Some of The Good
aspects of retiring-
Retirement is the end of one era of your life and the beginning of
another. For most of us, that means that we have a newly acquired windfall of discretionary time that
we can pretty much spend
- a n y - w a y - w e - l i k e.
Sunshine Quotes about some of The Good aspects of retirement life
"Dream what you want to dream;
go where you want to go; be what you want to be,
because you have only one life and one chance to do
all the things you want to do. May you have enough
happiness to make you sweet, enough trials to make you
strong, enough sorrow to keep you human, enough hope to
make you happy." ~ Author unknown
"These are the capstone years, the time in which a whole new life is in the
making again. But the gift of these years is not merely being alive- it is the
gift of becoming more fully alive than ever.”~
Joan Chittister (Gift of Years: Growing Older Gracefully)
"If you don't design your own life plan, chances are you'll fall into someone else's plan. And guess what they have planned for you? Not much." ~
Jim Rohn
"Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain
you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will
rescue you." ~ Isaiah 46:4
"Health is like money, we never have a true idea of its value until we lose it.”~
Bertrand Russell
“Time is more precious than gold, more precious than diamonds, more precious than oil or any valuable treasures.
It is time that we do not have enough of; it is time that causes the war within our hearts, and so we must spend it wisely.” ~
Cecelia Ahern
"Time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time."
~Josh Billings
"The grand essentials to happiness in this life are- Something to Love, Something to Do and Something to Hope For." ~
Allan K. Chalmer
"And in the end it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years."
~
Abraham Lincoln
Humorous Quotes regarding some of The Good aspects of retirement life
"I enjoy waking up and not having to go to work. So I do it three or four times a day."
~Gene Perret
"The trouble with retirement is that you never get a day off."
~
Abe Lemons
Basketball Coach
"Retirement means no pressure, no stress, no heartache... unless you play golf."
~Gene Perret
“If you come to a fork in the road, take it."
~Yogi Berra
“Take care of your body. It’s the only place you have to live.” ~ Jim
Rohm
Suggestions for maximizing the
Good Aspects of retirement life
The new freedom
of not having to go to work every day opens a huge array of new opportunities. Here are a few
suggestions on how to capitalize on The Good aspects of retirement life:
∙ Recognize that "You" are one of a kind-
You are not just another Social Security number.
You have
a unique set of needs, wants, skills, dreams, hobbies, loved ones, problems,
spiritual beliefs, resources, etc., etc. After working all those years to
support yourself and your family, you deserve a Retirement Lifestyle Plan that
places a high priority on satisfying your personal desires as well as
those of your spouse and family.
∙ Don’t Short-Change yourself-
If you saved for your retirement- this is your retirement!
Allocate money for fun-filled and rewarding activities- Entertainment, dining out, hobbies, traveling, entertaining, practicing your religious faith, etc.
Even if it is a small amount, make it a high priority, add what you can afford
to spend to your budget and then spend and enjoy it.
∙ Enjoy "Your World" every day-
It's later than you think!
Make a daily commitment to enjoy this day. This may not be natural
for you and you may have to constantly work at it. Never take anything for granted
and be grateful for everything you have; your health, your family, your friends, your home, your free time, the great outdoors,
your planned activities, etc. Thinking positive thoughts and
smiling helps.
Smile when you see others. Smile when you are talking on the phone. A smile is contagious!
∙ Plan the phases of your retirement years (read
"The 3 Phases of Retirement")-
Retirement living is about more than money.
Schedule the most strenuous physical retirement adventures and activates early in your retirement,
be ready to settle into a less strenuous lifestyle in the middle of retirement and then plan for a comfortable, safe but more sedate lifestyle for your latter years.
∙ Cherish your physical and mental health-
Your health is more important than your retirement savings!
If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what
you can improve, get help.
Tips:
> Make health your number 1 priority.
> Eliminate activities and habits that might reduce the number and quality of your remaining years,
such as: smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, a poor diet, overeating and lack of exercise.
> Plan a healthy physical lifestyle-
Through diet, exercise (set up an exercise program and stick with it), sports, stress management and good medical care (at
least get yearly physical exams).
> Plan a healthy mental and emotional lifestyle too-
Keep a positive mental attitude and stay mentally active no matter what transpires;
constantly look for mental challenges, never stop learning, take up new hobbies and master old hobbies, start and complete creative projects. Maintain an active social life, stay close to friends and loved ones, play games, strengthen and feed your spiritual life, reach out to help others, learn to enjoy doing things that don’t cost money- Enjoy the beauty that surrounds you, "Get outside every day; miracles are waiting everywhere."
Regina Brett
∙ Spend more time with family and friends-
This is a good time to make pleasant memories FOR your family and friends.
Memories that will last beyond your years on earth.
Take, store and pass-on photographs. Photographs capture moments that are gone forever.
Tips:
> Renew old friendships-
Call or email old friends, visit them, meet them for lunch or dinner or invite them over. Facebook and LinkedIn may help
to put you get back in touch with them. You might also enjoy reading
15 Famous Quotes on Friendship.
> Make new friends outside of your old workplace-
Participate in social organizations; church groups, clubs, senior center activities, etc.
You might enjoy reading
Never Too Old to Find New Friends
∙
Spend more time participating in your favorite sports-
Unleash your athletic potential that has been repressed for years by lack of
opportunity and free time.
Learn, train, practice, enjoy- your favorite sport and try new sports. See your favorite sports live
too! You might
also benefit
from reading
Walking can improve memory after age 50.
∙ Checkout the
Senior's Activities offered by your city and community-
They Offer: - Fun and Games - Food and Nutrition - Fitness and Sports - Friendships
and Social Activities - Facilities and Low-cost Classes.
Activities
offered by Senior Centers are available to all seniors,
throughout North County.
You might also benefit from reading
Active social life may delay memory loss among U.S. elderly population
∙ Try
new things-
-It's fun and rewarding - Gives you something to talk about - Improves your quality of life -
Helps keep your mind sharp - Helps keep you from feeling old.
Examples are: new foods, new
restaurants, new adventures, new sports, new hi-tech devices, etc.
If you don't have a computer, you can borrow one at your local library and learn
how to use it. For inspiration, you might enjoy reading
Try New Things Quotes to
Inspire You.
∙ Read books that you never had time to read-
A great way to spend your leisure time; more than 18 million choices, no commercial breaks,
no canned laughter.
Reading could help keep your brain sharp and might even stave off Alzheimer's disease. (Read:
6
Unconventional Reasons Why You Absolutely Should Be Reading Books.<)
Internet booksellers offer an amazing selection of books.
Also, visit your local
bookstores and Public Library; get a library card and learn all about what they offer. Look into ebooks.
Tests show that Elderly people read ebooks 3 times faster than paper books.
Library's eCollections never close and
their content can be read or downloaded to your computer or portable device. You will need an
eReader to read eBooks and an eReader or computer to listen to eAudiobooks and eVideos.
Amazon's Kindle or Barnes and Noble's Nook are examples
of dedicated eReaders. You
can borrow free eBooks, eAudiobooks and eVideos from your local library.
Your local library may also offer classes to get you started. If you set up an
account with
Amazon,
Barnes and Noble
or other
internet booksellers, you can shop for eBooks,
download and read samples, buy the books you like online and down load them to your eReader without ever leaving your lounge chair!
∙ Travel-
Which synonyms for "Traveler" apply to you: adventurer, beachcomber, cyclist, excursionist, explorer, fugitive, gadabout, itinerant, nomad, passenger, pedestrian, refugee, RVer,
straggler, tourist, vagabond, vagrant, voyager, wanderer, wannabe, wayfarer or zingaro?
Check out the U.S. and the world, take tours, take cruises,
design and take your own tours, consider purchasing and using an RV.
Buy a good digital camera or use your smart phone to take lots of pictures and
send
them to all of your friends.
∙
Revitalize your spiritual and religious life-
It has been said that "One is the loneliest number-" religious service attendance and the new friends you make there may
help protect against loneliness now and in later life. "Faith" serves many people as a source of comfort and as a tool to manage uncertainty and adversity.
Biblical
Promises offer peace and reduce fear as one grows older.
Increase participation in activities at your favorite place of worship. If you don't have a place of worship, find one that you like and join in their services, prayer groups, study groups, small groups and other activities. Take advantage of these opportunities to meet people and make new friends.
∙
Make a difference by helping others-
Volunteer your time. You may be strapped for cash but still have some free time
and a lot of experience that can be used to give-back and help those in need.
You will probably meet some very nice people at the same time. There are hundreds of
volunteering opportunities
available where you can make a difference; in your church, local hospitals, relief organizations,
your own neighborhood, your city, the world, etc.
You might enjoy reading
Quotes about "Make A Difference."
See what the Holy Bible has to say
About Helping Others.
∙
Be creative-
Unlock those creative talents that have been suppressed for years by lack of time and opportunity.
“Creativity is seeing what everyone else has seen, and thinking what no one else has thought.”
– A. Einstein.
Creative expression has been described as "an outlet, a release, and a vehicle of expression that can open
a new window to the world." Some examples are:
create your ideal home environment, learn a creative craft, invent something, write a novel, write a song, make a scrapbook, paint a picture, make clothes, pick
an ideal gift. You can start by beginning a project and joining a crafts class. What creative interests do you have?
∙
Write your life story, complete with pictures-
Give your family a priceless gift; the story of your life.
Here are some ideas to get your started: Article-
How Do I Write My Life Story?, Book-
How to Write Your Own Life Story: The Classic Guide for the Nonprofessional Writer by Lois Daniel.
Scanned old pictures and new digital pictures can help make Your Life Story come alive!
∙ Take Classes-
Join the Lifelong Learning Phenomenon that is gaining new popularity as baby boomers retire.
This is a phenomenon where older adults go back to the classroom to increase their knowledge and
explore new interests in ways they never could when they were saddled with tough
work schedules and family obligations. This also presents opportunities for
retirees to make social connections with people of similar life experiences and
interests. North County's
Colleges, Universities and
Senior Centers offer many unique courses that are attractive to Seniors.
North County's
Senior Centers' classes are open to seniors throughout North County.
∙
Get a job-
This time; you select the type of work,
the hours worked, stress level, etc.
Work at something you really like or possibly start your own business. Working part time
can be both fun and financially rewarding.
∙
Reinvent yourself by starting a new career-
Finish the following sentence: I always wanted to be ........ Now think outside
of the box to see how you can reinvent yourself to be........
Start a new career doing something you love to do! You may even find it financially rewarding and enjoyable to include some aspects of your old career that you have enjoyed.
For some ideas please read
5
Steps to Reinvent Yourself.
∙
Move-
Downscale, Upscale, to warmer climate, to the city, to the country, to be nearer family, to a Senior Community,
to North San Diego County.
Pick your Dream
Retirement Home,
the perfect
Climate, a
nice, safe and convenient
City.
See
A Check List for Selecting Your Dream Retirement Home.
∙ Develop Your Personal Retirement Bucket List-
Read
Long list of things to do when you retire and please also check out our
Activities for Retirees webpage for more ideas.
Some
of
The Bad
Times in Retirement
Life
Unfortunately, not all aspects of retirement life are "Good"-
One of the downsides of retirement life is that so many of our retirement years
are spent navigating the Old Age Chapter of our lives. Many of those occasional,
unexpected and unpleasant twists that we experience throughout life tend to become commonplace during old age.
Identifying some of
The Bad aspects up-front however may help you plan a lifestyle that deals with
them when they show up and still gleans as much satisfaction as possible from this
final chapter of your life.
Quotes
That May Help Understand and Prepare for The Bad Times in Retirement Life
"Old age is the most unexpected of
all the things that happen to a man." ~
Leon Trotsky
“Life is made up of moments, small pieces of glittering mica in a long stretch of tedium.” ~
Anna Quindlen (A Short Guide to a Happy Life)
"I have seen something else under the sun:
The race is not to the swift
or the battle to the strong,
nor does food come to the wise
or wealth to the brilliant
or favor to the learned;
but time and chance happen to them all." ~
Ecclesiastes 9:11
“Each day, a day goes by.” ~
Carlo Goldoni
"Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin.”~
Mother Teresa
"Doing nothing is happiness for children and misery for old men." ~
Victor Hugo
"If you don't learn to laugh at trouble, you don't have anything to laugh at when you're old."
~
Will Rogers
"It doesn't matter how many times you get knocked down, what matters
is how many times you get up"
~
Bobby Moch; The Boys in the Boat- P269
"The tragedy of life is what dies inside a man while he lives."
~
Albert Schweitzer
"Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don t worry; God never blinks."
~
Regina Brett
Jesus said “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” ~
John 14:27
Humorous Quotes that apply to The Bad times in retirement life
"How did it get so late so soon? It's night before it's afternoon. December
is here before it's June. My goodness how the time has flewn. How did it get
so late so soon?” ~
Dr. Seuss
"I don't feel old. I don't feel anything until noon. Then it's time for my nap."
~
Bob Hope
"Why do you sit there looking like an envelope without any address on it?"
~
Mark Twain
"Man plans and
God laughs."~
Yiddish proverb
“Except for the occasional heart attack, I never felt better.”
~
Dick Cheney
"I've got to keep breathing. It'll be my worst business mistake if I don't." ~
Steve Martin
"You should always go to other people's funerals, otherwise, they won't come to yours."~
Yogi Berra
"Any man who thinks he can be happy and prosperous by letting the Government take
care of him; better take a closer look at the American Indian."
Henry Ford
Some
not so pleasant observations about The Bad times in retirement
life
∙ The years fly-by after you
retire-
Remember how time passed very slowly when we were a child and gradually sped up as
you grew older. Ask any retired person and they will tell you that unless you
are sick or totally bored, time will seem to speed-up even more after you retire.
Tips:
> Don't wait to have
fun. Also, do what you can to participate in your grandchildren's growing years.
∙
Physical inactivity is your enemy!
Physical inactivity zaps both your physical strength and your feeling of mental well-being.
Tips:
> Regardless of what
disruptive events transpire, make physical activity a high priority in your daily lifestyle throughout
this chapter of your life. Doing aerobic exercises, participating in
sports and even walking, will become more difficult and less fun as you age.
That is why it
is important to make a personal commitment to get (and stay) moving every day.
> It may be motivating to read:
Physical Inactivity Responsible For Nearly 1 Out Of Every 10 Deaths Around The World
and The influence of physical activity on mental well-being.
∙
You will lose physical strength, mental acuity and stamina, and
suffer from more physical and mental health problems as you age-
~ For you who hate graphs- Among other things, this one says that people reported that,
on average, their health at age 68 was only half as good as it was at age 20 ~
It is inevitable that your health will deteriorate as you age and not only
limit the activities you can participate in, but also limit the
enjoyment you derive from participating in your favorite activities.
The above graph is an illustration of the effects of aging on
health.
Its data also shows that at age 55, the
average person reported that their health was
still 72% as good as it was at age 20, but by age 80, health was only 36% as good as at age 20.
This graph was derived from a
Stanford U. Student's paper found on the internet. Its accuracy may be
questionable but I believe its message is valid and here is its message-
~ It is important to enjoy the activities you can participate in while you
able to, even while slowly reducing their intensity as you age ~
Tips:
> Good Health is an essential component of a happy retirement- Good health radiates from the inside out and feeling good inside benefits every aspect of your life; your attitude is naturally more positive, and you can accomplish more of your goals. It helps you live a happy,
more productive life, participate in your favorite activities and enjoy time spent with family and friends. Although good health can mean different things to different people, experts agree that maintaining good physical health during retirement is highly dependent on four key areas:
1. Participation in physical activities and exercising
2. Nutrition
3. Proactive medical care; routine physical checkups and when necessary, working with
your doctors to manage heart conditions,
high blood pressure, cardio vascular diseases and diabetes, and to promote early cancer detection.
4. Getting enough rest.
> Retire gradually-
As you age, you
will lose strength and energy and tire more quickly.
Schedule the most strenuous physical retirement adventures and activates
early in your retirement, be ready to settle into a less strenuous lifestyle
in the middle of retirement and then plan for a safe and comfortable but more
sedate lifestyle for your latter years
∙
You have a limited number of years to live and you have
already lived most of them-
~ For you who hate graphs- Among other things, this one says that the average 65-year old male has about 17.5 years and the average 65-year old female about 20 years
yet to live.
At age 72, they
will still respectively, have 13 and 15 remaining years ~
The graph above shows the number of remaining years an average person can expect to live at various ages. The blue curve is for men and the red for women. These data show some interesting predictions, for example
in addition to the information in red under the graph; the average 55-year old male has 25 years left to live (he can expect to live to about age 80) and the average 55- year old women
however, has 28.6 years yet to live (she can expect to live to about age 84).
The average 80-year old man however, still has 8 years left and the average 84-year old woman still has 7.5 years left to live. Very few of us are average however so we can expect to live either more or less than the number of years on the graph.
Lifestyle and health related decisions, often have a major influence on how long we
actually will live. This graph and the one below are of data from Govt.
Actuarial Life Tables.
Tips:
> This may be a good time to revisit your spiritual beliefs-
At this stage of life,
most of us have well-established spiritual beliefs (or non-beliefs) and
most don’t want to even think about changing them. Why should we bother to question our spiritual beliefs at this stage of life? Consider this
reason to re-evaluate your spiritual beliefs-
Not one of your friends or family who passed away came back to tell what really happened after they died. Your expectations of what will happen to you are based solely what you have decided to believe.
Christians believe that Jesus returned to life after dying on the cross and the
Bible tells us that
more
than 500 witnesses saw him after he had returned to life from death. He
told us
what to expect
after we die and
he also made a promise of eternal life. The Bible also tells us how to
prepare for
and
accept eternal life. An added benefit to Christians is belief that
God is always with you,
even through tough times.
Attending church also provides a way to meet new friends, many of whom will be true friends who will be there to help and pray for you and your family
when you are going through tough times.
If you believe that living a Christian life has too many church-imposed rules, you might
want to look at the practices of different churches; possibly look for a Bible teaching Christian church such as a non-denominational
Calvary Chapel.
Where the focus is on living a lifestyle that follows
the teachings of Jesus.
∙
If you live long enough, you will experience the loss of many loved ones and friends
in your age group:
~ For you who hate graphs- Among other things, this one says that half of our
male friends who were still alive at age 55 will have passed away by age 81 and
half of our female friends are gone by age 85 ~
The above graph shows the average of how many of your friends, who were alive at age 55, will still be
living at their various ages. The blue curve is for men and the red for women. These data show some interesting predictions.
Some examples in addition to those in red are; 90 men and 94 women out of 100 who were alive at age 55 will still be living
when they are 65 years old, but
it drops to 70 men and 79 women at age 75 and at age 85, only 37 men and 50 women will still be alive.
Tips:
>
This graph shows how important it is to cherish our
friends while they are still with us-
It also emphasizes how important it is to allow our
family and friends to spend quality time with us while we are still around.
And how important it is to use these opportunities to make our actions fit the way
we want to be remembered.
> Spend time with your grandchildren-
How many people do you know who have been significantly influenced in some way
by their grandparents and love to reminisce about the good times they spent
with their grandparents?
>
Especially enjoy time with your spouse-
Cherish and nurture your spouse.
Being together all day, every day can add stress to any relationship
though so it may be important to structure some time apart.
Make a daily effort to make your time together as enjoyable as possible and be sure that you let your spouse know
how much she/he is appreciated.
> Mend broken relationships-
The window of opportunity for a last chance to mend relationships is closing.
∙
You will probably witness a significant decrease in the spending power of the dollar throughout your
retirement years-
~ For you who hate graphs- Among other things, this one says that if you had put your
retirement nest egg in a zero interest savings account in 1999, it would have
lost more than half of its purchasing power by 2009 ~
The above graph shows that the
purchasing power of the US dollar decreased by 80% over the 1971 - 2011
(40 year) time
span and by more than 50% during the recent, 1999 to 2009, ten-year
period. Inflation is the devaluing of existing dollars by the government's printing of more dollars.
Inflation occurs because the government pays back the number of dollars it borrowed, but not the value of the dollars it borrowed. Inflation makes the dollars the government pays back worth less than the dollars it borrowed.
It is reasonable to expect
high yearly inflation in the future too due to the current massive increase in government debt.
There is also the potential problem of increased tax rates; on income,
dividends, real estate, etc.
These potential problems emphasize the importance of investing your retirement savings
safely, where they will grow, at least
at a rate that will keep up with inflation.
Tips:
> Your investment strategies may need to change after you retire-
Most retirees have very modest incomes and the
average 65 year old's 401K savings are only between $25.000 and $100,000. No matter what your retirement income and savings levels are
however, you will
probably want to
continue to make prudent investments and set realistic withdrawal rates to make your savings
serve their intended purpose during your remaining years.
If you need professional help in managing your finances, be very careful whom you
choose. Check their references and ask them to show you what happened to their client's investments over the years, and especially during and after the 2008 stock market crash. Learn of their
investment strategies
and success rate for preserving and growing retirement savings during their client’s retirement years.
Ask if they will stick with you as your savings dwindle and what their
fees will be when there are not many dollars left in your investment
accounts.
While you were employed, your investment strategy probably focused
on long term growth with reasonable risk. You may wish to rethink your
strategy
after you retire however, because you may need to begin withdrawing from your
investments and may not be able to wait for 5 years or longer for them to recover from
a stock market crash or from of bad investments. Goals for managing your retirement savings throughout your retirement years
may include:
1. investing in low risk investments that beat inflation.
2. Keeping enough of your savings liquid so that money is always available when you need it to provide for living expenses and emergencies.
3. Allow for the fact that your income needs will vary over the years of your retirement due to illnesses, changes in lifestyle, inflation, etc.
4. If you are married, one of your social security and possibly pension checks will stop coming in when one of you passes away and the survivor will need enough income to live comfortably for the remainder of her or his life.
> Many of us, at some time during our retirement, will be forced to live on a fixed income-
That will require us to budget
our money in order to pay our bills.
Click Here
to download an Excel spread sheet that can help you set up your budget.
Allocate money in your budget for fun-filled and rewarding activities- entertainment, dining out, hobbies,
traveling, entertaining, practicing your religious faith, etc. Even if it is a small amount, make it a high priority,
include it in your budget and then spend and enjoy it!
Learn to enjoy the beauty that surrounds you and to enjoy doing things that don’t cost money.
A Few of
The
Ugly
Behavioral Traits of
Retirees
It is not that older people are ugly. It is just that the behavior of SOME
older people is ugly.
Ugly behavior has a way of accentuating "The Bad" and camouflaging "The Good" aspects of Retirement Life.
Quotes that apply to Ugly Behavioral Traits of some retirees
“I believe young people are beautiful but old people
are a masterpiece, a work of art perfected by years of wisdom and cracked from
the hardships and great laughter’s they endured. There are attractive old
people. I know I want to be one".
(Best Yahoo Answers)
*If you are still talking about what you did yesterday, you haven't done much today. ~Author Unknown
"Life’s tragedy is that we get old too soon and wise too late."
- Benjamin Franklin
Humorous Quotes that apply to the Ugly Behavioral Traits of some retirees
"I've often been asked, 'What do you do now that you're retired?'
Well...I'm fortunate to have a chemical engineering background and one of the things I enjoy most is converting beer, wine and whisky into urine.
It's rewarding, uplifting, satisfying and fulfilling. I do it every day and I really enjoy it."
Harold Schlumberg
“I may have many faults, but being wrong ain't one of them.” ~Jimmy Hoffa
"Yeah, I know I'm ugly... I said to a bartender, 'Make me a zombie.' He said 'God beat me to it.'
"~ Rodney Dangerfield
Examples of a Few Ugly Traits of retirement behavior
(you may or may not agree)-
∙
Snoop on others and gossip, gossip, gossip-
They seem to mind everybody else's business and their conversations are dominated by gossip, much
of it derogatory.
∙
Are control freaks-
Dominate all meetings they attend and police their neighborhood looking for
CC&R violators, etc.
Tips about attitude:
You don't have to run the game anymore- It is like a new football season and you, for years the team’s
Quarterback may still have your skills and team to work with but have but a career that is limited by aging and injuries.
It may be time to start delegating responsibilities. You can still be an important team member but in a less
intent, and more supportive role. Join
the ranks of retirees who have found other ways to contribute while still living a happy and fulfilling life.
∙
Put on airs (snobbish, dour and bitchy)-
They act like "We are obviously of a higher class than others in this group".
∙
Are braggers and story tellers-
Some have endless (and questionably truthful) stories about their
experiences that they tell over-and-over again.
∙
Are reluctant to update their skills to use new technology devices-
New devices abound that can make life easier and more enjoyable for retirees.
Many retirees however suffer from a mild form of Neophobia; they have retired from learning anything new and prefer to cope using their long established habits.
This is not exactly ugly behavior, but your family and friends who use modern high tech devices probably think you are
exhibiting stubborn, selfish and isolating behavior and that it is
intentional on your part. They may be right
about this because Neophobia is usually self-treatable- if you want to treat it. The best way to treat it is to quietly join the high tech revolution. If you don’t already have one, start by getting a smart phone
or eTablet and learn how to use it.
Some other high tech examples that can benefit retirees are: Internet, Email, Facebook,
Digital Cameras, GPS units, MP3 players, Ebook and EAudio Book Readers, Internet Radios, HD TV's,
HD TV Recorders, Internet Connected TVs, Medical Safety Alerts, Hi Tech Security Systems and
In-car Infotainment Systems.
Tips about Smart Phones and eTablets
Below is a partial list of some of the hundreds of ways retirees can benefit from Smart
Phones and eTablets (some require free or low cost APPS to be installed):
Communication:
A portable telephone that has: - Keypad or Voice Dialing (Say "call so and so" for example) - Voice Mail
(leave your message, hear their message) -
Speaker phone (great for the hearing impaired, especially with Bluetooth
speakers) - Text messaging capability (dictate or
write text messages) or send photos or video clips -
email capability (dictate or write emails) -Bluetooth (for hands-free operation) - Custom ring tones (can
be selected to tell you who is calling) - Store phone numbers and email contact addresses.
(Note: Some eTablets may not offer the basic telephone and voice mail capabilities.)
Video Telephony:
Face to face voice/video conversations using Face-time, Skype or other programs- One of the great features of
E-tablets (and smart phones
too on a smaller screen), is the ability to visit face to face with family and friends located any
place in the world. Talk to them face to face, see how they
look, what they are doing, hear their voice, see their new home, car, etc. It's almost like being there!
Memory Aids:
Organize bills, Reminders, "Find my phone" and others.
E-book and Audio-book Reader:
Download, store and read Kindle, Nook,
pdf files and other
e-Books, even the Holy Bible. Magazines too. Listen to Audio ebooks too.
Search the web:
Surf the net using Bing, Google, Ask.com, etc. You can
"ask Siri" in iPhones
and iPads, she quickly answers many questions.
Entertainment (a partial list):
Internet Radio:
There are many Apps for internet radio stations.
The Tunein Radio App provides 70,000 + stations.
Music:
Download, store and listen to your favorite songs and albums -
The Shazam App can Identify most songs and the singer you are listening to.
Sports:
Watch or listen to your favorite sports. Keep track of games scores.
You Tube and other videos:
All viewed on the HD color display.
Games:
Hundreds of games are available for adults (See
45 iPhone Games You Can Play with Friends),
including clones of popular board game such as Scrabble and Chess. Also, card games, cross word puzzles,
and video games (Try Bejeweled!). Play alone, with friends or with strangers.
Shop the Web:
Hundreds of websites such as eBay, Amazon and nearly every retail
business provide thousands of opportunities to shop for gifts at the best
price from wherever you happened to be.
News:
Latest local world and sports news (CNN, Yahoo News, Fox News, etc..), blogs and articles.
Photography:
Digital cameras that take excellent still shots and video.
Built in memory stores them in photo/video albums.
Show them on the
display or send them to your friends or to your computer.
Social Media:
Monitor and participate in Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn
and Email.
Stock Market:
Track market trends and the prices of individual stocks and bonds.
Time:
Time now, world clocks, alarm clock, stop watch.
Travel:
Driving Directions, Maps and other Travel Helps - Verbal and written driving and walking directions
- Find a
business (restaurant, motel, gas station, etc.) near you - Get ratings and reviews
of the businesses
you find -
Foreign Language translator (talk to your phone in English, it talks back
to you and displays text of what you said in the language you have selected).
Weather:
Weather now and weather forecasts - anyplace in the world.
Audio Recording:
Record voice memos, songs, lectures etc. and email them to anybody.
Writing;
Dictionary - Thesaurus - Voice to Text conversion so you
don't need to use the keyboard.
Fun APPs, Aids and Tools (See
Best iPad Apps for Senior Citizens).
To name
just a few:
Calendar -Reminders - Calculator - Tip Calculator
-QR and Bar code scanners -Virtuoso Piano (touch screen piano keyboard)- Magnifying Glass - Carpenter’s Plumb and Level - Flashlight -
Acoustic Sound Pressure meter -
Phone locator - etc.
Many Great Features:
An HD color monitor - Touch screen control (with
one finger tap and swipe gestures, 2 finger expand and contract gestures) - Virtual
(touch screen) QWERTY and phone
pad keypads - Voice to text conversion (you don’t need to be good on the keyboard).
Tips about trying new things
Don't be afraid to try new things.
If you plan to purchase a Smart Phone or other new (to you) high-tech
device, study your
options before deciding on which brand and model to purchase; search the
internet for videos and reviews on what is available, talk to people who own
them and spend time shopping and watching demonstrations. If you want to use video telephony (Face Time or Skpe) it
may be best to purchase an E-tablet that is compatible with those with whom you wish to
communicate.
Always purchase a good illustrated manual with an index and step-by-step
instructions for the device you buy. Don't be intimidated by
its complexity, take your time and learn how to use one-feature-at-a-time.
It is important to buy from a store that offers technical support for free
or at a reasonable price. If possible, attend classes where you purchased the device. Some
Senior
Centers also offer classes in Smart Phones and E-tablets, on digital photography and
on how to use the internet.
∙
Are obsessed with their ingrained political, racial or religious prejudices-
They make people
around them uncomfortable by making derogatory political, racial or religious statements and accusations.
∙
Are obnoxious or just plain cantankerous-
"I have paid my dues in life
and earned the right to act this way!"
∙
Practice age discrimination-
Against young families and/or against people who are older than
them two examples are:
1. When young retirees visit senior communities, they complain that all they see are old people. They don’t realize that many of the young retirees are still working or are out playing
and the older folks who stay at home more are enjoying the community's
amenities.
2. Older people don’t like to see other people’s young grand children in the
senior community's swimming pool. They overlook the fact these children are the pride and joy of their
grandparents and there are not many ways to entertain visiting grandchildren
in a Senior Community.
∙
Drinking alcohol is a major pastime-
Although they usually won't admit it, they are somewhat Intoxicated much
of the time. Their behavior and breath however gives them away. Alcohol and substance abuse is
statistically at epidemic proportions among the elderly but remains for the most part unreported, undiagnosed, or ignored.
∙
Drive an automobile even when they can no longer drive safely-
Tips:
Check out the bus routes and other means of transportation before aging makes it unsafe for you to continue to drive. Then stop driving on-your-own when you can no longer drive safely.
Many cities offer low cost transportation for the elderly and the disabled and
inexpensive "Meals on Wheels."
∙
Leave unpleasant surprises and messes for their heirs to deal with after
they pass away-
Tips:
Prepare a will or trust, plan your own funeral arrangements, write a
Letter of
Instruction, keep your will/powers of attorney updated
and make a list of your passwords available.
Clean out your closets, storage bins and garage and dispose of your junk
before you die.
We Sincerely Wish You a Healthy and Happy Retirement!
Disclaimer:
The above opinions are those of the writer. They are his own, and do not necessarily reflect
the views of the site they are posted on or of other sites affiliated with this
site. We apologize if we have offended you in any way and request individuals or
involving parties to contact us directly via email to request the removal of information deemed sensitive or harmful to them. We
value your opinions, please email them to us at
randerson3535@gmail.com. Please also read the
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