been a busy week.  I spent two days down in Massachusetts to attend a concert with a girlfriend.  We saw Pearl Jam at the Comcast Center in Mansfield.  What a crowd and what a show.  I'm not a huge Pearl Jam fan but I am an Eddie Vedder fan (lead singer). I find live entertainment to be the best.

We're now getting ready to take the family up North camping for the rest of the week.  I spent most of the day yesterday cooking food and getting us packed.  The kids are excited.  We ride four wheelers, kayak, fish, swim, cook somemores over the campfire and eat lots and lots of food.  A group of our friends are going with us so it should be a great time.  We have a huge cookout scheduled for tomorrow, the 4th of July.  Camp will be all decked out for the occasion.

I'll be back on track next week with some new articles.  So far, the articles on health and career change have gotten the most attention so I may focus on those topics some more. 

I hope you all have plans to do something special to celebrate Independence Day.  It's not everywhere that people have the freedoms that we do.  So take a moment tomorrow to be grateful for all that you have and the struggles that were fought for you to have it.

Happy 4th of July!

        

If you're like me and most of the other baby boomers out there, the word "retirement" has probably crossed your mind by now.  The question then is, "Are you prepared?"  I can tell you that my answer is a resounding "NO! Not even close!"  And that scares me.  The problem is that I'm 43 with my youngest child just finishing her first year at a very expensive college and I have only recently dug my way out of the financial pits of hell caused by my divorce 6 years ago.   I often times wonder if it's too late for me to prepare for retirement.  I'm just not sure that there's enough time left to get enough money saved.  The good news is that I'm entering the second phase of my life with a terrific partner so I won't be going it alone.

But where do we start?  I have a small mutual fund that, with the exception of this year, has been a good producer overall.   And I have some money sitting in retirement account from an old company I used to work for.  But there's not enough money in these two accounts to support us for more than 3 months!   I've been doing some research on IRA's and I believe at this point that a Roth is the best option but I'm not sure who to go with; my local bank, T Rowe Price or some other company.  My partner doesn't have any money put aside for retirement however he owns close to a million dollars in real estate.  My only concern with real estate is that you can't always move it when you want to.  You're at the mercy of the market at times.  We're feeling that pinch right now!

I have found some good information at MSN for retirement planning.  Here you'll find savings calculators, tips on debt management, money rules to live by, and so much more.  I'll continue to do my research but in the meantime, I think I'll increase my monthly contributions to my mutual fund, roll the old retirement account into a Roth IRA and surf the Yellow Pages for a financial adviser.  Time is no longer on my side! 

        

Well here it is, Monday again.  The start to a new week.  I'm feeling much better than I did last Friday.  I took my own advice and had a great dinner with a few glasses of my favorite wine (Villa Maria, Sauvignon Blanc), read a book while sitting out in the beautiful sunshine and enjoyed the company of my boyfriends children this weekend (I still miss having my own kids at home).  I'm rested and back on top of the world again.

I came across this quote yesterday while looking for a topic for a post on my other blog, "An Unfailing Success Plan: At each day's end write down the six most important things to do tomorrow; number them in order of importance, and then do them." ~Anonymous  And that's exactly how I started my Monday.  Last night I put my list together and I've been a ball of fire today!  I have always found that having a to-do list helps keep me focused and on track and it helps me to get past those things that always seem to get in the way and slow me down.  I have to confess that I had not been good about making my lists lately and it shows.  My productivity today has far exceeded the nuisances of last week.

If you are not one to make to-do lists, I highly recommend it.  I find as I get older, my memory is getting worse so lists help alot with that.  Also, with time being such a hot commodity these days, it helps me to make better use of the day.  I'd love to hear what strategies you use to stay focused and on track or even how you pick yourself up when you feel the weight of the world on your shoulders. 

Wishing you a fulfilling and productive week!  Happy Monday!

        

How many of you out there are saying "Thank God it's Friday!"  Wow, has it been a week!  Just when I think I have the world by the tail, I get the wind knocked out of my sails.  I guess I shouldn't complain.  Tough times also seem to serve as a motivator for me to change something.  And that's where I am this Friday morning.  Ready to take on the world if necessary to get things back on track.

It never ceases to amaze me how quickly things can turn around.  I had been feeling like I was on top of things and in complete control of my life.  Then in one swift turn, I'm wondering what the hell happened.  Ever have those kind of moments yourself.  Well without going into a lot of detail, I'll just tell you that I've been having some financial concerns this week.  The ex-husband has not been able to help our daughter with any of her tuition costs ($10,000 for the current semester), which leaves it on my shoulders to take care of.  The last college I attended feels that I owe them $5300 for two weeks of classes (they say I withdraw too late to receive a refund) so there's another financial battle.  And I invested a large sum of money into my boyfriend's new career and that isn't going so well at the moment.  And I'm asking myself, where's the exit ramp because I want to get off this highway!

Ok, enough of the whining.  The truth is, while these things bring me down for a bit, they ultimately serve to grow me and help me to keep my focus squarely on my priorities.  I know that all things are temporary and this is just a bump in the road.  The daughter's tuition will get paid because I am a "Can Do" kind of person and the situation with Cal State is undoubtedly an error and will be resolved fairly.  As far as the boyfriend's new career, I wouldn't have invested in it if I wasn't confident in his ability to make it work (ugh, another lesson in patience). 

So if you've had a week like mine, keep your chin up.  Friday is here.  Take the weekend to treat yourself kindly.   Have a nice dinner this evening with a glass (or two) of your favorite wine.  Take a long walk in the park, along the beach, in the woods or whatever is close to you this weekend. Sneak off to a quiet spot with a great book.  Know that tomorrow is a new day.  We may have some overcast days but the sun ALWAYS returns.  I leave you with this quote:

"I have heard there are troubles of more than one kind.
Some come from ahead and some come from behind.
But I've bought a big bat. I'm all ready you see.
Now my troubles are going to have troubles with me!"

~ Dr. Seuss

        

I find that as I get older, I move a bit slower, my muscles ache more easily and my energy level is not what it used to be.  Since I have no plans of slowing down once I reach retirement, I try to make an effort to get some exercise on a regular basis.  As I've stated in an earlier post, I enjoy kayaking.  It's a great form of exercise that allows me to take in the beauty of some of Maine's best scenery (can't be beat!).  What activities do you enjoy that help you stay healthy and active?

I came across an article written by Gordon Black in which he listed 5 activities that he recommended for baby boomers.  They are:

1. Biking.  It's been many years since I've rode a bike but I have been seriously thinking about taking it back up.

2. Swimming. The beauty of this activity is that it can be done outside in the summer time and inside (at a facility) in the winter time.  Great for year round exercise and easy on the joints.

3. Yoga. I recently finished a yoga class and found that within just a few sessions, my flexibility had increased as well as my balance.

4. Tai Chi. I'm not familiar with this activity.  Anyone else had experience with tai chi?

5. Mall Walking.  I'm fortunate enough to live in an area that has a rail trail that is used for walking, running, biking, or skating.  My girlfriend and I try to get there several times a week and walk 4-6 miles each time.  I like the idea of mall walking for when the weather is bad.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gordon_Black

"Physical fitness is not only one of the most important keys to a healthy body, it is the basis of dynamic and creative intellectual activity." ~ John F. Kennedy

        

I find as I get older, I am more methodical in my pursuit of things.  I am no longer comfortable to just be carried along by the wind and land where I may.  The issue of time seems to have finally entered the equation.  However I see that as a positive thing.  It has helped me to become more deliberate in the pursuit of goals.  I now write my goals down, along with my reasons for wanting to reach the goal.  I find it gives me something to look back on if things get tough and it serves to remind me why I am doing what I'm doing. 

While I have always considered myself a lifelong learner, I am more apt to educate myself on a topic I am not familiar with if I feel it will help me to reach a goal faster.  In the past two months I have read nearly 12 books on the topic of Internet businesses because this is what I would like to be doing.  I'd like to believe that Jim Rohn was correct when he said "Formal education will make you a living.  Self-education will make you a fortune."  Just to sure, I'm a student of both.  That's been one of the benefits of having the kids grown; I have more time to pursue other things.  And reading has become a passion again.

A few months back I stumbled across an interesting website, www.morningcoach.com.  The basic premise of the website is to assist people in reaching goals.  I use their goals section and the dream board to help me stay focused on my goals.  A dream board is a set of pictures that you choose that depicts how you envision yourself once you've reached your goal.  I print a copy off and hang it on the wall in my office.  It's quite a motivator. 

I'm curious to know if you too have changed the way you pursue goals.  Have you employed some new strategies?  Do you have fewer goals?  How has getting older altered your motivation?  My idea for this blog is for it to be a community forum where we share our experiences as we go through the second phase of our life.  Don't be shy.  I'd love to hear your story!

        

One of the great benefits of getting older, is that we become wiser and we are less concerned about what others think.  These two changes really allow us to step outside of the box and make decisions that we might not have been willing to make when we were younger.  I have made some very bold decisions in the past year and I have actually taken delight in watching the reactions of others when they learn of my decisions.  What appears to be very scary to others is actually quite liberating to me.  I've come to learn that the sky does not fall when I make a bold move.  Quite the contrary actually.  I've seen the quality of my life greatly improve with some changes that I've made in the second phase of my life.

What decisions have you been putting off?  What's holding you back?  Explore all of your options and consider your worst case scenario.  Then challenge yourself to take one step towards making that change.  Are you still searching for the love of your life?  If you aren't getting out there and dating, put your profile up on one of the online dating services.  Most of them are free and you have complete control over who you communicate with.  Are you contemplating retirement?  If you haven't already met with a financial planner, do it today.  Know where you are and what you still need to do to be prepared for retirement.  Want to start up a business from home?  Attend a seminar on home-based businesses, or network with others who have already done it.   Now is the time to be bold and confident.  You have lots of experience behind you.  That's one of your fringe benefits of 40-65 years of living life.  The key here is to decide on a step to take, and then TAKE that step.  Challenge yourself to move in a direction you have not moved in before.  A extraordinary life still awaits you.

"Every day do something that will inch you closer to a better tomorrow." ~ Doug Firebaugh

        

As we move through life we are often faced with decisions that will require us to make a change.  It might be changing jobs, moving to a new area, deciding when to retire, etc.  The problem is that most people fear change.  So much so that they will stay stuck in dead-end situations just to avoid having to make the change.  I have a secret to share with you about fear.  Fear that is faced head on, disappears.

        

One of the things that I'm looking forward to as I get older is having more time to do the things that I enjoy.  And to ensure that I will be able to do the things I want, I have made some changes in my life.  First of all, I made a conscious effort to drink more water.  Drinking 8 glasses of water a day will:

• Aid in digestion
• Improve your energy levels
• Keep your skin healthy
• Help you lose weight
• Improve your physical and mental performance

In examining my eating habits, I discovered that I was not getting enough fruits and vegetables in my diet.  To combat that I shop every couple of days rather than once a week so that I can always have fresh fruits and vegetables on hand.  I find that I am more likely to include them in my diet when they are super fresh.  A website that I like for finding great healthy recipes is www.foodnetwork.com. Look for Ellie's Eat-Well Plan.

Another area that I took a close look at was the amount of exercise I got each week.  I knew I needed to step it up if I was going to be able to continue to kayak, hike, garden, and travel long into retirement.  I know it can seem overwhelming to start an exercise routine at this point in life.  But you'll be amazed at the benefits of incorporating exercise into your daily routine.  I walk 4-6 miles several times a week with a friend.  This has turned out to be a great way to get in shape while enjoying some social time as well.  I have also enlisted the help of my partner in a nighttime routine where we both do some crunches, leg lifts, and other strengthening exercises before going to bed.  We keep each other accountable and it's much more fun to do it with a partner.  The benefits of exercising include:

• Improved mood
• Reduced risk of chronic diseases
• Weight management
• Strengthened heart and lungs
• Better sleep
• Improved sex life (better circulation, more energy)

We haven't worked this hard to retire and not be able to do the things we've been looking forward to because we didn't take care of our health along the way.  There's no time like the present to take charge of your health.  If you can't see yourself enjoying your later years, take an inventory of the areas you need to improve upon and start today.

"Good health and good sense are two of life's greatest blessings." ~Publilious Syrus (Roman author)