Fun Archives – Unretirement Project

What We’re Up To – July 2018

July 25, 2018 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 Marvel Cinematic Universe

> Ever since Avengers: Infinity War came out, we’ve been catching up on older Marvel movies we hadn’t seen. We finally watched Avengers: Civil War, Thor: Ragnarok, and Spider-man: Homecoming. I love how Marvel is tying the storylines together. Next on the list for us later in July is Ant-Man.

Reading| Common Financial Sense

> I’m not a financial advisor, so I make it a rule not to tell people how to spend their money. That being said, I do feel it’s okay to say that we have to think about our financial future. I received a copy of the book “Common Financial Sense” by Harris Nydick and Greg Makowski. Both are certified financial planners. The book delivers on the title and will give readers who are thinking about their financial future a few things to consider.

Remembering| Old HR Bartender posts

> I recently read an article on Darren Rowse’s ProBlogger about “How to Update Old Posts on Your Blog (and When You Should Consider Doing it)”. First off, if you’re considering blogging in your unretirement, you should definitely start paying attention to ProBlogger. Second, if you have a blog, Rowse makes a good point about keeping older content fresh. HR Bartender has been around over ten years. We have thousands of posts. It’s worth a look at our older content.

Working On| Scheduling More Fun

> I enjoy reading the “Yes and Yes” blog authored by Sarah Von Bargen. One of her recent posts was titled “A Weird Tip for a More Fulfilling Life: Make a ‘To Do for Fun’ List”. It’s exactly what the title says. We spend so much time making lists for the work things we need to complete. Or the errands we need to do. Why not have a list of fun stuff? And for a planner like me…it’s the perfect July project!

Feeling| Like a Homebody

> I don’t mind traveling at all, but I’ve been doing a lot of it lately. It’s nice to be home for a few.

Planning| Doctor’s Appointments

> When you move to a new city, there are so many people you have to find – like an accountant, hair stylist, and doctors! I must admit that social communities like NextDoor have been very helpful in getting recommendations. We’ve received some excellent information so far.

Loving| Inside Trader Joe’s – a Podcast

> I’m a fan of Trader Joe’s and after listening to this 5-part podcast seriesabout the store, I’m becoming an even bigger fan. The show talks about how the store started, their food tasting panels, why employees wear Hawaiian shirts and much more. Check it out wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts.

Geeking| Amazon Cloud Cam

> We picked up one of these during the July Amazon Prime Day sale. It’s an indoor camera that works with Alexa. You can control it from a mobile app. Very easy to set up. Just direct it at the area you want to monitor and turn it on. You can watch the activity from your phone. If you’re in the market for a security device, this might be worth consideration.

What’s UP with you? Let us know how your summer is going so far.

Image captured by Sharlyn Lauby while exploring the streets of New Orleans, LA

What We Are UP To in May 2018

May 16, 2018 by Sharlyn Lauby Leave a Comment

Reading| Magazines

> I must admit that I haven’t been reading many books lately because of the move. But I’ve been reading magazines, which is my ‘go-to’ reading when I travel. It seems like a splurge to read magazines, although I feel that the overall content found in magazines has changed. I’m beginning to wonder if it’s time to give up magazine reading and pack books (even though they’re heavier).

Feeling| Ready

> We have a contract on our home, moved our belongings in May, and settled into our rental house. It’s been an unsettling few months, but we’re ready to start our new adventure in Gainesville, Florida. I’m sure the next few months will involve developing new routines but I’m confident we’ll be able to do it.

Working On| Unpacking boxes

> While we’re officially living in our rental home starting in May, we still have some boxes to unpack. Something tells me that we’ll be in a perpetual state of unpacking for months. LOL! Just in time to pack up the rental and move into our forever home. It’s not perfect, but at some point, we’ll be happy that we did it. And that it’s over.

Remembering | Water

> We haven’t been gone from Fort Lauderdale a month and we already miss the water. Oh yeah, it was just a little manmade canal behind the house, but it was nice. Our view in Gainesville is lots of trees and those are nice too. But it’s not water. I’m sure we’ll learn to appreciate the trees over time.

Watching| Avengers: Infinity War

> Our first movie in Gainesville was this one (You’ll find no spoilers here!). Regal Cinemas just opened a new luxury theater nearby with a bar, upscale food items, and recliners. We discovered this theater concept a few years ago…and wouldn’t think of going to any other kind of theater.

Planning| 2019 Planners

> I know, right?! It’s only May and we’re not even halfway through 2018. But I’m starting to accumulate dates for 2019 events that I need to remember. The question is which one. This year, I’m using an Erin Condren Life Planner, which is good for this year. I need to spend some time thinking about 2019 and my needs. If you have a planner recommendation, leave it in the comments.

Loving| Frank-N-Furter pin

> I’m a big fan of the Rocky Horror Picture Show (RHPS). In my younger days, I was one of the shadow actors during the show. Today, it’s a Halloween tradition at our house to watch RHPS and eat sloppy spooky joe’s. A Facebook friend posted some RHPS jewelry, and I couldn’t resist!

Geeking| Lyft

> I must admit that I’ve been late to ride share services. But I started using Lyft recently to get from and to the airport and have been really impressed! Nice drivers, clean cars, and good prices. If you’ve never used Lyft before and want to give it a try, you can use my code UNRETIREMENT. It should get you a discount, and me a little thank you.

What’s UP with you? Got any plans for the summer?

What We Are UP To – March 2018

March 28, 2018 by Sharlyn Lauby Leave a Comment

Watching | Learn@50+

> Did you know that AARP members have access to an online learning library? Their course catalog covers everything from how to back up your iPhone or iPad to an interactive video focused on the age you should consider drawing Social Security. I’ve signed up for a couple of career related webinar sessions to see what they’re all about. Stay tuned…

Reading | Online Comics

> Keith and I stopped subscribing to the newspaper years ago, but one of the things we miss is the comics. It always feels nice to start off the day with a laugh. Well, did you know that you can get your comics online? We’ve found two sources: GoComics and Comics Kingdom. They’re cheaper than a newspaper subscription and you can even get some classic comics like Funky Winkerbean and Beetle Bailey.

Remembering | All the Houses

> We recently organized our photo collection as part of our upcoming move. It was very cool to see pictures of all of our homes together. And even though they were in different cities, how similar they were in terms of style and color. As much as we might change as individuals and even as a couple, some things stay the same.

Working On | A New Look for Unretirement Project

> Now that the blog is a year old this March, we’ve been working on refining our brand a little. Over the next few weeks, you’ll see some subtle changes. One thing I’m very excited about this the new banner and avatar on our Twitter account. If you’re on Twitter, I hope you’ll follow us at @UnretirementPro.

Feeling | Exhausted

> Thank goodness we’re done with all of the decluttering around the house! Now it’s all about getting the house ready to put on the market. Rearranging furniture, taking down personal stuff, and staging the house. It is kinda weird seeing your home without any mementos, pictures, etc. But March is the time for us to focus on our next adventure.

Planning | Taxes!

> It’s that time of year – March quickly brings April taxes! Getting our files together, meeting with our accountant, filling out forms. When we started consulting, Keith and I made the investment into getting an accountant. And I mean it when I say it’s an investment. If you really want your accountant to help you, they have to get to know you. It’s an investment of time (and money) so they can help you plan and file your taxes.

Loving | Speidel Twist-O-Flex

> My dad had a Speidel Twist-O-Flex band for his watch. I might have even had a Twist-O-Flex band for one of my first watches. Well, now I have a Twist-O-Flex for my Apple Watch. Yep, Speidel is making their famous Twist-O-Flex bands for Apple Watches. I love the juxtaposition of a high-tech watch with a retro band.

Geeking | Amazon Services

> I’d like to think that everyone has ordered something on Amazon at some point. But did you know that you can now order services (like house cleaning) via Amazon?! We saw a deal for a full-day (6+ hours) of house cleaning and decided to give it a try. Keith is an excellent cleaner, but he wanted a little something extra before we put the house on the market. If they do a good job, we’ll try them again when we move into our rental in Gainesville.

What’s UP with you?

Image captured by Sharlyn Lauby while exploring the Wynwood Art District in Miami, FL

What We’re UP To in January 2018

January 31, 2018 by Sharlyn Lauby Leave a Comment

Watching | Priscilla, Queen of the Dessert

> This Australian movie about two drag queens and a transgender woman crossing the country in a bus dubbed Priscilla is filled with friendships, fun, and disco music. We saw the theater version recently and had to rent the original movie. If you’re looking for a little bit of retro fun, check it out.

Reading | Slow Burn

> Actually, it’s more like I’m listening. Slow Burn is a podcast about Watergate. I remember Watergate as one of my first political memories. Like many people, my parents watched the hearings on television. It’s a fascinating look back at what happened, especially given what’s going on in politics right now.

Remembering | Fort Lauderdale

> While we haven’t moved yet, I can’t help but wonder if every time we go to a restaurant or visit someplace will it be the “last time”. On one hand, it does make me appreciate every moment we’ve spent in South Florida over the past 15+ years. On another, it makes me sad. As much as I’m excited about our new adventure, I will miss this place.

Working On | Day One

> I mentioned before that I’ve wanted to do a photo-a-day project starting in January. Since we expect 2018 to be a big year for us, with the move and all, I decided my photo-a-day project would be about what I love about Fort Lauderdale and our big move. Keith found an app for me called “Day One” that allows me to create an online journal with images, etc. If we want, we could eventually print it and turn it into a real book!

Feeling | Focused

> I’m sure I’m not alone in that I set too many goals for myself. I love starting the New Year with new goals. But I’m also very aware how easy it is to abandon my goals. I’m trying very hard to stay focused early in January. And to realize slipping for a day isn’t the same as failing. Just pick it back up the next day.

Planning | Fantastical 2

> I’m a planner. A ridiculous planner (I’ve been told). So, my computer calendar is important. I’ve been using Microsoft Outlook for years, but since getting a Mac, I’ve been thinking that Outlook isn’t the same. I found a Mac app with good reviews called Fantastical 2. I recently downloaded it and I’m loving it. Very nice look! The developers also have a contacts app called Cardhop.

Loving | Amazon Echo Spot

> We really enjoy our Amazon Echo. It’s connected to our Pandora account and we play music through it. We also have a couple of WeMo switches to control lights and fans. The latest Echo product is called Spot. It’s a small ball shaped Echo with a digital face. We’re using it as a replacement for a Dot and an alarm clock.

Geeking | Cladwell

> Since we’re moving this year, we’re trying to downsize and not buy stuff. That includes clothes. To help me make the most of my wardrobe, I downloaded the Cladwell app. It’s like having a styling service on your phone or tablet. You log your closet into the app and every day the app gives you three outfits to select from. It takes into account the weather. I’m loving the suggestions it’s made so far.

We hope 2018 is off to a good start for you. Let us know what’s UP with you in January.

Image captured by Sharlyn Lauby on Fort Lauderdale Beach, FL

Dot to Dot Books Are the New Adult Coloring

December 27, 2017 by Sharlyn Lauby Leave a Comment

A few months ago, I wrote about some lessons learned from adult coloring books. I’m still a fan of adult coloring, but I’ve found something new – adult dot-to-dot books. They are exactly what it sounds like. Remember those connect the dot books we had when we were younger? Well, they’re the same thing except more “adult” so instead of counting to 20 or 50…you’re counting to 150 or 300. And when you’re done counting, you could color the image.

Dot-to-dot books offer something different from coloring. Like coloring, they still provide a certain amount of escape and distraction. However, they bring out different qualities. Here’s what I’ve discovered:

All planning is not the same. I found with dot-to-dot books, I have to plan a little more. In coloring, if I make something the wrong color…oh well, I just move on. With dot-to-dot, if I don’t plan, I could mess up the image. This has also forced me to only use pencils (with erasers!) for dot-to-dot activities. It reminds me that even though “I’m a planner” that I can’t look at all planning the same way. Planning this week’s menu is very different from retirement financial planning.

The need for stress relief will always be necessary. Keeping stress bottled up isn’t good for our health and relationships. I’m totally convinced that retirement doesn’t mean all of my worries will be over. Hopefully, every day that I’m retired won’t be filled with stress, but finding ways to effectively manage tensions will be necessary. I can see dot-to-dot books offering some challenge, while at the same time bringing some stress relief. The good news is they’re affordable. I also discovered that iTunes has some adult dot-to-dot apps.

Play is an important part of our retirement. While I’ve been talking about dot-to-dot books in the context of stress relief, that’s not their only purpose. They can just be fun. They don’t need to have a secondary purpose or motive. Part of retirement is about having fun. That’s why people talk about traveling and hobbies during retirement. It’s fun. Granted a dot-to-dot book doesn’t exactly compare to an Alaska cruise. But fun can be sitting on the back porch with a cuppa tea and a dot-to-dot book.

I think it’s kinda cool to see how activities I did as a child have modernized. Adult coloring and dot-to-dot are examples. It makes me realize that I need to be prepared for a modern retirement. It’s true, some pieces might look exactly like my parent’s retirement, but it’s possible that I need to get ready for a 21^st Century twist.

Image captured by Sharlyn Lauby at the Mob Museum in downtown Las Vegas, NV

What We’re UP To – Holiday Edition

December 20, 2017 by Sharlyn Lauby Leave a Comment

Watching |Holiday Movies

> We spend most of December watching holiday movies. Everything from “Die Hard” to “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” to “The Muppet Christmas Carol”. Sometimes, with all of our business travel, I feel like we have more movies than we have time to watch them. LOL! What’s your favorite holiday movie?

Reading | Weight Watchers Freestyle

> During my recovery from surgery earlier this year, I decided to join Weight Watchers. I felt that WW might be able to help me with my eating habits. Especially when traveling. And they have. We’ve made some small but impactful changes that have brought positive results to both our waistlines and wallets. They’ve introduced a new program called Freestyle. I’m reading about it and working on transitioning to the new program.

Remembering |Copyblogger Certification Program

> A couple of years ago, I decided to make an investment into my writing and take Copyblogger’s certified content marketing program. This is a self-paced, online program focused on making a living writing content for blogs, emails, and white papers. The program is only offered a couple times a year. If you’re thinking about writing in your unretirement, it might be a worthwhile thing to consider.

Working On | Blog Topics for Next Year

> We want to say a huge THANK YOU! for reading and sharing Unretirement Project. We appreciate you! Going into 2018, we will be spending some time thinking about the topics we want to cover related to retirement and unretirement. If you have some thoughts about what you’d like to see, please contact us.

Feeling | Ready!

> This year has been a wonderful, terrific year. But I must confess that I will be glad when it’s over. And my guess is a few of you feel the same way. And, as I look at my 2018 calendar, I’m happy to say that it’s shaping up nicely. We have a busy but fun year ahead.

Planning | Farewell Tour

> As we approach 2018, we can’t help but think about our upcoming move to Gainesville, Florida. We’re hoping to spend our remaining time in Fort Lauderdale enjoying a few of our favorite places. Sort of a #LaubyFarewellTour if you will. Obviously, we can’t go everywhere. But, I must admit, it’s interesting thinking about the short-list of places I will miss.

Loving |Lemon and Lime Packets

> On a recent JetBlue flight, I discovered TRUE lemon packets. I had no idea you could get crystalized lemon in packet form. Oh, and you can get TRUE lime as well. You can add lemon to your water (or a lime to your Diet Coke). And I didn’t think it had a fake taste to it. I might have to pick up some of these for trips. Very easy to have in your bag and little conveniences like this make business travel just a bit nicer.

Geeking |7 Little Words

> A couple of years ago, I met a woman on a cruise ship who told me about the app “7 Little Words”. I’m totally addicted. You can pay for puzzles if you wish, but they do offer a free daily puzzle. The developers just launched a new game called “Tiny Little Crosswords”. Equally as addictive and they also offer a free daily puzzle. If you’re looking for a new distraction, you might want to check it out.

Let us know what’s UP with you. Keith and I wish you all the best during the holiday season and a very happy New Year.

Image captured by Sharlyn Lauby while in Key West, FL

What We’re UP To: #Thanksgiving Edition – #Unretirement Project

November 22, 2017 by Sharlyn Lauby Leave a Comment

Watching |Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 1 & 2

> These have got to be my favorite Marvel movies so far. (Although Deadpool and Iron Man are pretty good too.) Love the soundtrack. And I think Baby Groot is so cute! Since it’s a long weekend, a Guardians marathon might be in order.

Reading | Newspapers

> I’ve been traveling a lot lately and one of the things I love about travel is reading the newspaper. It’s so interesting to pick up a local newspaper and see what those cities find to be “newsworthy”. Gives you a tremendous amount of perspective.

Remembering | Second Careers

> Regardless of your age, this post about reinventing yourself is worth a read. I had the opportunity to interview Libby Sartain, former board chair for the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) and current board member with AARP about what it takes to have a successful encore career.

Working On | What We’re UP To

> I got the idea for this monthly post from the blog Misadventures with Andi. One of the things I love about Andi’s post is the way she puts words and images together. Unfortunately, I haven’t had time to improve my skills in this area. So, I hired someone on Fiverr to design a signature logo for these posts. Very happy with the result for this Thanksgiving Edition!

Feeling | Thankful

> It’s easy to get caught up in the food and football during the holiday. Thanksgiving is a time to pause and be grateful. We have a good life. We’re healthy. I’m thankful that I get to work with terrific clients on fun and challenging projects every day.

Planning | Apple Walks

> A few years ago, we decided to stop owning cameras and use our iPhones for photography. Since then, I’ve taken an iPhoneography course and went on a photo walking tour. Apple offers walking photography classes. You can sign up for them online. I’m looking forward to it.

Loving |Sword & Plough

> This company employs veterans to recycle military surplus and turn it into tote bags and jewelry. I picked up a necklace and pair of earrings made out of repurposed bullet casings. Ten percent (10%) of their profits go to veteran organizations. Love the mission and love my jewelry.

Geeking |Lego Women of Nasa

> I didn’t have Legos as a kid, but I’m loving them as an adult. I particularly like the Lego Ideas site where people can recommend ideas to the company. This one, called “Women of NASA” just came out. It includes pioneers Nancy Grace Roman, Margeret Hamilton, Sally Ride, and Mae Jamison. Great way to play and learn.

What’s UP with you this Thanksgiving?

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