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You Need to Choose ContentmentFor Barbara, she said she is so blessed because there are so many people hurting and needy. I don't need to be so anxious, and worried and frustrated and upset. I need to choose contentment.Much like those of us that met our spouse, and we were attracted. We fell in love as they say, at least for Barbara it was pretty quick. It was not a feeling, it was a decision. Marriage isn't easy. Being with another person isn't easy. But if you're going to stay with someone for a long time, you make a commitment. For her, she’s making a commitment to contentment.It’s Kind of DisappointingAs we were approaching Thanksgiving was all of us were kind of upset, because we weren't gonna be able to see our family members. We all shared that each one of us as a couple would be the first time in our lives, that we would just be the two of us. And as those days approached, Barbara was kind of upset. It's like wait a second, we don't get to see our kids and our family.Again in Washington State which Barbara wrote about it in her 1-year journey into retirement blog. COVID cases just shot up like a rocket ship, and they're still going up. So her children made the call, they said mom, dad, it's not safe, so we're not coming.But It was Kind of a BlessingBarbara and her husband could have gone to different places. But they decided for the first time to stay home. It was a blessing to her because usually, her husband is watching football games on TV with the guys. She did miss what she calls the hen house, where the gals in her family were very loud and very talkative. Also, there's usually wine around the island and they're all cooking.But this time, her husband prepared the whole meal with her and that was very, very different. The fact that was just the two of them, it was so quiet. It was a blessing. But Barbara knows that someday, hopefully, next year, we'll have the raucous, loud Thanksgiving holiday.What Barbara wants to remember is 2020 was the year that it was just her and her husband. So that fit into some of her contentment as well.Be Happy and ContentedRemind yourself that the grass is always greener on the other side. Contentment does not preclude ambition, it is simply appreciation, gratitude, and acceptance for the way things are right now.Read all of Barbra's blog posts by visiting https://www.rockyourretirement.com/blog/

If you are a new listener to the show, we have a lot of back episodes where you can find information that you're looking for. But starting with Episode 239, which was three episodes ago, we started following the life of Barbara mock. This is section one of this one year project, there will be 12 sections, which we will release on a monthly basis, so be sure to subscribe.Have You Made That Decision Yet?Today, Barbara, and I talk about the messy middle. This is the place where you have made the decision to retire. But you're not retired yet. You're getting ready. You're planning. you're filling out forms, taking classes, creating your checklist, checking things off, it's during this messy middle. That things start to get real, it starts to get a little scary.You're looking at how permanent your decision is. This is the part where things can get a little messy at home too. Because even though we might have discussed it with our significant other, when it starts to get real, things can pop up that you didn't think about before. And as Barbara promised, when she embarked on this journey with us, she tells us everything. Remember Barbara promise to be vulnerable.The Messy MiddleBarbara is halfway through looking back and halfway through looking forward to that retirement. The other day, it's fall in the Pacific Northwest, raking leaves on a gorgeous sunny day. Suddenly, she kind of felt like the changing of the seasons is a metaphor for what she's going through right now. When she first started in the summer, everything was new and bright and shiny and exciting, full of energy. Now that fall has arrived, having wind and rain and leaves flying everywhere, she's thinking that's a picture of how she's feeling right now. And then as winter comes she would just like to curl up with a good book and sit by the fire.But I'm thinking that spring is going to be my new life. And I'm going to be coming out of this season of the past and looking forward. And in some ways that is exciting. But it's also a little scary because it's so permanent.

The transition to retirement can be tricky for many, as spending discretionary income we can’t earn back seems risky. The last time that we got together, Barbara and I were talking about her pending vacation. Not only her pending vacation, but the vacation that she just went on, and how that was similar to a mini-retirement. Today we are talking about canceled plans. And I'm sure that you the listener has had some canceled plans this year, too.Planning is Difficult During This Period of TimeI've had a couple of canceled plans. When COVID first started, I was really just getting off of a cruise. We almost didn't go on that cruise but my husband and I kept going back and forth on it. Like many, we didn't think the virus was going to get as bad as it did. What we di was we prayed about it. For those of you who listen, you know that I am someone who prays. It's not something that I focus on during the show, but we prayed about it and we ended up going on our trip. Honestly, that last cruise was probably one of the most interesting cruises we've ever been on because it was the cruise that kept going back and forth to Florida. For one reason or another, we kept heading back to the port.Since then, though, I had a trip to Hawaii, that was canceled, a wedding that was canceled, and a lot of other events that have been canceled or postponed. 

We continue to follow Barbara Mock through her retirement journey. For the next year, she is letting us live vicariously through her eyes, telling us what it's like to go through the stages of retirement.Practicing for RetirementFor many people, traveling is one of the things they enjoy most about retirement. Barbara took some time off of work and went on a little mini practice retirement. She and her husband went on a trip to Priest Lake Idaho with some friends they have known for over 40 years and have kept in contact with. Everything sort of fell together last minute and she said it was magical and even thought to herself, is this what retirement could be like?Having fun with friends that they have known forever and ever kind of made her realize that maintaining friendships over a long period of time is really going to be something valuable to as we retire. After 3 days, their friends had to go back to work so Barbara and her husband dusted of their camping equipment went camping at Farragut State Park in Lake Pend Oreille. They hadn't camped in the dirt for 20-25 years. They put up their tent, watched the stars, and had a romantic time. We talked about the next day where Barbara and her husband met a couple and shared a boat ride and a meal with them. What both of them learned is that you can make friends anywhere if you're open to it.Your Spouse and RetirementNot only has she been practicing for retirement, but Barbara has also been doing a lot of reading and research. She wants to plan for the emotional outlook of retirement but how it will impact her relationship.  Her husband is not as willing to research but will discuss it. During a 7-hour car ride on Barbara's practice retirement/ vacation, she learned a lot. She learned that her husband has sort of been putting his retirement on hold waiting for her to retire and that he loves golf. Her husband had taken up a sport that Barbara loved and she wanted to make sure that she was taking interest in things he loves as well.They have also been having conversations every day. There is an enormous amount of planning and preparation it is taking her to prepare. She had no idea how many checklists and things you need to get in order prior to retirement. Social Security, financial planning, estate planning, medical insurance, social life, traveling, downsizing, or moving, among many other decisions that have to be made.Focusing on workBarbara does find it a little difficult to focus on work with her impending retirement. Especially after her practice retirement vacation. However, with work being very busy right now it helps her stay focused on her job.Pretty much everyone at work knows by now that Barbara is retiring. Some offer advice and most tell her she will love it. Barbra did reach out to an old colleague who has been retired for about 10 years. What she told Barbara was amazing. It was so inspiring. She's in her 70s her husband's in her 80s. And she said, keep moving, move, don't become fragile. She and her husband have stand up paddleboards, they go kayaking, and they are avid snow skiers, they ski all over the world and in the US. She has a bike that she rides, she has an organic garden, and she does yoga and works out every morning! So that was her advice. Stay strong, exercise, and keep working out so that you can do the things in your retirement that you want to do.Have you thought about practicing for retirement? Or if you have already retired, how did you prepare? Were there things that were surprising to you? Let us know in the comments below.Read all of Barbra's blog posts by visiting https://www.rockyourretirement.com/blog/Episodes and websites MentionedWhat a retiring Executive Needs besides MoneyYour Retirement Quest by Alan Spector and Keith LawrenceAfford Anything PodcastFritz Gilbert- Creating a Retirement JarThis episode is sponsored by http://MedicareQuick.com

Barbara Mock is getting ready to retire.  Here's what's happening.  Follow her journey over the next 12 months.  For full show notes, go to Rock your Retirement.This episode is sponsored by South Carolina Medigap Plans

Kathe pops in for a short message explaining about the new format of the Rock Your Retirement Show.  Go to http://RockYourRetirement.com for details.This show is sponsored by MedicareQuick.

Update 8/3/2020:  We are changing the format of the show.  Stay tuned.  We will still be releasing at least monthly but you are going to LOVE what's coming!! (Also if you added a comment here earlier, we had a computer blip that affected this post.  It wasn't you, it was us.  Sorry about that). I […] The post Not Exactly Goodbye… appeared first on Rock Your Retirement.

If you are living in a multi-generational household or considering it, you must listen to this series. Last week we discussed the pros and cons of multi-generational living. Today, we are talking about tips for living in a multi-generational household. Multi-generational living means a single household that includes family members of several generations, grandparents, parents, […]The post How Multi-Generational Living Will Work Ep 237 appeared first on Rock Your Retirement.

Are you living in a multi-generational household or considering having your parents move in? Do you take care of aging parents as well as your own children? Do you know someone who is having challenges with caring for their parents? If any of these situations are yours, then this series is for you. If you’re […]The post Is Multi-Generational Living for You? – Ep 235 appeared first on Rock Your Retirement.

Are you living in a multigenerational household or are you considering having your parents move in? Do you take care of aging parents as well as your own children? Do you know someone who is having challenges with caring for their parents? If any of these situations are yours, then this series is for you. […]The post Challenges for the Sandwich Generation -Ep 234 appeared first on Rock Your Retirement.

Adults in their 30s – 50s have parents age 65 and older and are either raising a young child or financially supporting a grown child. With an aging population and a generation of young adults struggling to achieve financial independence, this stress takes a toll not only on personal relationships but also affects the relationship […]The post The Sandwich Generation – Episode 233 appeared first on Rock Your Retirement.

Some baby boomers are moving to and retiring in Mexico. They are doing this not just to save money, but to have a better retirement lifestyle. I talked with Travis Scott Luther who wrote a book called The Fun Side of the Wall: Baby Boomer Retirement in Mexico. Travis completed a thesis in 2010 about baby […]The post Baby Boomers Retiring in Mexico- Episode 232 appeared first on Rock Your Retirement.

Love is a complex word, which we will be talking about today, specifically finding love during your senior years. Our guest speaker Dr. Joan Bragar has helped successful women use online dating to find a loving life partner. She wrote the book on it called, “Never too Late for Love: The Successful Women's Guide to […] The post Finding True Love in Your Senior Years -Ep 230 appeared first on Rock Your Retirement.

I wanted to let you know what the future is for the Rock Your Retirement Show. If you have listened to the episode where I discussed my traumatic event, you’ll remember that I’m re-evaluating my life. This event was life-changing for me. If you haven’t listened to the episode, and you are interested, just go […] The post Not Exactly Goodbye…. appeared first on Rock Your Retirement.

Are you still working even though you are able to retire if you wanted? I started the Rock Your Retirement show in 2016.  Since then it has been downloaded over 220,000 times. Potential sponsors have reached out to me.  And I've been asked many times why I started the show. It started as a personal […] The post Why Can’t we Pull the Trigger and Retire? appeared first on Rock Your Retirement.

Aging takes place against a backdrop of grief. It’s the little losses and then the larger losses Today my guest is Stephanie Raffelock. Stephanie wrote a cute inspirational book called, A Delightful Little Book on Aging. I read the book and I absolutely loved it!  How Did the Book Come About? The book sort of came about […] The post An Inspiring Conversation on Aging- Episode 228 appeared first on Rock Your Retirement.

  Are you looking for creative things to do at home? We have compiled a list of some interesting ideas! Whether you are hunkering down, sheltering in place, staycationing, or whatever you term our time as we are trying to be safe during COVID-19, there is something for everyone in this list. I covered some […] The post COVID-19 and Creative Things to do at Home appeared first on Rock Your Retirement.

How to save money during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond Today I am running an interview where I was the guest on the TalkOne Radio Show. The host of the show is Alan Flowers and there is also a co-host named Skip. This is a live local radio show but my husband and editor, Les, […] The post COVID-19: Tips on How to Save Money-Ep. 226 appeared first on Rock Your Retirement.

Today we're talking once again with Fritz Gilbert. He came on our show last year after he retired. And we invited him back to tell us how it's been going two years into retirement. Fritz was on episode 198. So if you haven't heard it, go back and listen to it, it might be surprising […] The post Spending Time in Retirement – Episode 225 appeared first on Rock Your Retirement.

Chad “Coach” Carson is my coach when it comes to real estate investing, but we invited him to come on the show because he believes in stoicism and doesn’t believe that we should be overly optimistic when it comes to dealing with COVID -19. It is okay to be an optimist, but in these times […] The post COVID-19: Chad Carson talks about Stoicism appeared first on Rock Your Retirement.