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Finding our Purpose in LifeFor this episode, I will give you an update on my retirement quest, we have a health segment on Pickleball, and Barbara will give an update on how her actual retirement is going.Six Pillars of Retirement LifestyleSince the last episode, I've been working on my own six pillars of retirement lifestyle.Significant Other- Les and I took an impromptu day trip the other day. We're trying to avoid just staying at home and watching TV. Our relationship is strong. But we're both struggling right now with our lack of social activities.Friendship-Over the last month, I've been making an effort to solidify some of the relationships that I formed over the last few years since I've moved here. In a fifty-five-plus community with a lot of clubs, it's easy to make a lot of acquaintances. But there's a difference between being friendly with someone and actually being friends with someone.Family- On the family side I've had a disappointment. My estranged brother recently informed us that he won't be attending my father's memorial service that he helped plan last year. I’m really disappointed that my brother's not coming, although honestly, I kind of knew he wouldn't. You know, all of us have family disappointments, and mine is no different.On a positive note, I'm trying to build my relationships with other family members. I usually don't send my siblings gifts for their birthday. But this year, to help strengthen our relationships, I sent my two sisters a gift for their birthday. I know it's a small thing, but it's what I did to help with those relationships.Spiritual- My spiritual pillar is also indeed lacking. Part of it is because I'm really not ready to attend church again. We are currently in an uptick of COVID cases where I live. And not only that, but I know at least three people who have died. They were all fully vaccinated, and one was healthy and in her late 40s. So yeah, I'm scared. And yeah, I'm not as social as I once was because of that. But I've been working on this. And I'm trying to give thanks for what I have. I've also been meditating and praying, and I've been reading my former pastor's daily emails.Health-On the health side, I've been doing very well. If you're a regular listener, then you already know that I lost 20 pounds during COVID. I know, totally opposite of what most people did. It's been a struggle, but worth it. Because I'm lighter now, I can do more. I'm swimming once a week, I'm doing water aerobics five days a week, and synchronized swimming twice a week. I know, you think I'm probably going to turn into a fish, at least Les thinks that. In addition to all the water activities that I'm doing, I watch what I eat. However, I'm disappointed that my cholesterol is still high.Purpose- I struggle with this and it is one of the reasons I'm still working. If I'm not working, then what is my purpose in life going to be? Is it this show? Is it doing fun things? I mean, doing fun things isn't really a purpose, is it? I don't have grandkids, so they can't be my purpose. So, until I figure it out, I'll still work because I really do enjoy helping people.So, tell me, help me out. What's your purpose in life? Have you figured that out yet? Send me an email, at Podcast@RockYourRetirement.com and tell me what you're doing? What is your purpose in life?Health SegmentFor this week’s Rock Your Retirement Health Segment, I have Lynn Cherry with me. She is the host of a podcast called Pickleball Fire. As you can imagine, she talks about pickleball. Lynn moved from North Texas to Connecticut and needed to find an indoor activity to do during the winter. She went to her local gym to check out what pickleball was about. She ended up playing that day and immediately loved it!It's a game very popular with people in their 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, and even 80’sLynn enjoyed the sport so much she ended up starting a website to grow and promote the sport. During the beginning of the pandemic in 2020, she actually started her podcast.Among other things, Lynn talks about what pickleball is, why a lot of older people really love the sport, and how it’s played.I asked Lynn to tell me if there was one thing that you want our listeners to learn about pickleball what would it be? She said in terms of the game if you need something to do and to get up off the couch to try pickleball. She said that it isn’t like going to the gym. It is fun, easy and she has even interviewed someone on her Podcast who lost 100 pounds by playing pickleball! So, it is definitely great exerciseIf you don’t like going to the gym, or don’t have a membership to one, and would like to find a pickleball court near you, Lynn has you covered.If you go to https://pickleballfire.com/courtsyou can find various places to play. And within that search feature, you can also find instructors. She said it isn’t necessary to get an instructor but if that is something you would be interested in that is another option.Pickleball is becoming so popular that there are even restaurants that are putting in pickleball courts! You can visit https://chickennpickle.com/ to check it outWhat’s is going on in Barbara’s Life?We talk about Barbara’s recent trip to Mexico with her friend. There was actually a hurricane coming during her trip but thankfully, they did not get a direct hit where they were staying. Then, a few days following that, there was a devastating hurricane in Louisiana.There was one day during her trip where she was walking by herself and just kind of asking God what's going to happen now with fall approaching. With everything shutting down, she was coming to the conclusion that she needed to cancel all of her trips and just stop planning because it's just so unpredictable.Not having plans is difficult for Barbara. Learning to live through a pandemic is not easy and like all of us, Barbara is trying to figure out how to navigate her “new normal”We talked about Barbara trying to find her purpose. She decided she needs to just accept and lean into this fall, that it's not going to be what she planned. But she needs to be okay with it.Final thoughts from Barbara on Finding PurposeIt's realizing that having a plan is one thing but being able to adapt that plan to the conditions that there are at the time, not getting too attached to one specific vision. Because then you can miss the butterflies. You can miss out on what's right in front of you. Something as simple as taking a dog for a walk or taking a child for a walk. There are so many things that we tie up with entertainment. Going to a place like Disneyland or going on a cruise or going to Mexico, when really right around us there is life being lived.There are wonderful people and there are stories to be heard. And in our zeal to program our lives to book a trip, how many times are we missing out on things that are right around us? Because we're just not looking for it? Because we're so focused on this future thing. So for me, I have no regrets about retiring. I have felt so enriched this summer, I'm so grateful. It’s kind of like get over yourself. So what if you don't get all your plan. Find something else to pivot on. Take a class, learn to paint, call a friend. It's just kind of like, say yes to life, and quit worrying about the things you don't have is the lesson I've been learning this summer. To get a copy of The Baby Boomer’s 30-Day Journal go to: www.RockYourRetirement.com/JournalTo join our Newsletter visit RockYourRetirement.com/NewsletterIf you want to check out Lynn's website or podcast on pickleball you can visit https://pickleballfire.com/This post of Retirement and Retirement Lifestyle first appeared on http://RockYourRetirement.com

As you may know, we have been following Barbara Mock’s retirement. This is our one-year anniversary. Barbara went from pre-retirement in other words, the preannouncement to the day of the announcement and now we are following her post-retirementWhat is Barbara up to?She spent the first week of July getting ready to help with Vacation Bible School which was very rewarding. There were 438 kids in all.There were about 120 volunteers, and about 90 of them were high school and junior high students.Barbara got in a tug of war and was in some of the games. Needless to say, it was very exhausting for her!There were about 120 volunteers, and about 90 of them were high school and junior high students.Barbara got in a tug of war and was in some of the games. Needless to say, it was very exhausting for her!“The little kids just give you hope for the future. They were just amazing.”She also just finished up Nana Camp with her 3 grandchildren and it was everything Barbara had hoped for. The precious time with her grandkids was amazing. They just left a few days ago and she is still recovering with the laundry, the house, and just her energy levels, but super rewarding.No Schedule and UncomfortableSo now Barbara is in a new month, and everything is blank. There is nothing on her calendar.  She literally went from going 100 miles an hour to just stopping. Life is just unstructured with no schedule, and that's an uncomfortable place for Barbara to be.Barbara is a planner and with nothing in her schedule right now I asked her how she is managing.“I’m driving my husband crazy. I keep putting out possibilities for things they can do.  And while they're not big decisions, as a retiree, you want to make good decisions, you want to use your time wisely. You want to use your money wisely. you today to look ahead, figure out what you want to do, where you want to go, and how you're going to get there and how you're going to pay for it.”Focusing and MeditationI asked Barbara if she has ever thought about mediation. And like many of us, she struggles to just sit quietly with ourselves and not have our minds wander. I use an app called brain.fm to help me meditate. I feel like giving your brain a rest, even for a few minutes a day is good for your brain and it is a good way to help prevent getting dementiaClub MedI talked about a recent vacation Les and I took to ClubMed in Florida. This is an all-inclusive resort so the food, drinks and many activities are included. The food is absolutely amazing, some of the best I've ever had. There were some pros and cons to our trip and we did end up leaving two days early, but overall we had a really nice time. What Next?Barbara enjoys connecting with people, so she plans on cultivating some new friendships and gathering with current friends.There is also a bit of uneasiness for Barbara on what's next for the fall and winter. Predictions show a very wet fall and winter where Barbara lives and she doesn't want to be there the whole time. So she is feeling a bit anxious that she hasn't filled that space with anything yet. We talked about the idea of putting ideas of places to go during the winter months as sort of a retirement idea jar She is planning on slowing down just a bit since things have been so busy for her. So, her focus right now will be relaxing, reading, walking/hiking, getting exercise, and of course her ladies golf two days a week.  Barbara is hoping that she can keep a good balance. She feels like she needs things to stimulate her intellectually and emotionally. "I think our brains are better when we're interacting with other people or other cultures or going to different places. I think for seniors anyway, it's good to not just sit at home and watch TV, it's good to get out. And even if it's in your neighborhood, experience other places, and other things so that you can actually have a memory triggered, so that you can use your brain that way."Health SegmentFor our health segment, we have Jon Pearlman, co-founder of Mission Lean the leading fitness app for anti-aging. Today John and I talked about stretching. It is important, for older adults, especially sticking to a consistent flexibility routine is a must. A lot of injuries that an older person might suffer from having to do with a lack of flexibility and a lack of range of motion. This can be avoided if somebody just commits to a consistent routine of flexibility and stretches.John recommends 3-5 times a week of 10 minutes a day stretchingAlso, your stretching routine should be done after your workout when your body is warm, and all the muscles are warm. Can you stretch when your muscles are cold?According to John, the answer is yes. It's not ideal because when you're warmed up, not only are your muscles activated and warm and ready to absorb those stretches to the fullest.Don’t forget to download the mission lean app to get more fitness routines and tips. To learn more, download the Mission Lean app on your cell phone or you can visit https://missionlean.comDo you have any questions? You can email your questions to Podcast@RockYourRetirement.com and we will try to answer them on the show.To get a copy of The Baby Boomer’s 30-Day Journal go to: www.RockYourRetirement.com/Journal

As you may know, if you have listened to our previous episodes, Barbara has spent the first part of her retirement doing a lot of traveling. She and her husband went on a golf trip and another trip to Utah with many stops along the way.There have, however, been some sad things happening and it’s related to Barbara's friends and family and their health.Her brother-in-law was just diagnosed with cancer. So they are all rallying around him. She has a very close family, and everyone lives on the same street. He is only 57 years old and the diagnosis is making him sort of rethinking his life and what he is doing. He is actually going to retire.Barbara also has a very close long-time friend how has just found out has some heart issues. He too is planning on retiring.Another friend had a quadruple bypass and another fiend is losing his eyesight. She has also had some friends and people close to her with health issues and pass away.So on one hand Barbara has had some great things going on in her life and then also some very sad things.I asked Barbara how she is feeling about the people in her life with health issues. She said she has been praying a lot but she is also just sad. She feels like you need to utilize the time you have and now and not just live for someday.I think when there is grief and loss it can cause you to focus on the right things. Family, friendships, quality time with peopleRenting E-bikesOn Barbara’s last trip to a wedding, they had decided they didn’t want to rent a car. She found this amazing concierge service that delivers bikes. She rented them for 3 days and they rode around Dana Point. They decided to rent e-bikes because the area was so full of hills. Best decision ever!  She said with an e-bike you are still peddling but the bike just gives you a little bit of an assist. There are pros and cons, of course, but for people that are of a certain age, or if your knees don't work as well or if your hips don't work, e-bikes are a game-changer. You're outside, you're able to go a much further distance. And as a result, you stay on them longer. Barbara was riding four to five hours a day, without any problem.Les and I just started doing water aerobics. I've noticed since I've lost the 20 pounds that I lost over the last year and a half. I'm sleeping better my brain is less foggy. There is a brain-heart connection. And so for the listener, if you're not exercising, try to find something that works for you. Whether it's walking or a combination of things. Studies have shown that getting your heart rate up can help with your brain health.Focusing on Health in RetirementWhat’s next for Barbara?For her birthday, her daughter bought her something called story worth. It's an application and her daughter was able to go through and choose about 50 questions. The program sends Barbara an email once a week with a question that her daughter picked out and she emails back the answer. After a year, once all the questions have been answered it publishes a book. I think the idea of you writing your memoir over the course of a year just by answering some questions, is fantastic!Barbara's church had a plea for help at the Vacation Bible School. So she will be teaching a group of 4th graders.We also talked about "Nana Camp"  She will have all 4 of her grandkids for a week. She and her husband decided they would do a play on The Amazing Race. So she is deep into planning for this major and exciting event coming up!.Health Break SegmentFor our health segment, we have Jon Pearlman, co-founder of Mission Lean the leading fitness app for anti-aging. John and I talked about the importance of warming up before your workout and why sticking to a great warm-up routine is going to enhance not only your workout but your longevity and fitness for years to come.Countless, scientific and sports studies out there have shown that people who warm up diligently before sports have improved performance, both across aerobic and anaerobic sports, such as cycling, running, and swimming. Even when John was training and competing as an athlete, warming up is was such an instrumental part of his routine. The Mission Lean app has anti-aging programs that include warm-ups. Depending on which workout you choose, there are at least two or three dynamic mobility, mobility, and flexibility, routines.Don’t forget to download the mission lean app to get more fitness routines and tips. To learn more, download the Mission Lean app on your cell phone or you can visit https://missionlean.comDo you have any questions? You can email your questions to Podcast@RockYourRetirement.com and we will try to answer them on the show.To get a copy of The Baby Boomer's 30-Day Journal go to: www.RockYourRetirement.com/Journal 

We last spoke with Barbara about a month ago and she is still in the honeymoon stage of retirement. She said it is like she is on an endless summer vacation.Barbara and her husband were planning a trip to St. George Utah, but they decided since she is retired, and they have more time, and life is more flexible, that they would drive instead of fly.Her husband planned a wonderful trip to get to their destination. They went from Washington to Oregon and from Oregon to Boise, Idaho, and then to Utah from there.Letting the planning reigns go for an endless summer vacationI asked Barbara what it was like for her to let her husband do all this planning because she is normally the “planner” in the family. She said for this trip she yielded happily. Her husband spent hours trying to figure out where to stay and what activities they would do because he wanted to mix it up between golf and walking or hiking.“He just did a great job. So, I guess in retirement, what I'm learning is roles can reverse a little bit. And that's okay. I think when I've initiated the trips, I needed the power and control. But with that comes a heavy responsibility of wanting to make sure people are having a good time and they're having fun.  Sometimes I just wasn't able to be in the moment where this was super relaxing.”Travel BudgetOne of the things that hold me back personally from retiring is not being able to replenish that bucket of money. Even though financially able to retire now, there is something holding me back. So Barbara I and talked about how she is managing her travel budget. Sometimes they make choices to spend less on other things such as maybe clothing for example to put extra funds in a travel budget. The one thing that is important to Barbara is that they never travel on credit. They always have the money when you think about your life, and all the different things that you choose to spend your money on, I just choose to not spend it in other areas of my life in order to travel, because that's my priority. That doesn't mean it needs to be yours. Maybe you travel to baseball games all the time, or you buy lots of things. Those are policy choices that each person can make.“You can afford anything, not everything”-Paula PantThe Kolob Arch HikeThis is a 14-mile hike where Barbara’s husband tried to kill her (not literally but it was very intense) The Kolob Arch is one of the largest natural arches in the world but it is seven miles in and seven miles out to see it. She used up all of her water and had to share it with her husband for the last mile.  Barbara was dehydrated, her heart was racing and she felt nauseous.  Her husband told her to put on her big girl pants. After it was over Barbara was very glad she did it. Her takeaway for the listener is this. If there are places that you want to see before you die, that require mobility and being in shape, you should do them. It gets harder the older you get.Barbara and I also talked about a miraculous experience she had while hiking. She and her husband ran into a street performer and healer and that has performed as “Angel Bird” all over the world, including Florence, Berlin, and Paris. She described her dance as a celebration of life and freedom. You can read more about this experience on Barbara's blog post: Snow Canyon and Angel BirdFrom being able to travel without time restraints to having the time to walk her grandchildren to school Barbara has learned that these moments she is making during her "endless summer vacation" are precious and she is so grateful she is able to make them.If you have any questions for Barbara, please feel free to email us at Podcast@RockYourRetirement.com and we will try to answer your question on the show.Health Break SegmentOne of the six pillars of retirement is Health and if you don't have your health, nothing else matters. For our health segment, we have Jon Pearlman, co-founder of Mission Lean the leading fitness app for anti-aging.John and I talk about flexibility for peak performance. So basically, how you can start to incorporate stretching into your workout. Stretching has shown to have a very positive impact on performance in workouts and just staying loose generally, in life. I think that tightness and stiffness is a large result of a lot of injuries that people suffer from out there and obviously the main goal of any fitness program whether it's mission lean or another one should be to keep the exerciser healthy and ready to go so that they don't have any interruptions and in with an injury. Especially for older people because it's well known that if you're older you might you have might have increased stiffness and decreased range of motion which will, in turn, make you more susceptible to injury. To learn more, download the Mission Lean app on your cell phone or you can visit https://missionlean.comTo get a copy of The Baby Boomer's 30-Day Journal go to: www.RockYourRetirement.com/Journal Read all of Barbara's blog posts by visiting https://www.rockyourretirement.com/blog/

Starting in August of 2020, we started following the life of a pre-retiree. The goal was to follow her from pre-retirement through the retirement process so you and I can live vicariously through her experience. We want to know what's happening as she goes through the process so we can better prepare ourselves.As you listen in, think of any questions you might have for our subject, Barbara Mock, who is teaching us what she is learning by doing. You can email those questions to us at Podcast@RockYourRetirement.com and we'll try to answer them in the show.The Honeymoon Stage of RetirementBarbara has been retired for a month now, so I asked her what stage of retirement she is in. Barbara says it has been such a fun adventure and it feels a lot like a honeymoon stage. We talk about why it feels like a honeymoon stage and things that have helped Barbara transition so quickly.Graduation TripBarbara’s husband also planned a retirement graduation trip. They flew to Phoenix, rented a car, and drove to Tubac Golf Resort. Barbara talks about her trip and her struggles with being a beginner golfer. She also wrote a blog post about it which you can read at Barbara's Graduation Trip.The one thing Barbara wasn’t expecting was the connections she made with total strangers during her trip. There were a lot of people who were the same age, newly retired, and had similar life experiences.Barbara also talks about the time she has got to spend with her 86-year-old father. They rented bikes and rode through the trail system in Tempe. You can go for miles, and he took them everywhere. He kept having to slow down and give Barbara and her husband water breaks! She also went to the pool with her father and got to spend some time just talking with him.I cannot remember a time in my life, where I got to sit with my daddy, and just talk for like two and a half hours. How come we never do this?Time is precious to me now, post-pandemic, I'm realizing that you never know how long you're going to have a parent in your life. It's easy to just assume they'll always be there. And now that I'm retired, I really want to be more intentional about spending time with my dad. I heard stories I'd never heard before I got to ask questions. And it was just the two of us. That was probably a highlight of the whole trip to spending time with him.Adding structure to life in retirementOne of the things that are adding structure to Barbara’s life is she joined two women's golf leagues. She does this twice a week and had no idea golfing with other women would be one of the most edifying, positive experiences she has had.She and her husband also I decided that they needed to do a day together each week. So they do Adventure Wednesdays. I absolutely love this idea! The adventure Wednesday has been really fun for them. Barbara's husband picks an activity like a hike or a place to go that neither of them has ever been before. At some point, they will take turns and Barbara will also plan Adventure Wednesday's but she says her husband nailed planning their first one and it was awesome!We also touched on compromising and talking with your spouse or significant other. A lot of times for someone who is newly retired, there becomes a lot of conflict in relationships because you are not used to spending so much time together. Communication and making adjustments are key.The honeymoon stage idea is not just the honeymoon of it's new, and it's different. But for us, it's been just a renewal of our marriage.So for now, Barbara is really enjoying this honeymoon stage of retirement. She said every day feels like Saturday and she really didn't expect retirement to be so amazing, and such a blessing. She thinks at this point her biggest challenge will be to not get over-scheduled.I just highly encourage any retirees during that space between being retired and transitioning, do something different to kind of shake you out of that habit or that schedule, so that you're not just sitting at home going. Now what?Health Break SegmentOne of the six pillars of retirement is Health and if you don't have your health, nothing else matters. For our health segment, we have Jon Pearlman, co-founder of Mission Lean the leading fitness app for anti-aging.Jon talks about telomeres which are the protective caps at the ends of DNA molecules that make up our chromosomes. The length of these telomeres determines how long the DNA inside will be protected, and ultimately how long that cell will live. Or, as I like to refer to it the anti-aging part of the cell.According to Jon, there's been a lot of scientific literature that has come out recently linking exercise to the health and length of telomeres. Particularly aerobic exercise. Whenever you head into a workout if you want to target it from an anti-aging perspective, you need to make sure that you not only do strength training but include exercise to raise your heart rate. To learn more download the Mission Lean app on your cell phone or you can visit https://missionlean.comTo get a copy of The Baby Boomer's 30 Day Journal go to: www.RockYourRetirement.com/JournalRead all of Barbara's blog posts by visiting https://www.rockyourretirement.com/blog/

One Farewell After AnotherIt starts with your retirement letter which was really hard to write. Barbara wanted to be really thoughtful, but she also wanted to say goodbye to her county executive who had faith in her to be a leader. Then you have to send a letter to HR and give them all the details of what you want with your leave time. That one letter unleashed a whole bunch of things.The first one was on that following week, the county council entered into a joint resolution with our county executive. Barbara was really humbled to be on my vacation called by the Council, you need to be at this meeting on Monday. it was so humbling to have the county executive and accounting Council, not only say nice things but actually adopt a resolution that will be in the county record forever.Farewell to Co-WorkersNo matter how much you’ve looked forward to the day of leaving your place of employment when the day comes, it might be a surreal experience. Make your transition easier for yourself and others by letting people that have touch your heart. Anyone Barbara could think of that God brought to mind that she needed to say a special word of goodbye. Sometimes she connected with them and they'd either burst into tears or were delighted, or exchanged phone numbers.A couple of people Barbara could tell were online. But they didn't pick up and she thought, Oh, well, maybe they're on a break. So then she'd leave on a really nice voicemail saying goodbye, saying if you want to stay in touch, and a few of them emailed her back and said, I'm sorry, I just couldn't take the call. I didn't want to cry. But on those hard days, when things are going bad, I'm going to play your voicemail.Finally, I'm RetiredI'm retired, I've been learning a lot, Barbara said. Next week, we fly to Arizona for kind of a romantic anniversary trip, combined with golf and sightseeing. It feels very strange. I Barbara have to mentally tell herself, you will never work again. You don't have a schedule. You don't have to worry about anything today. She thought it'd be harder to detach than it is. But when you don't have email or an office or things calling too, you really don't know what's going on, you dismiss the people that you were with. It's weird. It's just plain weird to not have that, especially when you've been doing something like this for so long, to just all of a sudden be on a permanent vacation.Retiring is Super EmotionalWhat was lost can be restored. And that is all your hopes, all your dreams. It's temporary. And if I'm an indicator of anything that's going forward, whatever it was, you felt like you missed out during the pandemic will be restored, but you'll be so much more grateful for it. The other thing I was learning, just hearing people is telling people how you feel about them in life before the memorial service. And that when God brings someone across your path, by showing them love or encouragement or empathy, you just don't know the impact it's going to have on them for that moment or that day. Exchange contact info with people that you want to stay in touch with. It's too overwhelming to do it all at the end. So give yourself some time for those people that you want to stay in touch with.Do you have any questions for Barbara?Do you have any just general questions? Email us your questions at Podcast@RockYourRetirement.com and we will try to answer them in the show.Read all of Barbara's blog posts by visiting https://www.rockyourretirement.com/blog/Mentioned in this episode:Six Pillars of Retirement LifestyleMissionLeanThis post of Retirement and Retirement Lifestyle first appeared on http://RockYourRetirement.com

It's Going to Be a Lot of Flurry and ActivityIn retirement, you're basically facing what is essentially the last transition of your life. During this phase of Barbara's retirement, she remembers when she got married, there was this big flurry, all the activity, all the things you have to do and get done. And then that day comes, whether you like it or not it comes, and the wedding is over. Then she remembers on their honeymoon, just feeling this sense of where are all the people, where's all the interaction, Because they went from all these people to just the two of them. So for Barbara, this retirement journey is going to be a lot of flurry of activity and things, and goodbyes this month but then in April, all that'll kind of go away.After the Goodbyes, There's a Connection DayWhen you retire, you're going to have a flurry of people wanting to say goodbye, even if you're in an office with five people, there's going to be some goodbyes. And then probably what you're figuring is going to be more of silence after that.Luckily, Barbara already has something planned when that time comes. One is, as she has conversations with people, and you kind of know is when they're saying, oh, I'd really like to stay in touch. And you're never quite sure if they're just saying that or if they want to. But these are for the ones that Barbara definitely wants to stay in touch with that she just doesn't want to lose contact with.There's a number of people that I would love to go to lunch with. And so there's gonna be a lot of time playing golf with her husband, but not as much as he does. Also, she wants to have a day of a connection, a reconnection day. It might be with an aunt, it might be with a cousin, but it might be with some of these people that she had grown to love over 44 years. She's spent more waking hours with these people than her own children and her husband, they are dear to her, and don't want to lose that connection. And she knows over time, people move on. But at least for a while. I think that'll be a landing spot.Even With What is Happening Today, Start to Plan AgainRetirement has looked quite different during the last year. Plans of travel have been replaced by isolation for many families. There are life circumstances, health issues, financial setbacks, there's always something that stops you possibly from having your, your dreams. And it's easy, as we've seen through this journey, to get discouraged, to get tired to get down.It just was just such a sense of relief and gratitude to the people that have worked so hard this past year to create or develop a vaccine. It's nothing short of miraculous. That is why Barbara has been planning to travel again. It may not be now, but she is still hopeful. It's such a celebration that we can consider doing things again, consider living again because so many of us have put our lives on hold and now we're starting to feel hopeful again.Do you have any questions for Barbara?Do you have any just general questions? Email us your questions at Podcast@RockYourRetirement.com and we will try to answer them in the show.Read all of Barbara's blog posts by visiting https://www.rockyourretirement.com/blog/Mentioned in this episode:Six Pillars of Retirement LifestyleThis post of Retirement and Retirement Lifestyle first appeared on http://RockYourRetirement.com

It Has Been a Roller Coaster of a RideTo describe today's health status since COVID, it's been a roller coaster. Before COVID, Barbara would get up really super early in the morning, going to a gym, working out with a personal trainer, and a team of people. Doing that a couple of days a week and then going in, treadmill, lifting weights in between, and then going into work, taking a shower, getting dressed, and starting her day. Then COVID hit and the governor closes down all the gyms. As an extreme extrovert, her mental health suffered significantly.So in those months in March, not only did Barbara stop leaving the house, it was depressing. And she started having a glass of wine or two, every night became much more sedentary. She started gaining an excessive amount of weight and felt like a slog. And it was just a downward spiral for her.Have Something to Look Forward ToWe have to have something to look forward to. We get stressed when we delve into a specific problem that we lose perspective. Figure out something to put on your calendar or something to look forward to because we don't have anything to look forward to, it just gets bleaker and bleaker and bleaker. Think about things for which you are grateful.Start Being HealthyWhen you eat sugar, it changes your blood sugar, and it causes you to be hungry or thirsty or you know, different things. And so just by removing that, already, it was just like incredible. It just wasn't serving Barbara's needs, or purposes anymore. But that's not to say that maybe someday when she's retired, sitting around the campfire, she might not enjoy a glass of wine.So what Barbara has been learning is the sugar that's in alcohol is what's not good for her. It causes her to either want to eat or drink more than she should. Just by replacing the sugars and the carbohydrates with fruits, vegetables, and lean meats, just makes her feel so much better and more motivated. There's a tie between what she eats and how she feels, and how motivated she to go out and do activities.Healthy Ways to CopeKeep up with daily routines as far as possible, or make new ones. Exercise, eat healthy meals and try to allocate time for working and time for resting. Also, make time for doing things you enjoy.Read all of Barbara's blog posts by visiting https://www.rockyourretirement.com/blog/ This post of Retirement and Retirement Lifestyle first appeared on http://RockYourRetirement.com

Get On the Right TrackSetting goals isn't enough. Though it helps us to create a plan, see the future, and stay on track to get things done, there's still a downside to goal setting. Setting and living your intentions allows you to focus on who you are in the moment, recognize and live your values, and raise your emotional energy, which in turn, raises your physical energy. Join us today inAs of this recording, she's still waiting for her retirement date, which is coming up at the end of March 2021. If you're listening to this in the future, start with our first episode of following her journey, and come along with us in sequence so that it'll make more sense. This first episode was titled, Barbara's Amazing Retirement Journey: Section 1. Today. Barbara and I will talk about intentions.Evaluate Your Goals and IntentionsBarbara really wants to forget the year that was passed except for a few highlights. Just looking forward and in the past, that was a time for them to look at their finances. Throughout Barbara's marriage, they would take the time between Christmas and New Year's to go through in whatever form they had with their bills, their expenses, and would evaluate their goals.  They would figure out what are they going to pay off because their goal was to be debt-free by this time.So they've been having a lot of conversations about what a weird feeling it is right now that they have done that on the eve of retirement. They don't have any debt. And they've minimized their expenses as much as possible. Now they're at the other side. Both of them have been kind of struggling because their pattern was the goal to pay off.Goal to Spend?Now, this shift that they haven't made very well is what's their goal to spend or stay neutral. They want to go places and do things. It has been pouring down rain everyday storm after storm landslides flooding, and it's bleak. There's been a lot to talk about, where will they be at this time next year? Where will they be in October? Because both of them know whether it's a week or a month or two months in the fall, and then probably come home for Christmas, because they didn't get a Christmas this year. But then right after Christmas head somewhere, and that is the discussion.They don't feel like they have to make a decision right now. But because they're a bit bored and can't go outside. They've been spending a lot of time. Barbara and her husband were always the people that are always saving for the future. And now, they're those people that can spend some money and go have some fun. It's a very weird thing and it's a big adjustment.Retirement is Going to be a BIG AdjustmentBarbara's husband is constantly saying with you retiring, and not working anymore, not putting money in a 401k not investing. That's going to be a big adjustment for both of us. And it's just a big adjustment in the way you think. So she'd be interesting to know, what have other people done? What have other people decided? We could go buy a new truck? Do we need one? We could buy a travel trailer? What size? Is it better to get a motorhome? Do you invest in something that big when you're not really sure that you're going to enjoy that? Or do you do vacation rental by owner? Or do you do trusted house sitters?It's just this whole world is available to them. And yet, they still have a mindset of, they need to save for retirement. Now it's here. It's very, very interesting discussions they're having these days.Barbara's 2021 IntentionsBarbara has tried to do new year's resolutions in the past. It works about till February. And if it's not a habit, within four weeks, it's not going to happen. So she made a list of the kind of her top 10. Printed them up, and stuck them on her bathroom mirror, It's not necessarily a resolution, but they're just reminders that she looks upon, and they're short. But the first one is to be open to new possibilities.Barbara has been doing the same department, not the same job. But she has been in the same place for 44 years. And it's just time to be open to kind of what's new. She's just kind of keeping an open hand and an open heart about what her life could be this year and just trying some new things.Find What Sets You UpFor those of us that are entering retirement, don't be in too big of a hurry to jump into a lot of things. But the things you do jump into make sure they're fulfilling and worthwhile and what you want. Because unlike a job where you need a paycheck, and maybe you stick in a lot longer than you normally would, because leaving a job and coming and going has its consequences. When you're retired, you should be able to do what you want, when you want to and, and derive some sense of satisfaction from it, rather than just enduring and sticking in.Read all of Barbra's blog posts by visiting https://www.rockyourretirement.com/blog/

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.