Unretirement Project – Retirement Redefined

Relocation? 8 Things to Consider When Deciding Where to Retire

October 18, 2017 by Sharlyn Lauby Leave a Comment

At some point, everyone thinks about where they want to retire. Even if it’s for a fleeting moment, we ask ourselves the question. I know many people who are downsizing – the kids are gone and they just don’t need the space. Or they want relocation to someplace where it’s warmer. Regardless of what prompts the conversation, there are a few things to consider when thinking about where to retire.

I’m sharing this list with you because these are the items Keith and I thought about when we made our decision to move. Yep, at some point next year, we will be moving to Gainesville, Florida (Home of the Florida Gators football team.) We’re very excited about the relocation and promise to share more as things happen.

Arts, Culture, and Sports – Does the city offer the types of activities you like to do? If you like the theater, there’s no sense in moving to some place without it. If you enjoy museums, does the city have some? We’re excited that Gainesville has several parks and nature trails. And while neither of us graduated from UF, my guess is we will get caught up in college sports. (I think it might be a requirement of living there.)

History, Demographics, Religion, and Politics – It’s pretty easy to look up the history of a city on Wikipedia. You can also check out census information and demographics in terms of gender, age, etc. It could also make some sense to look at the last election results. Do you feel your voice will be heard? And make sure you feel you can openly practice your faith in the city you choose.

Family and Friends – Most people already think of this, but it needs to be on the list. On a personal note, relocation is a little bittersweet for us. We will be moving away from terrific friends, but we are moving a little bit closer to family. The good news is we’re staying in the state, so hopefully, we can visit often. And Orlando is a great halfway point to connect.

Finances and Cost of Living – I think it’s hard to figure out actual cost of living. We looked at those online indexes but I think you can get a better feel when you’re actually spending time in the city. Go to a grocery store and check out prices. Eat dinner at a few different types of places. We’ve been told that property taxes are higher in GNV because of the university, but food and housing are definitely less expensive.

Health Care – Does the city you’re considering have enough health care options? And if this is what you’re calling “your final relocation”, do they have senior or elder care options? I know we don’t like to discuss these things but, at some point, you have to.

News – What makes the news in your chosen city? We added a section to our Google News feed so we could see what people in Gainesville were talking about. Interestingly, it also gave us some perspective about crime in the area, because crime makes the news.

Travel – Since we’re still working full-time, having access to an airport is essential. We’re only a couple of hours from Jacksonville, Tampa, and Orlando. Gainesville has a small airport that flies to Atlanta. And from ATL, you can get anywhere. We also enjoy cruising, so lucky for us there are several cruise ports nearby.

Weather – I know a lot of people want to retire in the warmer temperatures. That’s great, just realize there are tradeoffs. We’re giving up wearing shorts in December, but we don’t have to deal with putting hurricane shutters on our house when we’re in our 70’s. Every city has something.

You probably noticed that I intentionally put the list in alphabetical order. That’s because the priority you attach to each one could be different. For some people, family might be the number one consideration. And for others, it might be finances or weather or something else.

Making the relocation decision for retirement is a big one. It takes time. Keith and I easily spent over a year talking about it. Hopefully, a list like this will give you a few things to consider as you’re making decisions about how to spend your unretirement.

Image captured by Sharlyn Lauby at the 34th Street Graffiti Wall in Gainesville, FL

You Can’t Disrupt Aging Without a Little Planning – #DisruptAging

October 11, 2017 by Sharlyn Lauby Leave a Comment

Disrupt means to cause something to be unable to continue in the normal way. In business, it’s when a new product addresses a market that couldn’t be served. Some examples of disruption include the Internet of Things (IoT), cloud computing, and 3D printing.

Unfortunately, over the years, organizations have latched on to the word “disrupt” and attached it to every new product on the market, even if it isn’t disruptive.

I can’t say that I’m trying to disrupt retirement with this blog, but I do hope to share resources that will make the transition for many of us a little better. One person who is trying to genuinely disrupt our thinking is Jo Ann Jenkins, the current CEO of AARP. She recently released a book, aptly titled “Disrupt Aging: A Bold New Path to Living Your Best Life at Every Age”. I received a copy of the book during this year’s BlogHer conference.

One of the things that I really liked about this book was the casual, conversational style that Jenkins talks about aging. The book is filled with stories and is well organized. It includes a resource section so, it’s a book that someone should think about reading before retirement. Then maybe pick it up every couple of years to see how your thoughts about aging and retirement are evolving. For me, there were three big takeaways from the book:

You must take care of you. I mean this in two ways. First, our physical health is important – eating right, exercise, sleep, etc. It doesn’t mean you can’t ever have a donut, but as we age, we have to think about how to maintain our health and well-being. Disrupting aging is about staying educated about wellness.

We must also find a way to carve out time for our passions. Maybe that’s learning how to play an instrument. Or photography. For me, it’s writing this blog. Taking care of ourselves includes being happy and content. We might not be able to do everything, but we need to find time for enjoyment.

Financial education is important. So often, the entire conversation about retirement is about money. And don’t get me wrong, saving money for retirement is important. But financial education is about more than stocks, annuities, and IRA accounts. To disrupt aging, we get educated and formulate a financial plan for the future.

It’s also about major financial decisions like where to live and whether to rent or buy. Do you want to retire in a walkable city and not own a car? Or live somewhere more remote and figure out how to get around when driving isn’t an option? Financial education is about saving and spending wisely.

Think about an encore. I’m reluctant to say encore career because maybe a second career isn’t what a person wants or needs. But I will say that people need to plan their departure from the workforce. Maybe your encore is moving from full-time to part-time then to full retirement.

It’s possible an encore could involve volunteerism. Or a hobby that turns into a full-time obligation like acting in community theater. Our encore is something that we can pour some energy into. When you get back 8+ hours a day, you probably want to do something with that time in your retirement life.

Efforts to disrupt aging isn’t going to happen overnight. In fact, I’d toss out there that each of us might disrupt aging in our own unique way. But to make the most of our retirement, we have to start thinking about – and planning for – our ability to disrupt aging.

What Kind of Freelancer Will You Be in Retirement [infographic]

October 4, 2017 by Sharlyn Lauby Leave a Comment

I ran this infographic over on HR Bartender and wanted to share it here as well. We talked about having a side hustle or freelance gig as part of unretirement. Organizations will be looking for contingent workers. as part of their staffing strategy. The question becomes what kind of contingent worker are you? The term includes on-call, temporary, freelancers, consultants, and contractors (just to name a few). But even within these titles, there are differences.

Take freelancers for example. If you Google the definition of freelancer, it says “working for different companies at different times rather than being permanently employed by one company.” By this definition, I’m a freelancer. A full-time freelancer.

But I believe many people would say that a person with a full-time job and a side-hustle does freelancing. Or a person who is retired and takes an occasional project. LinkedIn recently shared this infographic on the five different types of freelancers in today’s workplace.

Organizations are not only going to want to make decisions about hiring freelancers for their business, but they are going to have to decide what kind of freelancer will fit with their operation. I’m not just talking about culture fit – although that is important. Freelancers have to be able to work within the structure of the organization. So, if the company needs their freelancer to stop by occasionally for meeting, can a “side gigger” make themselves available? Or if the organization would like to engage a freelancer for a year, is the “substitute” going to bail on them once they find a job? These are things organizations need to consider. Which means these are things for you to consider as you plan out your unretirement.

What type of work are you planning to do? When considering a freelancer assignment, think about more than just the task. Will phone calls or meetings be required? Is there the possibility this could turn into a regular freelancer assignment? It might help you decide the type of work you want to do and assignments you want to consider.

Consider short-term and long-term arrangements. Speaking of assignments, if you want to have a regular side gig, then you will need to build relationships with organizations. That means marketing. Think about what you’re prepared to do to keep some semi-steady income. Everyone benefits from the arrangement, but it takes work and resources from both sides.

Once you understand the type of freelancer you want to be, it will make it easier for organizations to hire you. Hiring the wrong freelancer is like hiring the wrong employee. The company will constantly be in hiring mode and training people to do the work. That’s not something they want to do. And you don’t want the hassle of finding new clients all the time.

What We’re UP To – September 2017

September 27, 2017 by Sharlyn Lauby Leave a Comment

Disclosure: Occasionally we receive free products for review or include advertising links in posts, but no one impacts the honesty of our opinions.

Watching | The Matrix Trilogy

> Keith and I are binge watching some classic movies like Oceans 11, Star Wars, etc. I had to admit that I hadn’t seen The Matrix until recently. So, we’re watching the entire trilogy in September. Better late than never. (Oh, and Blade Runner is next…)

Reading | Social Security Strategies: How to Optimize Retirement Benefits

> This book, in its third edition, is a very detailed explanation about how social security works including the best time to file for benefits. I’m quickly discovering that the best way to understand social security and the benefits available to you is by doing your homework way in advance.

Working On | Internet Security

> I don’t know that I have all the answers with this one, but the recent Equifax security breach has left us evaluating our internet security. What action should we take as a result? The Federal Trade Commission has posted some information. Moving forward, are there steps we should take to protect our online information?

Feeling | Empathy

> We are sending lots of positive vibes and prayers to those impacted by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria. We were very fortunate. Planned for the worst and hoped for the best. Here’s a great article from Suzanne Lucas titled “9 Ways Your Business Can Help Hurricane Harvey’s Houston Victims”. It applies equally for individuals looking to help.

Planning | Apple Walks

> I learned something new during the most recent Apple event. Besides learning about the new products Apple is introducing in the fall, I discovered Apple Walks. These are free photo walks that Apple Store employees conduct to teach you more about the camera features in your iPhone. I’m planning to take one soon!

Loving | BeatsX Wireless In-Ear Headphones

> With my transition to a Mac computer, I’ve decided to go all in and get a pair of Beats headphones. We’ve been toying with the idea of getting rid of our landline at some point, and these neckbuds would be easy to wear on phone calls. I also like listening to music when I write and this will allow me to do so without annoying Keith.

Geeking | SFMOA Text a Picture

> The San Francisco Museum of Art recently rolled out a new feature called “Send Me”. Simply text them a word and they will text back a work of art. I love the idea. What a great way to start a September day or take a quick distraction to enjoy a piece of history.

Lots going on and we haven’t even started pumpkin spice season this early in September. So, what’s UP with you?

Image captured by Sharlyn Lauby at the Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens in Las Vegas, NV

A Career Coach Can Help You Find Your Encore Career

September 20, 2017 by Sharlyn Lauby Leave a Comment

One of the great things about unretirement is that you don’t have to go it alone. For example, there are dozens of retirement-related blogs that you can read for inspiration and information. There are also professionals who can help you.

Let’s say you’re considering an encore career in your unretirement but aren’t sure yet what you’d like to do. Do you want to be a consultant? A writer? Or maybe just take a part-time job as a barista at Starbucks? All of those options are possible. But realistically, the decision could be tough. If you’d like help making decisions about your encore career, consider getting a career coach.

To understand more about what career coaches do, I reached out to Hannah Morgan (aka Career Sherpa). She is a nationally recognized career coach and author of the book, “The Infographic Resume”. I’ve had the opportunity to work with Hannah over at HR Bartender. Her suggestions on “What to do if You’re Stuck in a Dead-End Job” are worth a read.

Hannah, first of all, briefly describe what a career coach does? I could see someone saying “I’m already employed. What do I need a career coach for?”

[Morgan] There are times in your life when need expert advice. Let’s say you wanted recommendations on what to do with your financial investments. Would you get advice from a friend or would you consult with a financial planner? You might do both, but you would probably rely on the recommendations of someone who manages investments for a living. This is why tapping into the expertise of a career coach is so valuable.

A career coach is someone who has expertise in helping people evaluate career options, not just find jobs. A career coach regularly consults with clients on career decision making issues from identifying the right opportunities to planning future career moves. A coach can help you see alternatives and is qualified to help map out a solution that’s right for you.

Many workers are considering a new second career (also known as an encore career) as they get older. How should a person decide if an encore career is for them?

[Morgan] When deciding what you will do for your encore career, there are many things to consider:

What are you interested in (or passionate about)?
What skills do you enjoy using?
What is the market demand for those skills?
How much do you want to work? And,
What are your income requirements?

For the first time in your life, you have the opportunity to choose a career move that will serve your wants and needs. As you can see, identifying what you may want to do as an encore career is a complicated decision and one you will need assistance evaluating.

Is it better to have an encore career in a field related to your current profession? Why or why not?

[Morgan] If you loved the work you did in your last role and love the industry, then it would make sense to stay within it, perhaps as a consultant or working as an advisor. However, if you are no longer excited by the type of work you are doing, you may want to tap into your outside interests for ideas which would provide options for an encore career.

Sometimes collecting a big fat paycheck isn’t the main driver- people may just want something to keep busy. Taking a retail job, seasonal work or even tapping into the sharing economy, with Airbnb, Uber or Lyft provide social and mental stimulation.

Whatever direction you go in, you should be interested and engaged in the work. Breaking into an encore career may require assistance to help you define what is most important to you during this point in your career and can take effort. A career coach can help you identify opportunities that meet your needs.

I assume pursuing an encore career takes time. How long should people expect to prepare for an encore career?

[Morgan] Finding encore opportunities is going to be challenging. You may have to invent the position or start your own business in order to get what you are looking for. This will take time. How much time will depend on factors like the viability of your idea, your messaging and announcement, and the strength of your network.

Before you do anything, you also want to speak with your accountant and financial advisor about social security regulations and access to investments in your 401(k) or pension. You don’t want to be penalized by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for making too much or early withdrawal of funds.

Is applying for an encore career job the same as applying for a regular, full-time job now? How should a candidate explain they are transitioning to their encore career?

[Morgan] You can’t go to Indeed or any job board and find a listing of encore careers. Well, not at this time. Your encore career may be an existing role within an organization. You might be able to slip into an existing role if you have the right connections. But a question that any interviewer wants to know is whether or not you’ll stick around for a couple of years. It is your responsibility to anticipate this question and proactively address why you are looking for an encore career.

Your explanation should include your motivation or why you want to make the transition into a new role at this point in your career. You also need to convince the interviewer that you are dedicated to this new career path, so explain why you are pursuing that company and that type of job.

A HUGE thanks to Hannah for sharing her expertise. If you want to learn more, follow Hannah on Twitter and read her blog.

Encore careers can be an exciting and fulfilling part of unretirement. But deciding what your encore career will be could take some time. And some planning. Using a career coach could help you focus on your goals so you make the right decision.

Image captured by Sharlyn Lauby somewhere in her South Florida offices.

5 Lessons Learned from Adult Coloring Books

September 13, 2017 by Sharlyn Lauby 2 Comments

I’ve noticed a few themes emerging in the personal development space that center around the need for individuals to find ways to decompress, de-stress, and detox from their digital lives. One of the ideas I heard was adult coloring books. Now before you laugh, check out these articles on CNN, Huffington Post, the NY Post and the LA Times about the popularity of adult coloring. This isn’t a fad that’s going away.

So, a couple of years ago, when Free Period Press offered to send me a coloring book, I jumped at the chance to see firsthand what coloring would bring. Lora DiFranco, one of the founders, said they created the coloring book as a result of “not being very crafty” but wanting to spend time away from computer screens and feel creative. After successfully funding a Kickstarter campaign, she heard from people that, in addition to using them at home, they were using the books during breaks at work.

I keep a coloring book on the edge of my desk and, and when I needed a break or a little distraction, I color. Here’s what I learned from the experience:

Old skool isn’t bad. Just because something is old, vintage or retro doesn’t make it bad. Frank Sinatra, Manhattans, and adult coloring books are evidence of this. Conversely, there are some things that are better left in history. It’s about putting things into proper context. It’s okay to revisit pieces of our childhood. And if you prefer digital, there are plenty of coloring apps – my favorite is Recolor – that you can use on your mobile devices.

To be successful, you must have the proper tools. In the case of coloring books, you need proper lighting and some good colored pencils. I honestly didn’t think I would enjoy coloring as much as I am. I initially thought this would be a passing fancy, so I only purchased a dozen colored pencils. Since then, I’ve upgraded to the 24-count package. You can do whatever you choose. The point is, to really get the benefit from anything, you need to have the proper tools.

Give creativity time. I work on pages for days, sometimes even weeks. Every time I look at a page, I see something different or I get a new inspiration. It’s coloring and I’m not under a deadline, so enjoy taking my time.

Having a low-tech or no-tech activity is a healthy break from the computer screen. There are medical studies that say staring at a computer screen all day isn’t good for our eyes. And looking at our tablets right before bed isn’t good for our sleep. Coloring can get us away from our technology. It’s nice to end the day with 5-10 minutes of coloring.

Beware! Coloring is just as addictive as chocolate and computer games. I really enjoy coloring and have found it to be a fun activity. Since my first coloring book, I’ve funded a Kickstarter campaign in my area who created a coloring book showcasing local artists.

My only question was what do I do with the finished colored pieces? Is the activity sufficient by itself? When we were kids, our finished coloring went on the refrigerator. I guess you could still do that. But, Lora suggested turning your works of art into cards for family and friends. Just cut them into the shape and size you want and glue them to thicker cardstock. I’ve also used my digital coloring pieces as screensavers for my mobile devices.

If you haven’t tried coloring books, and are looking for something different, give it a try. You might be surprised. It takes very little time and money to get started and coloring can offer a lot in terms of creativity as well as relaxation.

Successful Retirement Takes a Partnership Between Organizations and Employees

September 6, 2017 by Sharlyn Lauby Leave a Comment

When Keith and I started this blog, we assumed it would focus on the things people do when they retire. You know, like traveling and volunteering. However, we’re finding that what people really want to hear is about how to prepare for retirement…specifically from a careers perspective. Yes, people know they need to save money. But how do they tell their boss that they want to transition to part-time before retirement?

The key to a successful retirement…or unretirement…is learning how to partner to create a win-win. Not only employees, but organizations. Here are a few articles to get the conversation started.

There Is No Such Thing as a Traditional Retirement

There are many ways to fill your retirement life. With such variety, traditional retirement becomes history. The future is unretirement and it features the Gig Economy.

Organizations Aren’t Prepared for the Aging Workforce

Are businesses ready for the aging workforce? Not yet. But they will have to engage freelancers to get stuff done in the Gig Economy. Enter the concept of unretirement.

6 Reasons You Should Embrace #Unretirement

Regardless of age, at some point, we all probably enter a post-work phase of life. That requires planning and understanding. It’s time to start thinking and planning for your unretirement.

Why Unretirement and Why It’s Important

We remember what retirement used to look like. But those days are gone. We need to retire on our own terms. Unretirement can help us have a modern retirement.

Retirement Plans Are an Essential Part of Employee Well-being

High employee engagement hinges on well-being. Dean Aloise from Conduent HR Services says retirement plans are crucial to employee well-being.

You might be saying, “I’ve got a long way to go before I retire.” And that could be true. Planning for your retirement unretirement takes time. Think of it like networking. The last thing you want is to need a network and not have one. You can’t build a network overnight. It takes lots of small steps.

Planning for your unretirement is the same. Unless you win the Lottery, it takes years of small steps. Start now to build the future.

Image captured by Sharlyn Lauby aboard the Queen Mary in Long Beach, CA