Everyone has a list of the best places to retire. They come from very credible sources such as AARP, CNN Money and some expert research/writers who have done very comprehensive studies including, climate, crime, clean air and a whole bunch of other factors. I have looked at their lists. Having traveled coast to coast on business for many years I am going to give you the “Happily Retired list of Favorites Cities” based on the opinion of little ole me and my family. Here are our ten favorites:

#1 Charleston, SC
Since my wife and I made our choice five years ago, I will put Charleston, SC on the top of my list. Located on the SC Coast, Charleston is a delightful mix of the old South, friendly people, great food, clean beaches, charm, mild winters, the advantage of a thriving port and volumes of rich history. The longer we stay, the more we know that for us Charleston has the best of all worlds.

#2 Hilton Head, SC
This was our first choice for years. Our family grew up vacationing on the island and watched it grow from a quiet little get away to a truly vibrant community. A little more laid back than Charleston without quite as much to do, it is still high on our list. Hilton Head and the Bluffton area offer world clas golf, tennis and resorts. The great part is that it is less than two hours away from Charleston, so we have the pleasure of living in Charleston and the opportunity to visit Hilton Head any time we feel the urge. And if you want to add to the adventure Savannah, GA is just a little further South.

#3 Simsbury/Avon Connecticut
Located just North of Hartford, these two towns side by side are the perfect New England Towns in terms of quiet, peaceful places where you can enjoy your privacy. Just a few hours from Boston to the NE, New York City to the South and Newport, RI to the East it’s within an easy drive. In the Fall a trip from Simsbury to Burlington, NH or perhaps Stowe, VT is breath taking as the season unfolds her colors. Nothing can come close in our book!

#4 Colorado Springs, CO
Home of the Air Force Academy and the home of the US Olympics Colorado Springs is one of those cities you just fall in love with from day one. About 2 hrs. South of Denver and a breathtaking drive South to Albuquerque, NM there is so much to see and do. We spent a Thanksgiving there in 2000, drove to Denver and then up to see some of the more popular ski slopes and back to our hotel for one of the most memorable holiday trips ever.

#5 My favorite California Destinations: Palm Springs, San Diego, Thousand Oaks and then then Wine Country North of San Francisco.
Any one of these areas could easily be #5. Maybe because we grew up in the East, California never felt like home. Yet, each time I had to travel their on business or vacation we had a great time. Lots to see and do for sure. Perhaps a drive up the Pacific Coast Highway is right up there with the best of the best.

#6 Chicago
50% of my business travel was in and around Chicago. I love the fun and excitement of Michigan Ave. especially during the Christmas Holidays. I have spend some of the hottest and coldest days of my life in Chicago but it still ranks up there for restaurants, entertainment, fabulous shopping and everything NYC has to offer without the impatient pace. Given a choice my crew picks Chicago every time over the Big Apple. Sorry NY—Perhaps you have to live there to get into the groove.

#7 Scottsdale, AZ
If I wanted to live in the dessert, this is a personal favorite. Just a beautiful area of the country.
Close to Phoenix and lots to see and do. This is one town that I went back to many times to simply enjoy the change of scenery. While I am not big on the summer heat (dry or not) it can be over the top for me for a few months. None the less, it’s sticks in my mind as a great place to be.

#8 The Hawaiian Islands
Everyone should go there once and take in the variety of the islands. Maui was our favorite. I could live there but my wife said after a couple weeks she was feeling stranded in the Pacific. Oh well. For pure beauty, the Pacific Islands are high on anyone’s list.

#9 Sanibel Island, FL
Pristine beaches, peaceful surroundings and quaint shops and restaurants. This is the perfect get away when you really want to get away to relax. Our kind of place.

#10 Chautauqua Lake, NY in the Summer
My wife and I grew up in Jamestown, NY (Home town of Lucile Ball) which is right at the tail end of the lake. The town of Chautauqua is pure charm and the secret summer home for many celebrities, artists, authors and people who enjoyed a city devoted to learning and culture. The lake is just the right size and sports some of the best fishing in the country. For us there is no place like home. Note: If you love snow, this place makes Buffalo look like a walk in the park in the Winter. The real lake effect storms dump on the towns of like Bemus Point, NY at the center of life on my all time favorite lake region.

I am sure the doctors and scientist can fully explain why it is harder to shed unwanted pounds as you grow older. In my case, I was a jogger and weightlifter for many years of my life. Staying in decent shape was a high priority. They always told me watch out the day you quit because your body will soon turn to mush.

I had serious spinal surgery in 1995. That ended the jogging career and began the slow journey to gaining unwanted weight. Not much has really worked. I try to watch what I eat and occasionally get mad when my pants fit to tight but I noticed that my mental tenacity to fight the good fight is not what it used to be. Recently I actually read the fine print on a couple prescriptions my doctor has me on and one specifically says may increase appetite and the other suggests that my body’s metabolism will burn fat more slowly.
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The end result is a another senior packaging too much weight around the mid section with less motivation to address the issue and no help from the drug companies who address one symptom only to create an unwanted side affect.



In my case after years of sleeping just fine found myself struggling to fall asleep and then getting a good night’s sleep that left me feeling refreshed. Apparently something changed in my brain chemistry and the doctor decided to put me on a medication to solve the sleep problem at the expense of the side affects which were mainly increased appetite and the inability of my body to burn off the fat like it used to when I was younger and more active.

Now I look at the articles about how packing extra weight around the mid section, particularly with my body shape, as a prime target for all kinds of health issues. I know it’s a problem. I have a history of heart problems starting with my dad, and now I know I have to do something but its a battle that seems somewhat difficult to win. Starving seems to have little affect. Walking probably keeps matters from getting worse but it all comes back to the medication which affects both my will to take action and my body’s ability to help me win the fight.

As I write this I know that I must find an answer or end up another statistic. What I do know is that old and skinny is probably a better place to be vs. short and somewhat pudgy. Stay tuned as I was again renew my resolve to win the battle of the bulge.

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The good news is that my sleep is great. So what ever comes my way I will be rested when it hits.
Now that really sounds stupid doesn’t it. Whether its the meds or my age, my battle is in my mind to want to win this fight.

At age 86, while still of sound mind, my mother called me from NY State to come home and help her take care of all her final arrangements. She was a strong woman, highly opinionated and one who always knew what she wanted. The call came as no surprise, perhaps at a slightly inconvenient time. Then again maybe there is perfect time to handle these kinds of things. The idea of driving eight hours to plan your mother’s funeral was not exactly and event I was looking forward to.

When I got to her apartment she had everything written down for me to follow to the letter. The next day I took her list to the funeral home that she requested and I set up a meeting with one of the owners. It was a strange feeling that day. We used to live directly across the street when I was in Jr. High School. As a newspaper delivery boy the funeral home was on my route and they always gave me a big tip for the holidays.

My mother did not want a showing, she did not want to spend anymore than required by law for a burial vault or casket. This was to be the ultimate no frills funeral.

I had no idea how upset all this would make the funeral director. He tried to humiliate me into upgrading all of her requests. He came just short of calling me a worthless no good money grubbing son for not having more respect for my mother. How could any loving son do such a terrible deed to his own mother? I won’t bore you with all the sales ploys used to change my mind.

Interesting, but when my dad suddenly passed away, I had to make all these decisions in 24 hours or less in midst of grief and a overwhelming sense of loss. To say that I was of no sound mind to make these decisions was an understatement. I am sure the funeral director put the same guilt trip on me as I responded to all of his suggestions to do the “right things” and give my dad a burial that everyone would respect.

In retrospect, having been through both situations regarding the handling of final arrangements I have to lean heavily on the side of pre-planning in the cool of the day with a sound mind vs. making critical decision is the face of monumental grief I have a less than favorable opinion of the funeral directors who shamefully prey on the emotions of people in distress. Unfortunately the funeral industry is no different than most other sales organizations in that they will use any advantage they can to hawk their wares.

I am sure there are many well meaning funeral directors and their sale organizations out there that do not use these techniques. Based on my personal experience, I would not be surprised to learn that my experience was not that unusual. I would love to hear what others would have to share regarding their own experiences in similar situations.

To end the story my mother died approximately a year later. Her instructions were followed to the letter and I am at peace that her final wishes were carried out the way she wanted them to be rather than what a funeral director tried to foist on the family to make an extra buck.

Retirement Planning For Dummies: What You Forgot To Include In Your Retirement Plans

By Dr. Cynthia Barnett

Everyone knows that the best way to plan for your retirement is to make sure you have a 401K plan or something similar, so you can save enough money to live on in your golden years. Or is it? If you’ve only planned for your financial security, you have missed a huge and important step in your retirement planning.

Consider this: the average retirement age for Americans is 57.5, and life expectancy is 85 or older. This means the average retirement lasts 30 years or more. Sitting around and doing nothing might be relaxing for a while, but do you really want to spend 30 years gathering dust?

The most important thing you can do for your retirement planning doesn’t involve the financial aspect. Of course you need to make sure you’ll have enough money set aside to maintain your lifestyle, but beyond that, you have to fulfill your non-material needs. How are you going to spend your time? How will you remain satisfied and purpose-driven? The answers to these questions are the aspects too many people neglect to include in their retirement planning.

Your first step should be to determine these answers. There are a number of ways you can do this. Here are some tips on discovering what you really want out of your golden years and planning for more than just financial security:

* List everything that you have always wanted to do, but had to put on a back burner because you didn’t have the time. Is there a place you long to visit? A hobby you’ve wanted to pick up? An organization you’ve been thinking about joining?

* Don’t rule anything out because you think you’ll be “too old” for it. They say you’re only as old as you feel – and if you need proof, just look at how many people in their sixties and even seventies are sky diving, bungee jumping, and rock climbing!

* Consider working when you retire. It’s not as bizarre as it sounds – perhaps there is a place you’ve always wanted to work, but couldn’t make a career out of it because it didn’t pay enough. Retirement is the time to try it out and see what you’ve been missing.

* Think of your retirement as a beginning, rather than an ending. Once you leave the “real” workforce, you can start a whole new life of realizing your dreams.

When you decide on the non-financial course of your retirement, it’s a good idea to keep track of your vision. You may want to start a retirement journal and write down your goals. There are many things you can do now to have everything in place for your re-fired life! Find out what it’s going to take to accomplish your goals, and put down as much of the groundwork as possible between now and retirement time.

Also, keep in mind that it’s never too early -–or too late-– to start laying the foundation for your retirement planning. Once you’ve determined your vision for an ideal retirement that includes the realization of your dreams, you can start taking steps to achieve that vision no matter where you are in life.

About the Author: Dr. Cynthia Barnett is a Re-Firement Lifestyle Coach and the author of Prime Time Makeover: How to Make the Rest of Your Life the Best of Your Life. Visit her online at http://www.primetimemakeover.com for a free newsletter, special report, and to purchase the book.

Source: www.isnare.com

Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=236963&ca=Finances

Do You have Enough Money to Retire?

Algebra.Com:

This does not happen by magically wishing for it or dreaming it into reality. It takes detailed planning.

This may help. You can Google “Retirement Calculator,” find one you like and start to play with the numbers.

Here is one I found you can use:

http://www.banksite.com/calc/retire

Rule of thumb: The sooner you plan for retirement the better. If you wait at least give your self ten good years of earnings and investments with the help of a solid financial planner to get you ready to retire on your terms.