Blog
Weekly articles about how to live a secure, fulfilling retirement.
Nothing gold can stay: A brief reflection on losing my childhood home
I grew up in a house that my father built. He and my grandfather cleared the land, dug the basement, laid the blocks and framed the walls. He did the plumbing (he was a plumber by trade), the electrical, the finish carpentry, the painting and...
Don’t underestimate the power of small wins.
Research shows that most people have abandoned their New Year’s Resolutions by now. I’m even worse. I haven’t made mine yet! Life has been so busy the last few months, I haven’t yet finished my typical annual review and set my goals for the year. So I’m doing that...
Navigating Life’s Transitions (Part 2): Understanding and overcoming challenges so you can make the most of your next chapter.
We dropped our daughter off at college (she’s been doing great) and that means that my wife and I are now officially empty nesters. In my last post, I discussed the emotions that accompany major life transitions like empty nesting or retirement. Today let’s look at...
Navigating Life’s Transitions: Understanding the emotions that accompany change so you can make the most of your next chapter.
Our daughter graduated from high school a few months ago and is heading off to college soon. Needless to say, we’ve been filling our long summer days with fun and making the most of the time before she leaves (sorry for my reduced writing schedule!). She’s...
Waste hours, not years
Psychologist Amos Tversky once said: “You waste years by not being able to waste hours.” His quote was part of a broader conversation he was having about doing good research, but I think you can apply the sentiment to retirement as well. Your ideal life doesn't just...
The secret to retirement, disguised as a pottery story
I was listening to a podcast* recently where the guest told a story about a pottery teacher. At the beginning of the semester, he divided the class into two groups. His instructions to the first group were to make the absolute best pot they could make. They only...
So I will weave today on a loom I built for me
I enjoy poetry because it uses an economy of words to convey an important message or feeling. I recently stumbled across a YouTube channel run by a cowboy named Dewayne Noel and I watched a few of his videos. I don’t have horse, so I can’t relate to his vocation...
How to plan a trip to a Christmas market
The year has flown by. It’s hard to believe, but the holidays are just around the corner. If you’re looking for a unique experience or just a great way to get in the Christmas spirit, consider planning a trip to a Christmas...
Why inflation is so dangerous
If you’re at all familiar with investing, you’ve probably heard of the rule of 72. Basically, if you divide 72 by the rate of return you get on your investments, the result will tell you roughly how long it will take to double your money. For example, if you’re...
Consistency vs. Intensity
How long do you have until retirement? Twenty years? Five years? Already there? With your answer in mind, read this quote by Shane Parrish: “The longer the time frame for results, the less you need intensity and the more you need consistency.” In other words, if...
7 tips for taking fantastic photos with just your phone
I used to take my bulky digital SLR camera with me on every trip, along with its assortment of lenses, tripods and attachments. I had a separate piece of luggage to carry it all. Now I just take my iPhone because the camera on it has gotten so...
How to keep inflation from derailing your retirement
One way to think about retirement is as an equation. Kind of like A + B = C. Except it’s more like A + B + C + D + E + F + G + H = I. “I” is your ideal retirement. Your ideal life. That’s the goal. The stuff to the left of the equals sign is what makes “I”...