Many studies show the advantages of owning a pet. They offer companionship. If you are a responsible pet owner, they offer you an excuse to get some exercise when you take them for their daily walk. They give unconditional love and offer a deeper connection to a world outside ourselves. They can offer protection and often become a member of the family. Some research has gone so far as to suggest pet owners live longer.

Retirement then seems like the perfect time to have a pet. When you are home you can enjoy the animal more than when you were working and came home after a long day, giving them some quick affection and a half-hearted walk. There is no question that animals thrive in an environment where the owner is present. Too much separation is not good for an animal and leads to behavior problems. Depending on what type of pet you have, they can live for many years and become part of the daily interactions in our lives.

If you have ever owned a pet, you will eventually have to deal with the inevitable loss of a pet. This recently happened to two sets of friends and how they have handled it represents different approaches to having pets in your life.

Even though retirement does seem like the perfect time to have a pet, I think it is a mistake to get a replacement pet spontaneously. Which is what one of our friends did. While walking past a Pet Supermarket, which was sponsoring an event for rescue dogs, one of the caged dogs pulled at her heart strings. She got the dog that day and never looked back. The dog has become a welcome member of their family and filled a void that they were feeling.

My other friends are still dealing with their grief and it is too soon to contemplate getting another pet. Good advice for the grieving process applies to pets too. And while quickly replacing a pet can sometimes work out, I think waiting six months to do anything makes sense.

Retirement can be a time of many changes. Perhaps, traveling has always been something that you have wanted to do. However, a pet is a responsibility that must be taken into consideration when making traveling plans. Pets thrive on structure, consistency and discipline. Perhaps, retirement is a time when you would like to break away from all the years of structure that you have had in your daily life and enjoy some spontaneity that being a pet owner may preclude.

Recently, I felt like we have been given a reprieve on how easy it is to get in shape and stay in shape. Experts are now saying 30 minutes a day of walking can do wonders. Ten minutes of stretching a day and ten minutes of weights three times a week is enough to keep bones strong. And the piece de resistance ten minutes in the sun, without sunscreen, is actually now considered a requirement to aid in Vitamin D production.

In retirement, I figure I should always have time to do the things to keep me in shape, but unfortunately, when I look in the mirror, I can see that working out is not always enough.

There are things that age you and there are things that you can do to help. When you reach the age of retirement, you are probably no longer a kid, but there are age appropriate changes you can make that will make you seem younger to the outside world and yourself.

Number one is to start with the basics and that means new underwear. The other day in my yoga class, a fellow yogi was doing a Downward Dog with her granny panties showing. Not a flattering look and one that screams it is time for an overhaul. Start with basics and that means updating undergarments.

Next starting at the top, when was the last time you changed your hairstyle? If you are still sporting the Farrah Fawcett waves of yesteryear, it is time for an honest assessment from a friend, or perhaps, it is time to try a new hair stylist. And gray hair? Get rid of it. It is easier than ever with great new hair color products available at drug stores. And get some bangs. Once you reach a certain age, almost everyone looks better with a little face framing fringe.

Skin is one of the most tell-tale features of aging and one that probably has the most products out there to help. Sunscreen is still a necessity for the face and more than ten minutes in the sun can cause damage. However, there are tinted moisturizers with sunscreen that are easy to apply and make a huge difference in your appearance. Also, there are now microdermabrasion kits available in the drug store that can really help with cell turnover. And don’t forget the body. Lumps and bumps are always less noticeable with leg tanning spray. Plus it gives you an opportunity to forego pantyhose; especially the ones with a reinforced toe. And speaking of toes, manicured nails are always a way to stay ahead of the aging game.

And last but not least, teeth. Dental hygiene is so much easier now with the home whitening kits and great looking teeth can make you look and feel great.

There are many things you can and should do to look better because the benefits of looking better are not superficial. The better you look, the better you feel.

It is hard to read the paper, or listen to the news, without hearing about the housing recession. According to an article in The New York Times, the median price of American homes is expected to fall for the first time since federal housing agencies began keeping statistics in 1950. The outlook for 2008 calls for a continuation of the negative trends which have taken place in housing for the past two years and which threatens to push us into a recession, which many economists believe we are already in.

Personally, I think people have it all wrong about the housing market. While it is true that many people made money on the housing market in the 1990’s and even into this decade, this is not the reason most people purchase a home. A home is where we live, where we raise our kids, where we celebrate great occasions, where we discuss our hopes and dreams and where we spend most of our time. I don’t know about you, but when I purchase a stock or bond or make another investment these things give me very little pleasure. Yet when we purchase a house, this is one of the happiest times of our lives and we look forward to decorating and fixing it up and making it into a home!

During the last few decades home ownership has risen and more people are able to enjoy the American dream of owning our own home. This is a good thing and has brought joy to many lives. However, during this housing rush we also starting building larger and larger homes that frankly are expensive to furnish and maintain and use prodigious amounts of energy. I grew up in a home of less than 1200 square feet with four other family members. We were very happy in this home and I still carry many great memories from my time spent there. Now the two of us live in a home of over 2000 square feet and sometimes look a homes much larger than this with three or more bathrooms, huge closets and living rooms as large as a small bowling alley. Do we really need these things to be happy?

Perhaps, it is time to reevaluate the American Dream. Let’s measure our houses not on the square footage and number of bathrooms but on the ability to house and shelter us and allow us to live our lives fully. Our home is not an investment. Who really cares if you make thousands of dollars or ten dollars on your home, because this is not why we bought it in the first place. And let’s make homes that people can afford to buy without a sub-prime loan that are easy to maintain, use minimal energy and don’t require a king’s ransom to furnish.

As retirees we too need to put our home ownership into perspective. Most of us do not have our families living with us and can manage in a smaller home. Location is perhaps even more important in home ownership during our retirement years as we balance where we want to live with our access to our families, good health care and ease of maintenance. But the same basic value of home ownership is still there as most of us want our own home to enjoy. So don’t get hung up about the value of your retirement home decreasing. It really doesn’t affect most of us in the short term and certainly doesn’t matter in the long term. The American Dream of home ownership is still valid.

As we approach retirement age, most of us look at life in a different way than when we were younger. With age comes increased awareness about so many different things, but one that becomes very apparent is that life is what you make of it. For many people that were very involved in their work and have not developed hobbies or social networks outside of the workplace, retirement can be a difficult transition indeed. However, increasing research points to one thing that makes life easier and more enjoyable at any age and that is exercise.

With the start of the new year, many people say January is the best time to make changes in your life. If exercise is not part of your daily lifestyle, this is the month to make it happen. It can begin with just thirty minutes a day.

Exercise is simply sustained movement of the body, and at least 30 minutes of this sustained movement everyday is the key to an active lifestyle. Walking, bicycling, swimming, light weight training and jogging are just a few of the ways we can exercise for our sustained 30 minutes. Or better yet, combine several of these activities on different days or perhaps several in one day to make up your 30 minutes and you have an exercise program that can dramatically change your quality of life.

Two doctors have made a commitment to get Americans moving. Bob Sallis, M.D. a family medicine doctor and Ron Davis, M.D. a preventive medicine doctor, have launched an initiative that they hope will make a difference in the nation’s health called “Exercise is Medicine“. Understanding that health is determined to a large degree by lifestyle choices, including physical activity, they hope to drive home the medical importance of exercise to physicians and other health care professionals. “Why physicians are so quick to accept research data on expensive medications while essentially ignoring even stronger data on the benefit of physical activity is at the core of this program,” Sallis says.

Exercise has been shown to lower blood pressure, blood sugar and weight; improve cholesterol, sleep and bone and heart health while decreasing the risk of cancer. All of these benefits can be had for just thirty minutes a day by something as simple as exercise.

As more and more baby boomers are nearing retirement and looking for ways to stay young and fit, it is essential to incorporate exercise into the daily routine. And what better way to start the new year?

A million people relocate every year and that is expected to rise as more and more Baby Boomers begin retiring. With the Holidays approaching, it is a time to reflect on keeping in touch with friends, both old and new. There is a reason the old adage advises, “Make new friends, but keep the old; one is silver and the other is gold.” To look at it another way, as we age we have more memories and these memories become more valuable when we can share them with friends.

One way to keep in touch during the holidays is through the use of holiday cards. While the cost of the cards and the postage has increased through the years, I believe it is still the best way to communicate with friends during the holidays. Who doesn’t get excited after receiving a holiday card from an old or new friend with a hand written message. Take your time when you prepare your greetings and make every card unique and special, as special as your friends are to you!

Email has also changed the way to stay in touch with people. So far, this season, we have received one group email wishing us all well. For some reason, it takes away the feeling of being special when you see twenty other people receiving the same sentiment. Still it is an attempt to stay in touch with people and let them know you are thinking of them.
Newly made friends sometimes are neglected when it comes to the Holidays. One friend recently told me she would not be sending a card because she sees me often and there isn’t anything new in her life that I do not know about. This may be true, but how often do we really express just how special this friend is to us and how much we appreciate their friendship and companionship?

The writer, Anais Nin, had an interesting way of looking at friends. She said, “Each friend represents a world within us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born.” For me, this is really what the holidays are all about, a chance to reflect upon what our friends and experiences have held for us this year and a time to wonder just what fun and meaningful moments we will experience with them in the coming year!

When writing this column, I often look to different resources for inspiration. So, when I saw the library was having an extension class on “How to Save Money for the Holidays”, I thought it would be perfect information to share. However, when I called to register for the class, I was told it had been changed to “Things to Bake for the Holidays”. Hmmm. Technically, I guess that is a way to save money, but not quite what I had in mind. So, I will share tips I have gleaned through the years on how I save money for the holidays, on a retiree’s budget.

The holidays are a fun time to get together, even though it is a busy time of year. It doesn’t have to be fancy, but there are a few tricks. Instead of an open bar, serve beer or wine, or one special cocktail or punch. Guests will have a choice, but you will not spend a fortune stocking the bar.

Keep decorations simple. Candles, candles, candles. One trick my mother always did at holiday time was to have different shapes and sizes of red votive candles on her mantle. It was simple, but elegant, and a decorating trick I still copy. I also peruse magazines and catalogues for decorating ideas. I don’t always buy things I see, but I often come up with a less expensive alternative.

If you are entertaining early in the holiday season, which always get things off to a great start, and you don’t have your tree decorated, or maybe you forego a tree, you can still get evergreens. Often places that sell trees will gladly give away branches that have been trimmed. These can be made into a wreath, or just put in a bowl to scent your rooms. The sense of smell is a very under utilized.

Food does not have to be elaborate. Just having a variety of snacks, ready made, if you are pressed for time, or not inclined to cook. If you do have time, make something special. It doesn’t have to be expensive, just something that people can put on a plate and eat without silverware.

A Holiday Open House, over 20 years ago, that still sticks in my mind, had many of the elements I have described. What made it particularly special, as we were leaving, the hostess stood by the door, with a basket of freshly baked pumpkin muffins. She gave each guest a muffin, wrapped with ribbon, as they departed. I had mine for breakfast the next morning and it brought back memories of a delightful party.

Another creative hostess gave flower bulbs, wrapped in mesh, for forcing in the cold winter months. Again, I had fond memories of that party as I had a pretty hyacinth blooming on my windowsill in late January.

As I think back to holiday get-togethers, money should not preclude one from having fun. As retirees, we now have time in our lives to enjoy things that we might not have been able to when we were working every day. Why not make it a memorable holiday for people who are, or aren’t still working. Just getting people together is appreciated.

As I was trying to think of something inspirational to write for the rapidly approaching Holiday season, I was struck by something that is happening much too frequently. That is: an email or a phone call from a friend telling of another friend, or acquaintance, who is sick or dying. So, all of a sudden the idea that we need to be grateful for our health and abundance during this season of Thanksgiving does not seem so mundane.

If you are retired, chances are you are middle-aged (whatever that is) or older. It is a time to reflect on what we have and appreciate each day. There are numerous ways to do that. In her book, Simple Abundance, Sarah Ban Breathnach encourages readers to start what she calls a Gratitude Journal. She assures readers that they simply will not be the same person in two months if they consciously give thanks for the abundance that exists in our lives. Her theory is that the ancient spiritual law (the more you have and are grateful for, the more will be given to you) is set in motion by writing down five things that you are grateful for at the end of each day.

Another approach was recently discussed by Elizabeth Gilbert, the author of Eat, Pray, Love, on the Oprah Winfrey Show. She suggests starting each day by focusing on what it is you really really really want. She emphasized the “really really really”, stating it must be something to get you focused in life. And at the end of the day she suggests reflecting on what made you happy that day. And she said to listen to the voice inside your head, because that is your mantra to make things happen.

So, as we enter the season of Thanksgiving, it seems it can be, not only a time of reflection to be grateful for what we have, but also a time to get focused on what we want and to enjoy every precious day we have.

This month I was going to write about relaxation techniques and the benefits of going to a spa. And then I saw a movie, which surprised me so much, that it made me realize people need to find a way to get through life and perhaps, through this phase called retirement.

The movie I saw is called “Prozac Nation” based on the 1997 book by Elizabeth Wurtzel. In it, the difficulties of adjusting to college life are explored and the use of Prozac, to get through the roughest, are featured. At the end of the movie, it stated that 300,000,000 prescriptions are written for Prozac every year! Considering that the U.S. population is just slightly over 300 million, that number is staggering.

One message was clear. There are times when people need help. There is nothing wrong with seeking professional help if one feels depressed. From there, the best course of treatment options will be explored. Norman Cousins stated, “The human body experiences a powerful gravitational pull in the direction of hope. That is why the patient’s hopes are the physician’s secret weapon. They are the hidden ingredients in any prescription.”

Is there anything we can do to avoid becoming an anti-depressant nation? Does it now seem frivolous and superficial to suggest a spa can be a cure-all? I think it means that everyone has to find a way that works for them. Be it a massage, yoga, tai Chi or the luxury of feeling pampered, there are long-term benefits in finding ways to relax and enjoy life.

Just as Elizabeth Wurtzel found difficulty in adjusting to college life, retirement can also be a time of adjustment. There are many positive outlets one can explore to make the most of every precious day we have. You have heard it a million times-life is not a dress rehearsal, so find a way to enjoy it, not just get through it.

I am always looking at books or articles that list the best places to live. Not that I am looking to move, but I think everyone enjoys seeing if they live in one of the “chosen” cities or towns, or have ever visited one. If anyone ever bases their decision to move based on any list there is bound to be disappointment because there is no perfect place. However, there is no harm in making a list. The following are places I have lived or visited and enjoyed.1. Ann Arbor, Michigan- This is the city where I have spent most of my life. I went to college in the area and worked at the University of Michigan. I had the pleasure of visiting many of the Big Ten campuses and I must say there is a certain excitement of living in a college town. Students keep you young and there is an atmosphere of culture and diversity that keeps you thinking.2. Charleston, South Carolina- I have never lived there, but I did vacation there for two lovely weeks of my life and have subsequently visited several times. It is just a charming city where I had instant good karma. It was the first time I had stayed on the ocean and I went for a beach walk every day, which was therapeutic and relaxing. It was also a different type of food with delicious Southern cooking.

3. New Orleans, Louisiana- Hurricane Katrina was personalized for so many people who have visited NOLA. My brother used to live there so I visited several times. It is just such an unusual city and the food was like none I had ever had before. My husband and I actually toyed with the idea of moving there, but in the end decided the climate was not our ideal.

5. Lake Tahoe, California- When I arrived, I thought it was one of the most beautiful places I had ever seen. Beautiful trees and water and again, just a good feeling pervades the space.

6. Paris, France- The City of Lights is the most beautiful city I have ever seen. The energy and history combine to make it a magical place.

7. Chicago, Illinois- This was the ultimate shopping destination when I lived in the Midwest and it never disappointed. A great city to walk around in and again, the food is incredible.

�

8. Indialantic, Florida- This is where we live now, a small town in Central Florida on the Atlantic Ocean. It has always been a dream to live on the ocean and I am here and it does not disappoint. From my first time visiting Charleston, South Carolina, I knew the water held a certain appeal for me.

9. Roswell, Georgia- My sister-in-law calls this city just outside Atlanta the ultimate in suburbia. However, I see nothing wrong with that. Every shop you could possibly imagine is close-by along with great restaurants. I also happen to think it is a beautiful area. I have visited in the spring and the flowering trees are breathtaking.

My list is not made up of ten places, but they are all places I have enjoyed. Would I want to live in any of them again? The one thing I have learned there is no perfect place, but you make it the best you can and happiness in within you, not in a geographical location.

�

�

My goal this month was to give readers some things to consider before relocating, based on my recent retirement and move from Southern Michigan to Central Florida. However, as I started doing some research, I realize I am in the minority. In a recent AARP survey, it was revealed that nine out of 10 people over 60 will live in the same county when they retire. So, for that tenth person, here are some of the things that I have found .

� 1. Friends and Family- 34% of the people surveyed wouldn’t move because they want to stay close to their family and friends. This was definitely the most difficult part of the move for me. I would advise making a plan that includes frequent visits to family and friends and mandatory visits to you. We had a long-standing tradition of celebrating New Year‘s Eve with our dearest friends. We still do, but now they fly down to Florida and greet the new year in a warmer climate. We head north for a few weeks each summer to visit friends and continue the tradition of attending a Summer Art Fair. The other thing I have learned is that you meet great people wherever you are. We have met many people in our new location that we really enjoy doing things with.

2. Weather- One of the driving factors in our relocation decision was the weather. The Michigan winters were no longer fun. Skiing just wasn’t the same as it had been when I was in my 20’s and 30’s. Let’s face it, as you get older, you want to enjoy every minute and staying inside hibernating during the winter just wasn’t appealing.

3. Movies, Shopping, Culture- As weird as it may sound, culture can play a major role in how you feel about a place. I moved from an area that was considered a cultural center with foreign and art films to an area that well, wasn’t. As more and more people move to Central Florida, I see that changing. As is shopping. I like unique shops and shopping is fun. Certainly something to consider before moving.

4. Healthcare- Let’s face it, if you are thinking about retirement, you are getting older. Your health is your greatest asset that will allow you to make the best of any situation. However, you need to really check on the availability of doctors and the quality of care before relocating.

5. Flexibility- You know your personality and that of your spouse. Or do you? Nothing will test it like a move in later life. It takes a lot of moxie to pull up stakes and go on an adventure. It can be rewarding, but it is something that you want to think about carefully before you proceed. Maybe there is a reason that only one in 10 take the plunge.