The Laughing Boomer: Retire from Work - Gear Up for Living!

By Mahara Sinclaire

Retiring successfully is a state of mind, not a state of money!

You will discover how to:
•align your goals, values and interests with your changing lifestyle and new you
•expand your options and set your plans in motion
•rejoice in your old relationships and forge new ones
•reawaken your love of life
•enjoy your money

Live your dreams: if not now, when?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Mahara Sinclaire
• Release date: Sep 30, 2010
• ISBN: 9780978060084

Mahara Sinclaire

Successful people in their 50’s and 60’s from all over America and Canada are approaching retirement and asking the same question of Mahara Sinclaire, “How did you make it happen?”Mahara and her husband Ken have experienced a 36 month odyssey around the world, logging hundreds of thousands of miles as they visited 46 countries. The most frequent comment can be summed up in the phrase, “Where did you get the jam to do it?” This former musician, college and university instructor and learning specialist says desire for adventure, and willingness to change and to reach new goals is what sets her apart. Many say she has a special talent for motivating people to reach their goals.If you are seeking a rich and satisfying retirement, you will want a comprehensive approach and a way to focus your energies to achieve your goals. Her new book, The Laughing Boomer: Retire from Work – Gear Up for Living! will give you motivation to live your dreams. Check out www.laughingboomer.com.

Book preview

The Laughing Boomer Book Series

The Laughing Boomer: Retire from Work—Gear Up for Living!

Mahara Sinclaire, M. Ed.

Smashwords Edition Copyright ©2011 by Mahara Sinclaire.

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All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, redistributed, taught, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the author or publisher.

This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information regarding the subject matter it covers. It is sold with the understanding that the author and publisher is not rendering legal, accounting, or other professional services. If you require legal advice or other assistance, please seek the services of a competent professional. (From a Declaration of Principles jointly adopted by a Committee of the American Bar Association and a Committee of Publishers.)

ISBN 978-0-9780600-8-4

E-Book Edition

Autumn Publications

Published by Autumn Publications

Suite 8—8623 Granville Street, Vancouver, BC V6P 5A2

Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication

Sinclaire, Mahara, 1950-

The laughing boomer: (electronic source) retire from work, gear up for living!

Includes bibliographical references

1. Retirement—Planning

2. Baby boom generation

3. Retirement—Psychological aspects. 1. Title.

HQ1062.S542 2010a 646.7`9 C2010-902954-2

Table of Contents

Preface

Introduction

Chapter One—Whoosh! What’s Happening, Toto? Retirement Transition and Change

Chapter Two—Who and What Makes Your Heart Sing? Values, Personality, and Relationships

Chapter Three—Who Moved My Goalposts? Interests and Goal Setting

Chapter Four—Bird’s Nest, Lily Pad, or Beachfront in Paradise If You Won’t Use It, Lose It! Your Home and Your Possessions

Chapter Five—On the Road Again Travel

Chapter Six—Pumping Iron into the Sunset Health

Chapter Seven—This Time from the Heart What Touches Your Soul? Work and Volunteer

Chapter Eight—It’s Only Money, Honey Finances

Chapter Nine—Crystal Ball, Anyone? Decision Making and Realizing your Vision of the Future

About the Author

References/Bibliography

Preface

We Are Not Whistler’s Mother

Would you rather be Tina Turner or Whistler’s mother? The answer to this question reflects changing attitudes about retirement. After all, the traditional meaning of the word is the time when you stop performing your regular job, or the circumstance of being retired. A retiring personality is one that recedes into the background. To retire has traditionally meant to withdraw from your regular activities, or from life. To stop, as it were. To fade into oblivion.

We Are Redefining Retirement

Retirement is being redefined. You’ve heard the catchy phrases—retirement rocks, put old on hold, free-tirement, the silver tsunami, be inspired to retire, the famous slogan Freedom 55, now twenty-five years old. The meaning of the word within the context of later life is changing fast. Retirement is a life change, yes, but it is more a break from routine than a stopping of activities. Retirement is a chance to reorganize life on your terms, without child responsibilities, without full-time work, and to live your life at a pace that is civilized and suits you, not the other way around. It means you choose where you live on your terms, not because it is close to good schools or near your work but because you love the area. Retirement is the time when you focus on living a fulfilling life and you focus on enjoying life, instead of focusing on work, money or getting ahead.

By the time our generation has passed through this old world, new words will be invented to replace the word retirement. New ways of creating meaningful existence for later life will be the norm. Language to describe retirement will reflect a state of leisure, accomplishment and creativity. It will describe a satisfactory stage of life that younger generations will anticipate eagerly. The traditional meaning of the word retirement may even be an archaic description.

When talking to people who have changed their lifestyle in their forties, fifties, and sixties, I have found that many reject the word retirement. While looking forward to the freedom and choices that retirement offers, no one I have met wants to be clumped into this generic retired mode. Few relate to the stereotypical senior image. Most people think of seniors as being in their late seventies and eighties.

Some of this may be because stereotypical images about retirement have been fuelled by advertising designed by a much younger crowd. What many people actually mean when they say they are retired is that they have left a job or career that was a major focus of their lives. These people object to being cast as old folks, lumpy people plunked in front of televisions all day or found wandering aimlessly around shopping malls, eating early dinners and going to bed at nine. Although they may be retired, people live active lives after work. Baby boomers are laughing because we know we will reinvent retirement. We are creating a retirement revolution. Instead of slowing down, we see opportunity to do what we want.

Purpose of This Book

The purpose of this book is to provide information on the wide variety of changes you will encounter as you plan your retirement. It is comprehensive in nature as it covers some sociological, psychological, health, financial and work-related information, as well as details around housing and travel. The goal of this book is to help you identify what a fulfilling retirement would look like, and secondly, to provide options so you can create the life of your dreams. Remember: anything is possible.

Why Are Baby Boomers Important?

There are approximately 1.258 billion people between the ages of 45 to 64 in the world, according to the U.S. Census Bureau(1). This book is not for everyone, as it is written with a Western perspective, which probably includes about 500 million people. This includes the European Union (300 million), the United States (78 million), Canada (10 million), and Australia (4 million), as well as millions of others not mentioned above. Further, it is written from the perspective that you have some options available. Statistics and figures provided are primarily focused on the United States and Canada.

* * *

Being a Laughing Boomer Is a State of Mind, Not a Year of Birth

Technically, the baby boomer generation includes people born between 1946 and 1964. But the psychological age of boomers appears to be somewhat different from the ages delineated by demographers.

When I mentioned I was writing a book about baby boomers, a friend asked, Can you stretch the age limit a little bit? He was born in 1945 and has always felt like a boomer. A woman friend born in 1943 told me that she related to the 1960s and 1970s culturally, just as so many boomers do.

Psychologically, then, it seems that the boomer generation includes some people born in the 1940s.

At the other end of the scale, many people born in the early 1960s do not consider themselves to be boomers. These individuals see themselves as belonging to the next demographic group: Generation X. This is particularly true if they went to university later and started work during the recession in the early 90s.

The point is that being a laughing boomer is a state of mind, not a year of birth. If you are nearing or at retirement and you feel young in mind and spirit, this book is for you no matter what age you are.

* * *

What’s Different about Retiring Baby Boomers?

Our well-educated generation has held professional jobs and lived in an age where achievement and upward progression were normal and we expect the same in our retirement. In short, boomers see retirement in a very positive light. Retirement is an opportunity to do more of what we want and less of what we do not want.

Exposed for years to good nutritional information and exercise, many boomers are strong physically and are able to manage our health through lifestyle choices. While we recognize the reality of aging, many of us consider ourselves downright youthful and will not take aging lying down. We refuse to fit into the old stereotypes of retirees. Sixty is the new 40.

Some boomers bring to retirement their independent roots cultivated as youth. This generation will change the way people look at retirement, the same way we changed perceptions of youth. Retirement will become desirable, even sexy, because retirees have finances, good health, and physical fitness. We have ambition and energy. We will travel, do things we have always wanted, and continue to wield influence in the world. We will have fun.

We Are a Huge Demographic Factor

With around ninety million boomers in North America, the demographic tsunami of the baby boomer retirement wave cannot be ignored. We’ve sometimes been called the pig in the python, a rather unflattering title that traces our impact on Western society. The vitality and intellectual capabilities of millions of people will change the meaning of old age. The sheer size of the boomer demographic means we will have a tremendous impact upon society. Governments and corporations will need to respond to our changing needs, particularly as boomers age.

There have always been small numbers of people who made significant contributions and for whom freedom and choice existed. Stories recall unique characters that drive across the country in their eighties, skydive at 90 and perform unusual activities. However, the sheer demographic size of our age group means we will have an impact upon society. Imagine millions of people traveling to remote locations, running marathons, volunteering. This is what the future holds.

We Can Make a Difference to Society

Some of us will turn our full attention to causes we deem important, or to movements we have embraced throughout our lives such as promoting the arts, preserving wildlife, or doing good works in other countries. We can now pursue philanthropic activities without the distraction of work or raising a family. We expect success, and we have the financial means, physical strength, intellectual determination and attitude to make positive contributions to society.

We Have Choice

Freedom of choice is another touchstone of the laughing boomer. Some of us will carry on much as we did before, but millions more will shed our old skins and explore new options. Personal power can be defined as the ability to act. We may move to different countries, start brand new careers, or otherwise transform ourselves. At barbecues and around dinner tables, people in their middle years are talking about retirement options: where to live, what passions to pursue and how to implement these plans. Boomers have choice.

While making plans for the second half of our lives, we anticipate traveling, socializing, and enjoying creative or active hobbies. We want to do more than just play, however. It is also important to us to find meaningful ways to spend our time. We may have a phased-in retirement. We see ourselves as being actively involved in business and community. Many of us will return to work—though maybe not to the same job or earning the same pay—and otherwise be engaged in the economy. But with pensions and pared-down expenses, we will take the work we want, not the work we need. Having run small businesses and large corporations, we have skills and knowledge to transfer to new endeavors.

With a background of achieving our purposes and goals, baby boomers feel we can realize any future ambitions as well.

We Are Experienced with Change

The changes that we boomers experienced during our lifetimes are astounding. Change has always been a part of our existence, and the speed of change has only intensified, hurtling us forward ever faster. For people who have switched careers, homes, cities, continents, spouses, and just about everything else, retirement appears to be a repeat performance. Familiar with change, many baby boomers are also experienced in planning for it.

Many broke or changed society’s rules when we were young. The sixties saw a great period of social upheaval. From music, the women’s movement, and natural and back-to-the-land living to how we raised our children, the boomers worked hard to fix the injustices of life and change our quality of life. A glance through a university yearbook of the sixties shows the sheer number of people involved in demonstrations and activities that forced change. In retirement, boomers will continue not to accept the status quo.

Besides the societal change mentioned above, boomers invented and implemented many of the technological changes; look at Bill Gates and Steve Jobs. Unlike the previous generation, our computer skills and continual learning through the many incarnations of computerization have honed our skills. The Internet is a major bonus in enabling us to design an excellent retirement.

Americans have been part of a number of wars, as well, and all of us are familiar with political swings to the right and to the left. We have some perspective that lets us stand back a bit and see what happens. We’ve experienced globalization, technological changes, social changes, a consumer society and the technological revolution. In a nutshell, we’ve lived modern life.

We Can Relive Our Youth (Well, Maybe the Good Parts)

Some boomers will relive our youth in retirement—well, maybe not relive it but return to the interests we had as young adults and then dropped for a variety of reasons, Phenomenal sales of products like Harley-Davidson motorcycles to an older demographic are evidence of this trend. The main buyers of these expensive toys are middle-aged men and, more surprisingly, middle-aged women, both of whom now have considerable disposable income.

Adventure travel is another fast-growing sector. Many middle-aged people book exotic and exclusive vacations to the ends of the earth, trips that their parents might only have dreamed about.

Why This Book?

If you are like me, you are not considering moving to a seniors’ residence, nor are you checking out incontinence products. You’re ready for your next great adventure. You’re ready to retire from work and gear up for living. Many books focus on financial planning, wills, and reduced living circumstances. This book is about expanding your dynamic living options, not contracting them.

So, after you have taken a couple of years, rested, rebuilt your health, re-jigged your living situation, and reacquainted yourself with yourself and with your friends and family, you may be ready to go again. You are ready to gear up for living. You may want to go back to work, even part-time, or you may want to travel. You may find a great deal of satisfaction in your hobbies or your volunteering. You may love spending time with your kids and grandkids now that you have the time. But what you are not doing is gearing down for a slow death of boredom, narrowed circumstances and reduced choices. You are out in the world, experiencing new things and living your thirty-year grand finale.

Many differences occur at this stage of life. Leaving the labor market and your career deserves careful consideration on several fronts. So does leaving your community, traveling, exploring new hobbies, and dealing with health realities or changing financial circumstances.

Baby boomers realize we have more years behind us than ahead of us, especially tremendously active years. We realize that, at the outer limits of today’s life spans, most of us will have slowed down by ninety.

Freed from the routines of work, home responsibilities, and children, we can finally do the things we previously put off. We can address unresolved issues, face our fears, and pursue additional hopes and dreams. With no more excuses left, this is our last chance to achieve these goals. This can be challenging or exhilarating.

This book will help you walk the walk, instead of just talk the talk about being a laughing boomer. The book touches on various topics with which baby boomers grapple: making the transition to retirement; determining which interests and passions to pursue; adjusting to new realities in their relationships; pursuing work and volunteer opportunities; traveling; figuring out where to live and what to do with all their stuff; managing their finances; maintaining their health; and making decisions.

I’ve met and observed hundreds of people whose short examples I’ve included in this book, with no names, and I hope that their stories capture a point worth considering.

Thanks

I’d like to thank my editors, Lana Okerlund, for keeping me going while I was still working, and Marcia Kaye, who did my final copy edit with great care. As well, many thanks to Victor Crapnell, who did a wonderful job designing the cover art and book interior and Jorge Rocha, who was most helpful providing assistance throughout the printing process. My partner Ken Grist supported me wholeheartedly through the very long process of writing and then revamping this book, and was a great sounding board. I appreciate as well the support and encouragement of my family and friends. Barry Hitchens and Ronnie Skolnick were included within my book specifically, and many people contributed their words of wisdom by sharing their stories. Thank you.

I wrote this book while I was still working at Vancouver’s Langara College and Simon Fraser University. Along the way we sold our house and then went around the world for two years. This was in 2008 and 2009, during one of the most difficult financial times the world had seen in decades. I revamped the book completely from the perspective of someone who has retired and is out there—right now in Buenos Aires, one of the most beautiful cities of the world—and as someone who has done what many want to: travel the world. This book is about living a fabulous retirement life.

Retire from work, gear up for living. Be ready for your next great adventure.

Introduction

Freedom’s Just another Word for Everything to Gain.

The Laughing Boomer: Retire from Work—Gear Up for Living! is about your life. More specifically, it is a book about the next thirty years of your life—your Grand Finale. It is about your next great adventure—life after formal work ends. This book is about your hopes, dreams, and aspirations—all the things you’ve wanted to do but put off because you were, well, busy with the first part of your life. More than just your vision of the life, this book has information and solutions. It covers many aspects of the retirement process and how to adapt to the changes retirement will bring. From vague wishes and impressions about what we want to do, making our goals a reality takes quite a few steps and a number of decisions. It’s hoped this book will help guide this process in a comprehensive way.

The Laughing Boomer assumes as a given that you are not looking at retirement as the old-fashioned meaning the word implies—cast aside, or put out to pasture. Yes, of course you are looking forward to a less frenetic pace, but what you are looking forward more is the freedom to live life on your terms. You are a Go-Go, not a Slow-Go or No-Go!

I have observed that thoughts of retirement start lapping at the edges of consciousness around the age of 50. Even if you love your career, you realize you have more working years behind you than in front of you. It can take a few years to get various aspects of your life aligned. Early planning and preparation will make the transition smoother and give you greater planning scope.

We are such a fortunate generation. The bottom line is that we’ve had the great benefit of being born primarily in the late 1940s, 1950s and early 1960s. Millions of ordinary people are laughing boomers, pursuing full and interesting lives as we near or pass the age of retirement.

We’ve had the benefit of the technological changes and access to so much information. We have the perspective of an older and wiser person. Not only have we made our own decisions and observed the consequences, but we’ve watched others live their lives. We’ve known people who showed