This doesn’t mean that the day after the last “work” day is going to be absolutely perfect and free of stress… not unless you have planned for a long time for this event!

No one is going to be carrying you on a chariot through golden streets during your retirement – not unless you have really planned!

The future possibly 30 or 40 years may not be filled with joy and relaxation, doing what you’ve hoped to do in all that spare time – not unless you planned!

But, if you long ago realized that someday that good old paycheck would end and that the trips to the grocery store wouldn’t… if you planned… your future should be engulfed in a very rosy glow…  if you planned!

SO… Get busy working on a budget… a realistic budget.

Decide if you need to go down in size for housing – no one wants to be cleaning and repairing every day just for some extra square footage.

Make sure all your bills are discharged – yes, I even mean the automobile loan.  Especially, try to get that mortgage out of your pocket!  And going smaller sometimes is an easy way to accomplish that – if you have planned – paid a little extra toward you mortgage while that good old paycheck was still being counted on.

Think hard about whether or not it’s necessary to have two cars – the tires, the insurance, the upkeep – those dollars could be seriously cutting into that home mortgage instead of paying for something that in the end, ends up totally worthless – other than to a junk yard.

Then, consider… there is always the possibility of getting everything in order, being in fairly good financial shape, and then moving to another country – someplace where your pennies suddenly become as powerful as dollars.  A couple of dollars stashed away will enable you to do just that – and where you move is up to you.

This is the result of one study, showing the best places to retire in 2012:

Belize, Brazil, Costa Rica, Ecuador, France, Italy, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Uruguay…

…Of course, the nearest “escape” remains to be Mexico.

Mexico is still holding onto 7th place, even considering the drug battles going on.  But do keep in mind that escape to one person may be another person’s misery.  The ability to travel back and forth to keep near to family for most people is quite important in the years when health concerns may pop up.  And just to see grandchildren during their formative years and keeping the family ties strong could easily mark half of these countries off most people’s list.  But, if you are totally free to fly, hey, go for it – a new culture may just give you back many happy and thrilling years.  I do have to stick in my concern for health care – affordable and quality healthcare should be right up at the top of most people’s lists.

Each one of us is so individual that one person’s paradise does not mean it’s for every other person out there.  So, get busy, make your lists, consider your total lifestyle, get busy planning – it’s not too late if you face retirement squarely and bravely, if you start PLANNING.

Planning Retirement Article by Barbie

On a Scooter :)

Yes, I got a scooter.

My back has caused me problems for years.   I guess I was born overweight…a healthy 10-pounder – how did my Mother live through that?  She was a little lady – probably topped 5’1” at her best.  Anyway, it seems that I have been on diets my whole life.

When I was around 11, my sister and I were on yet another diet – and exercising like mad – I was in the middle of one session and doing some pretty frantic twists and I twisted really far and really hard and I remember hearing my back go crack, crack, pop, crack, pop, pop – and I’ve been plagued with back problems since. 

So, after years of chiropractors and doctors and pills, and in more recent years, two surgeries, (by then, the arthritis had also taken it’s toll on my back )  I needed some help getting around.

It was really brought to the forefront when we went on a cruise, just a couple of years ago with friends.  I thought as usual I’d just “tough it out”.  Was I wrong…I truly couldn’t keep up and do the things I wanted to do and see everything I wanted to see (I also just hate to miss anything).  So, Dick and I, just after one day, went to the help desk on ship and rented a wheelchair for me.  I just hated the thought of giving in, but, the four of us had really big plans – no one wanted to miss anything – and I wasn’t living up to my promise of showing them everything.  I hadn’t even considered a scooter yet.

Just giving in and getting that wheelchair was a major concession on my part.  I just hated to admit I needed help like that.  But, the next day, as I was wheeling along – aided by three healthy people who seemed quite happy to take turns pushing me – all at once I began to see things in a different light. 

Of course, the cruise had taken us to Mexican ports and this time, the four of us discovered that most of the “handicapped” attempts of making passage easy were hilarious.  Mexico is trying, but it seems they just don’t understand that if you go up a 45 degree angle and immediately go down a 45 degree angle that some people can get completely stuck on the pointy top – rocking back and forth, even with someone pushing a wheelchair… and that having a nice inclined sidewalk for 20 feet really doesn’t quite solve the problem, when there’s two 10 inch steps at the end.  I must say, we all probably ached more from laughing than from the stress of pushing a chair.  Mexico is trying – they just don’t have it quite right yet.  And luckily, I can still just jump out of the chair, have Dick and friends lift the chair over the obstacles and continue.  Lots of people are not able to raise from their chairs so easily, and that’s keeping lots of people from fully enjoying…not just in Mexico, but in most countries…just try being pushed three blocks over some cobblestone streets in Italy or someother exotic shore – not a pretty picture.

Me and my scooter at a border

So, anyway, now there’s a take-apart motorized (electric) scooter – chair – whatever you want to call it, that resides in our garage.  I don’t need to use it in the house – I can still get around in that respect well, it’s just needed for shopping and traveling.  I must say it’s quite wonderful – goes about seven miles on a charge and comes apart into five easy to put together pieces –the heaviest piece only weighs about 28 pounds and it takes probably all of a minute and a half to put together, turn on the key and take off with Dick and my scooter, to see the next exciting, wonderful sights that are out there. 

Scooter article by Barbie.

I did something dumb.

I wore sandals when we took our last air trip…

Seemed like a pretty good idea – easy to get off for your “inspection”. Right?

But, standing in line and watching all the other passengers removing their shoes and realizing I was going to have to walk there — in my bare feet — where thousands and thousands of people have already walked.

Yes… in my bare feet.

So if you’re thinking about flying (anywhere)  I don’t recommend sandals. Or flip flops. I suggest wearing slip-ons with socks  instead. Or, stick a little pair of sox in your pocket you can slip on.

One thing is for certain… I will never wear just sandals again when traveling by air – no matter how comfortable!

(Yep, now you know – I am a neat freak – I carry my little anti-bacterial squeeze bottle in my purse.)