Archives



170 Vancouver Winter Olympics 2010
What's it like to attend a Winter Olympics? We are having that experience now. So far...even for retired people and for people that are not "rich" it is a great exprience! Sometimes life's exotic treats don't lie far from our door step.

167 Afraid of Missing Something
Life presents us with all sorts of opportunities and choices. Sometimes we know exactly which we want to choose. Sometimes we want to do them all. What to do? Text

165 Taking a Risk
Taking a risk by definition always implies a bit of danger; we could get hurt. Doing some thing new and different always includes this factor. We could fail. It can also make life a bit more interesting and exciting. What to do?

164 No One To Talk To
Having someone to talk to can be a problem for anyone. As we age conversational isolation can be a more sever problem. We seem to only engage with the TV - and it always just one way. No one listens to us. Text

163 The January Challenge
January is a time of year when we try to change our lives for the better. Exercise is touted as one of the most important contributors to good health. We know that when we stop moving, we are in trouble. What to do? Text

162 Looking Ahead; Looking Back
In retirement some of us tend to look forward to the future. Others of us tend to look back over our own life. Either way, we make decisions as to the way we spend our retirement years. Making no decisions is a choice we try to avoid. For some of us, it isn't easy. Text

161 Weather
Our motto has always been to, "Never let the weather dictate what you do with your life". Some people pay a lot of attention to weather. There are lots of reasons to move or relocate when one retires. Weather is one of the main ones, but it is not the only one. Text

160 Aging and Expectations
Great expectations are things we associate with young people. But in this time period  retired people may have thirty or forty years of good life ahead of them. What are the expectations? Do we prepare for this period in life? Perhaps we should. Text

159 Changing Our Ways
Sometimes we just get tired of doing the same ol' thing. We want to change our ways. Here is a great example of a person doing just exactly that. And he isn't a spring chicken. Text

158 Elders and the Environment
Where did you learn to care about the environment? Who were your mentors? What role can today's elders play in the care of our earth? These questions evolved out of a recent conference I attended in Vancouver, BC. If your looking for something to do in retirement this might be a good choice. Text

156 Screen Apnea
Screen Apnea is like sleep apnea. It is a breathing problem. Ever notice how when you work on a computer or gaze at TV how the time just slips by. We tend to forget the rest of the world. Now it seems we even forget to breath; at least not like we should. Text

155 Chop Wood; Carry Water
Retiring means an active lifestyle for many. Just because we stop working for money doesn't mean we live in a world without things to do. Providing for family, friends, and humanity calls for action even from the enlightened, or perhaps especially from the enlightened. Text

153 "Who Made That Rule, Anyway?"
The way we live is often determined by a set of existing rules. Sometimes we may need to pause and inquire as to their validity. Retired people enjoy a lifetime of experience by which to substantiate their views. Text

152 "Flat-Earthers" How Do We Know What Is True
Two widely divergent political groups dominate our countries politics. Why is there such a wide gulf between the two? Where do we get our beliefs? Are we even of the same species? Text

151 Venturing Into Politics
Retirement years are time where one has time to read, talk, write and practice politics. Politics can become a main interest for many retired folks.  Wisdom gained through years of living might make political life more meaningful for all. Text

150 How Much is Enough?
Thoughts of retiring always bring thoughts  of money. Do we have enough to live on the rest of our life? Here is an example of thoughts that we weighed when considering the money question. So far so good. Text
 
148 Bicycling and Retirement
Bicycling and retirement seem to go together for many of us. Bicycling can combine fun with exercise, running errands, and just getting around our community. It is good for our health, our pocket book, our environment and our health. Amazing! Text

Episode 146 Tenting, Biking and Elderhostel
Tenting, biking and Elderhostel somehow seemed tied together. They seem to attract like-minded people: young at heart, adventurous, and interesting. Age does not seem to dampen their enthusiasm for life. Here is the story of three such travelers.   Text

144 Retirement Talk and Technology
Here is a description of the technology used and the technological changes that have been required to maintain this podcast as it moves into its fourth year of production. If podcasting is something you have considered in retirement this information might be useful. Text

142 Retired and Traveling by Train
Train travel is becoming a more appealing method of transportation. Roy Ingham shares some of his thoughts gained via riding Amtrak on many extensive trips over the last decade or so. From one corner of the country to another, he has ridden the rails.

141 Downsizing
The idea of downsizing brings many questions to mind. The location and size of the house in which we live is important. Perhaps more important than we realize. It can be an opportunity to re-evaluate the way we live. Text

Episode 140 Michael Jackson Meets John Donne
"Any man's death diminishes me...".  John Donne's famous words were brought to mind by Michael Jackson's memorial service. We all have at least two things in common: we all make mistakes and we all die. Text

Episode 138 Reunions
Retirement and reunions seems to go hand in hand. The question: "Are you going to the reunion?" comes up often. I just experienced my first. Here's the story. Text

Episode 137 Retirement's Many Roads
My neighbor down the street retired last year and is still, "lost". He can't figure out what he wants to do with all of this time. Retirement can freeze us with over-choice. It is important to make a choice. Text

Episode 135 Doing the Dishes
Daily routines present themselves to us in retirement - like it or not. Is it possible to turn these into pleasurable moments? The Myth of Sisyphus may be our salvation. Can we learn to, "love our rock"? Text

Episode 133 Retirement and Needs
We all have needs throughout our lives. In this podcast Dick Smith considers our needs and how they relate to retired folks. What do we need to not only sustain us but to allow us to flourish at this stage in our lives. Text

Episode 132 Heroes
We all have heroes. We need heroes. Pete Seeger is one of mine. Here is a guy with a banjo and a backbone who became an icon during his life time. What is it about people that make them heroic in our minds or our lives?  Text

131 Time for Indulgence - the Coffee Shop
Taking time for coffee is one of the pleasure of our retired life. For over twenty years we have found time for a trip to the coffee shop on a daily basis. Some might call this a wast of time; but time that is enjoyed is never time wasted. Text

130 Road Trip Part 18: Reflections Over Lessons Learned
The last step in the Epicurean development of the Cult of Happiness is to reflect on our planning and actualization. In completing the Road Trip Series the reflections prove enlightening.  There were steps to emulate and omissions that should be corrected. Text
                                                                                                                                                                                                

We all have moments when we think we don't have enough friends. Where can we get some new friends? That is a question that is often asked. Maybe if we look back we will find direction to developing new friends. This retirement podcast offers a few suggestions. Text