We’re going on vacation! But wait, isn’t retirement, by definition, a vacation? I hate to burst your bubble, but we’ve found that retirement is not, contrary to popular belief, a permanent vacation.  Vacations are as important in our retired life as they were when we were working. Why? Today, I’ll share why vacations are still important after you retire. You’ll also see the plans for our vacation, which starts this weekend. 48 hours from now, we’re hitting the road.   Do people still take vacations in retirement? For us, the answer is yes. Here's why... Click To Tweet We’re Goi ..read more

I’ve been thinking about building blocks recently. The thought originated when I built something a few weeks ago, and I’ve been thinking about building blocks ever since. I’ve realized a few things about building blocks: They aren’t just childhood toys. Building blocks exist throughout our entire lives. We’re never too old to play with them. Used wisely, they can help us live a better life. Today, my thoughts on building blocks, why they’re important, and how we can use them to live a better life. Building blocks aren't just for children. Today, we're exploring how to use them to build a bet ..read more

This post contains Amazon Affilliate links which will pay a small commission to me (at not cost to you) if you order through the links.  I recently read one of the best books I’ve ever read. It led me to places I never imagined. As a result, I even “became a professor”, teaching a class at the University of North Georgia on what I had learned. (But I’m getting ahead of myself.) The book was about Lewis & Clark.  As I was reading, I couldn’t help but see the countless metaphors of how their expedition applies to our retirement journey.   They provided lessons that each o ..read more

Life is full of surprises.  That fact doesn’t change in retirement.  Today, we will look at some common retirement surprises, based on a fascinating study I just read and felt was worthy of sharing. If you’re curious about what surprises your retirement may have in store, this article is for you. Life is full of surprises, and that fact doesn't end with retirement. Here are 9 surprises you may not expect in retirement. Click To Tweet 9 Retirement Surprises I recently came across a study from the Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies titled Life in Retirement: Pre-Retiree E ..read more

I’ve been planning a post about the phases of retirement for a while, but I wanted to be sure I’d spent enough time in retirement to write with credibility.  In my 5th year of retirement, the time has come.  At this point, I’ve moved through all of the major phases of retirement, and my life has stabilized to the point that I can write from experience. As I was preparing to write this post, I came across an excellent TEDX talk on the topic and realized it was the best content I’ve ever seen on the topic.  The video has gone viral for a reason.  Yes, it’s that good. So today ..read more

If you’re over the age of 50, you likely have fond memories of watching The Wonder Years. The coming-of-age series ran from 1988 – 1993 and featured the likeable Kevin growing up in the late 60’s to early 70’s.  In my opinion, Kevin’s infamous voice-overs were the key to the show’s success, and shed light on his thinking as he shared his memories of his brother (Wayne), sister (Karen), parents (Jack and Norma), and best friends Paul and Winnie. And, who can forget that opening song, “What would you do, if I sang out of tune….” For those who missed it, here’s the opening theme song:   ..read more

There are a few things you need to know before you retire. If you’re not retired, it’s impossible to know what it’s REALLY like to be retired.  Without knowing, it’s difficult to determine how to plan as you make your final preparations for retirement. Your next best option, then, is to learn from those who have walked the trail ahead of you. Today, you’re in luck. Below, we’re sharing the things you need to know before you retire.  Retirement will likely be some of the best years of your life.  Making the transition, however, requires planning to be successful.  So, consid ..read more

It was my turn to lead our monthly Retirement Mastermind meeting. I decided to challenge the members with a question. “How do you find joy in life?” The answers were brilliant.  So brilliant, in fact, that I couldn’t keep them to myself. So I decided (with the group’s permission) to share them here. 10 Ways to Find Joy in Life (from those who have found it and given me permission to share their tips). Click To Tweet 10 Ways To Find Joy In Life I love my Retirement Mastermind group.  We’ve been holding monthly meetings since January and I’ve never missed a meeting.  I look forwa ..read more

I’ve got an uncharacteristically short post today. A few thoughts on the 3-legged stool.   It’s a metaphor we’ve all heard many times.  For example, I recall in my working days when we were working on large capital projects.  Our engineer would frequently use the 3-legged stool argument.  The legs he would cite? Cost – Quality – Time.  If we asked for it sooner, he’d respond “You’re breaking one of the legs!”  As in… “You can have it faster, but it will cost more” “You can have it cheaper, but you’ll get lower quality” It turns out there’s also a great 3-le ..read more

Most of us enjoy hearing inspirational stories. It’s even more rewarding when you get to play a small role. Today’s article is a combination of both. This one is special.  A real-life case study on retirement planning. I first heard Theresa’s story when Brad Barrett at ChooseFI reached out and asked if I’d be willing to help. In two sentences, here’s her “Rags To Riches” story: Theresa had two children and was a single Mom on food stamps at the age of 25. Today, at age 44, she’s married, financially independent (FI), and considering early retirement (RE). She told her amazing story of mov ..read more