Introduction

Introduction: Mapping Out a Plan for the Rest of My Life and Enjoying the Journey

My Golden Years are an extension of the life I have lived up to retirement which began on December 1, 2011. I have organized this blog to include the top ten relevant topics shown below in the right side column in General Topics. Just click on one and you will see all that I have written on that topic. Click on the Most Current tab for chronological order of all entries.

I have addressed each topic in no particular order other than what is currently on my mind on the day I am posting. I started each topic by describing where I was when I began this blog and then exploring the possibilities of progression and any goals that I would like to meet. After that, I write about the path to reach that goal as it happens. Sometimes I just write about what is happening now.

I welcome any comments and questions either on this blog or email as I travel these paths and hope to share my growth with interested persons who may find some common elements in their own path to the rest of their life. I hope to use my skills as an appraiser for nearly 30 years to continue to observe different perspectives on a subject and reconcile into a conclusion that is of value to me. Please join me whenever you like. Email notice of new posts is no longer available so just bookmark the address.

The Blog Archive tool is helpful to find posts by year. Of most importance to me is the confidence developed in my intuitive skills over the years and it is that part of my character I am trusting to define value in my life. I believe change can be good and I can be enriched by believing in my true self using my intuition. The analytical part of my life no longer has a financial grip and I can let go of what absolutely made sense at the time in favor of what feels right now. I have done a lot of work since this blog began in 2011 and I hope you will join me as I explore this approach in My Golden Years.


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Sunday, December 4, 2016

5th Retirement Anniversary - Entertainment

One of the advantages of writing a personal retirement blog is the ability to look back on posts and reflect on the paths I have chosen that led me to where I am now and where I'd like to be in the next five years.  I am happy that I organized this blog in a way that allows me and the reader to see my goals' progress in the top ten categories of relevance to me.  Many of my posts cross into more than one category or "Label."  It is a good time for me  to look back from the first post in each category or "Label" and summarize the highlights to see the level of progress made in my first five years of retirement.  I can more clearly see a path ahead and adjust or make new goals.

I will write ten posts on this 5th Retirement Anniversary addressing each category or "Label." I can also see the stats and which posts have had the most public views.  At this time, my blog had 22,400 views.  That's about 100 views per week in 18 different countries around the world!  It is very rewarding to know that there is interest in what I have to say.  By helping myself I must be helping others with similar interests.  It is an incentive to continue.

Here are my brief summaries of the first five years of retirement and goal adjustments I want to make at this time.  If you want more information on a subject, please scroll down on the right side of the main page and click on the first months in 2011 where you will see where I'm coming from.      
My journey continues....

Entertainment

It looks like I broke this down into two areas:  Home Entertainment and Away Entertainment.  

Home Entertainment - Since I retired there have been many significant updates in entertainment products at home including a Kindle Reader, LG Smart TV and MacBook Pro laptop.  It was the first order of business to update the 60" Smart TV and that included a good sound bar.  It replaced an old RCA console.  In the past few years, our antenna TV has increased free channel access especially in programs we like most.  So now we enjoy 18 different channels for free!  Along with Video CD's and Netflix, our Smart TV has more entertainment available than we can imagine!  It is also 3D!  Eventually two other, smaller TV's were replaced.

When all that was paid for, I got my first laptop and printer.  I had always had computers since 1994 but had to share with family and those that were provided from my employer.  It was a good time to go Mac instead of Microsoft as I was ready to make the more creative change.   It also felt more like being retired as I spent so much of my time using Microsoft for work.  My genealogy research was now complete with a new Family Tree Maker Program and subscription to Ancestry.  Busy times!

I made the decision to stay with a flip cell phone and not get into all the changes I would need to make for a smart phone.  I am definitely technically capable but I am still in favor of keeping my life simple.  A smart phone does not compliment my lifestyle now or the foreseeable future unless I fall into being a trend-follower which is not likely!  I am regularly evaluating how a smart phone would improve my life and so far, it weighs more in favor of complicating it.   Right now it's a "maybe."

Updating music from online sources such as Amazon to a new MP3 player regularly keeps me happy.  Music is a big part of my exercises when I walk, do yoga, and use the machines at the gym.  I also include it when I work on projects at my desk.  My husband set up a whole new stereo system downstairs that is awesome!

Away Entertainment - Most of what we do away from home for entertainment includes a meal and a movie.  There are 3-4 theaters in three cities that we frequent 2-3 times a month.  We like to go to our favorite restaurants mostly but also like to try some place new occasionally.  One of the theaters is closed now and will reopen in a few months as a dinner/movie/drink place.  That will be something to look forward too; a new trend, I suppose.  Love the comfort of recliners in roomy theaters which we have seen as remodeling changes in recent years.  I especially like to go to movies alone in the middle of the day more but always welcome company when available.  Whenever possible, we like to include some shopping or practice our handgun skills at an indoor range on these outings to make it an all-day event.

There have been many fun trips away and local events we attend together or I go alone.  This blog is a good place to share experiences and photos.  I hope to be healthy and open to new experiences for fun and entertainment especially when my husband retires in a couple years.  









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