About

Hi and welcome to Retired Living Today. 

Retired Living Today is all about retirement – having a meaningful retirement.  It’s about:

• sharing strategies for planning your retirement
• tips for life as you grow older
• living and loving the life of your dreams
• the GRAND adventure of the second half of your life!!!

Wearing Life’s “Hats”

I am retired now, but for years, I wore different hats all day long.  During the day, I was a “mostly” mild-mannered project manager for Corporate America.  But at night, I was a wife to my awesome husband, mother to my two precious sons, chauffeur, homework checker, head chef, Chief Financial Officer for my family, and a housekeeper.  We’ve had a good life even though we experienced bumps and detours along the way.  Through it all, I am very blessed to be a ridiculously imperfect child of a loving and gracious God.

Even now, since I retired, I still wear a lot of hats:  as a wife, mother, grandmother, writer, business owner, landscape artist (I mow the yard), and housekeeper.  I’ve had days when I thought, “I should have retired years ago” and days when I wish I had continued working.  (There have definitely been more of the first than the second).  I am blessed that my loving husband supports my efforts as I take up writing again and try to get into the retirement groove.  It’s definitely a journey.

Life is precious.  Has it always been perfect?  Do I have all the answers to life?  No, and no.  Some days I don’t even know what the questions are.  But I wouldn’t change a thing (except maybe I would have started saving for retirement earlier).

This is where our grand adventure begins.

My Life as a Retiree

I’m not sure what I expected retirement would be.  People have told me after they retired they have no idea how they got everything done when they were working.  I didn’t really believe that.  After all, they were retired and had all the time in the world.  But, I have to tell you, my life seems busier now than ever before.  I know it’s all relative, but it’s still true – we are busy.

Family

My kids are grown and have kids of their own now.  We have family scattered over Kansas, Texas, Colorado, and Mississippi . . . so we will be making lots of trips.  Not to mention friends all over the U.S.  Lots of miles to cover, new memories to make and old memories to revisit.

Cruising

We discovered in 2016 that we love cruising.  We’ve been on two cruises in the past two years and I have to say I really enjoy that lifestyle.  I discovered recently that there are some ships that actually sell condos and sail all over the world.  Hmmm – if I win the lottery that may be a consideration.

Golf 

I don’t think I’m ever going to be an Arnoldine Palmer, but I love being out on the golf course.  Whoever said that golf was a good walk spoiled (I’m told it probably wasn’t Mark Twain, after all) had it all wrong.  Being outside on well-groomed courses is wonderful.  Besides, I ride in the cart which is a lot more fun.  Anytime the weather is between 60 and 80 degrees, you might find me on the course.  Yes, I’m a fair-weather golfer, but I’ve made the exception to play in Jamaica, Cozumel, and Hawaii.  Yep!  This girl!

Reading

One of the things I love to do is curl up with a good book.  To be honest, I just love reading and I’m not limited to a particular genre.  I’ve read everything from romances to espionage.  Lately, I’ve even been reading a series of zombie books.  I know, you’re probably wondering, “who IS this woman?” – especially if you’ve know me for any length of time.

Writing

And yes, I love to write.  If you know me, you know that I’ve always had the desire to write books.  I have ideas for books that are screaming to get out of my head and onto the pages of a book.  But for right now, books are on hold as I write articles about retirement.  I may have to start listening to the voices soon, though, and take up writing fiction.  I’ll keep you posted.

Come along on the journey

So, that’s a little about me.  What about you?  Have you worn lots of hats in your past?  Even now?

Take off your hat – whichever hat you’re wearing right now, and stay a while.  Let’s talk about some of the practical lessons I’ve learned on the journey to retirement – about budgets, finances, Social Security and Medicare – just to name a few.  I also would like to share tips about finding your hobbies and passions . . . and definitely how to stay healthy and young at heart.

Life is going to happen.  The calendar will say you are getting older, but honestly age is just a number.  Now that I’m retired, I get to do the things I always hoped I’d have time for when I was working.  I’m planning to stick around a lot longer.  Are you?

Let’s have an honest conversation about life.  I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Be sure to leave your comments below and sign up for my newsletter if you haven’t already.  I’ll let you know each time I publish a new article.