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Now May Be the Best Time to Volunteer – Or Not

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Original art by Peter Tunney Today Is the Day as it might apply to being a volunteer

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 62.6 million people volunteered in the United States at least once in 2015 which was the last time such statistics were published. Of those volunteers, most were between 35 – 54 years of age and they spent a median of 52 hours on volunteer activities.

We know that planning is important when it comes to unretirement. There seems to be a never-ending number of decisions to be made and, possibly, changed along the way. We’ve written extensively about the importance of getting these decisions right to keep your retirement years sustainable and enjoyable.

But an encore career is just a part of your retirement life. It’s essential to find other ways to fill your retirement days.

Volunteering may be a great way to match your interests and skills with great opportunities to help and give back. In fact, AARP is so supportive of volunteering, that they have created a portal specifically for volunteers. Their Volunteer Wizard can guide you to the perfect experience for your interest and skills. They can even narrow it down to within 10 miles of where you live.

If you are like me and a global pandemic cramps your travel, never fear. There are many volunteer opportunities to be had that only require a phone or computer. Online tutors are in huge demand right now. If you are more of an environmental activist, many organizations are looking for volunteers to support causes like save the bees and stop overfishing oceans. Citizen scientists can volunteer for eBird through the Cornell Lab of Ornithology to record local bird sightings.

Let’s not forget that this is an election year and parties, candidates and causes are all looking for volunteer help. Highly organized campaigns have lists of voters who actually want to receive text messages. Or you can work to help register voters before the general election. If you can safely get to and volunteer at your local voting site, many are desperate for help in the weeks ahead.

Simplification may be the key for many who have a very active retirement life. But don’t let that stop you from giving back. I’m talking about shopping and giving a portion of what you spend to charitable causes. Sites like AmazonSmile offer the same products you buy at the same prices, but they donate a percentage of the proceeds to the charity of your choice. It’s simple and automated – all you have to do is select a charity and start shopping!

Right now may be the best time to do some research to find that volunteer opportunity. Many of us are still cutting back on activities and travel due to COVID-19. Use your spare time to find something that matches your interests and skills. And if volunteering is still a few months or years away, no problem. You can do the groundwork now to find what’s best for you.

We know that, for many, workplace unrest, furloughs and layoffs have upended retirement planning. Volunteering may not be an option when your focus is on an interim job or your next opportunity. However, a volunteer role may provide experience, new skills, or connections that could lead to a new job. Something to keep in mind. For others, volunteering can be a rewarding way to support others and the causes that really matter.

Portfolio Career: An Alternative to Encore Career

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old time image on a cruise ship gentleman reading newspaper during a portfolio career

Given everything that’s going on right now, it’s possible that individuals might have their primary career on hold while waiting for their employer to bring people back to the workplace. Of course, this could be having an impact on planning for an encore (or second) career. However, there is an alternative. 

A portfolio career is where someone works many part-time jobs instead of one full-time job. For example, an accountant might sell insurance and do tax preparation. Or an HR pro might conduct file audits and help people update their resumes. It’s the idea of having several smaller jobs that a person can work on at the same time. 

I understand that for some, this might not be optimal. But for others, this could be exactly the flexibility you’re looking for. If you’re looking at your current and future work options and thinking a portfolio career might be something worth exploring, here are a few pros and cons to consider. Let me add that, depending on your situation, some of the advantages could be disadvantages (or vice versa). 

Advantages

Decide carefully what projects you want to work on. The plus side of a portfolio career is that you can pick the projects you enjoy and minimize the ones that you don’t. A downside can be that in order to make money you take projects that you don’t like, and they don’t produce your best work. So really spend some time soul searching about the work you want to do and that you feel you’re good at. 

Learn to manage your time well. The purpose of a portfolio career is to provide flexibility, while still making a living and feeling fulfilled. Juggling multiple smaller careers isn’t going to be easy. Losing control over your time can have a detrimental effect on your health and wellbeing. You will need to figure out when you’re going to work and how you’re going to handle last minute requests to work on your day off. Trust me. It will happen. 

Consider a long-term strategy. Another great aspect to a portfolio career is that you could start with 3-4 smaller jobs then transition down to one prior to “officially” retiring. This has the potential to be a very viable way to manage your exit strategy while still accomplishing some of your personal and financial goals. But like all strategies, you have to plan and get the support of your family and friends. 

Disadvantages

Realize that you need to market your services. In order to be successful with a portfolio career, people need to know what you do. It’s possible a person might know you as the person who walks their dog when they’re on vacation, but they don’t know that you can also run errands. It will be important to have a marketing plan in place, so you don’t miss out on opportunities. Oh, and don’t forget that there may be some costs involved.

Think about setting up a home office. There’s a good chance that whatever you’re doing for a portfolio career will involve needing a space. Even if you decide to do house cleaning and handyman services, you’ll want a place to keep your calendar and do invoicing. This can be tough, especially if you’re trying to downsize in retirement. You’ll also want to think about your technology needs including internet. 

Balance risk and reward. Again, remember the goal of your portfolio career. The last thing you want to do is go heavily in debt and not see a return on the investment. Maybe when planning a portfolio career, it makes sense to start small and add as time goes on. For example, maybe your current computer equipment will do, and you can save toward buying better equipment in the future. 

There’s more than one way to transition your career during unretirement. Portfolio careers can allow you to start smaller side gigs while working a full-time job. Then when you’re ready, you can make those side gigs your focus. The key is planning so you have the flexibility to be successful.

Image captured by Sharlyn Lauby somewhere off the coast of the Mexican Riviera 

The Pros and Cons of Being a One Car Household

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one car or many cars on the road in an urban setting

One of the things to consider in retirement is transportation as in, “How much do you want to drive?” The answer might prompt you to take some action like moving from the suburbs to a more walkable community. Or maybe downsize vehicles to something smaller and/or more fuel efficient. Or you might do what we did and simply become a one-car household. 

I must admit that Keith and I didn’t reach this decision quickly. We were very concerned because we had always been a two-car household. But once we were both working from home, we realized that we were really only using one car. In fact, we had to jump the battery our second car twice because we simply weren’t using it. That’s when we realized that we needed to make a decision about cars.

We’ve been a one-car household for about eight years now. Honestly, we wouldn’t have it any other way. Here are a few of the advantages and disadvantages we’ve encountered.

Pros –

Cost. This is an obvious one. Depending on how you buy cars, having one car payment is nice. Having zero car payments is even nicer once you pay it off. There’s also not having auto insurance for two cars, maintenance for two cars, and putting gas into two cars. 

Space. What I mean here is space in the garage, carport, or parking spaces outside your residence. It’s very nice having the extra space. And depending on your taste in automobiles, trying to get two vehicles side-by-side in a garage can be challenging. 

Upgrade. Downgrading to one car could mean an upgrade in the type of car you own. Or the same type of car, but you splurge on a few features that you might not normally get. Another option is to save those dollars for something else. 

Cons –

Coordination. One vehicle does mean having to occasionally coordinate schedules when it comes to doctor’s appointments, meetings, etc. It’s not a huge deal for us because we simply make notes on our Outlook calendars so the other person knows they can’t have the car. The rest of the time, it’s first come first serve.

Rentals. That being said about coordination, we’ve run into a couple situations where we both absolutely needed wheels. And we rented a car. The cost of a rental is significantly less than buying and maintaining a second car. I’d say we rent a car 1-2 times a year (max).  

Personalization. Keith and I are fortunate that we’re roughly the same height, so our car seat and mirror settings are the same. But I could see where this might be an issue for others. Every time you get in the car, having to adjust seats and mirrors can be a PITA.

As we age, transportation is something we need to think about. It can be helpful to have these conversations early so no one is caught off guard. If you’ve been used to driving your own car and having that type of freedom, being able to control your future transportation needs will be important.

Image captured by Sharlyn Lauby while exploring the streets of New Delhi, India

What We Are UP To: The Travel Edition

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travel off the coast of saint Thomas

While I haven’t been doing much business travel lately, that’s going to come to an end very soon. Spring conference season is right around the corner. It’s not a problem. I love to travel. But I find my travels are fun when I plan right. Here are a few things I’m planning or like to have nearby when I travel to make my adventures a bit more fun. 

Watching | The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel 1 & 2

> With its star-studded cast, this story is about some British retirees who decide to spend their retirement in India. The movie covers a myriad of topics – love, getting older, feeling valuable, etc. and you’ll experience all the emotions that go along with it. I’ve seen both movies and a plane trip might be the perfect way to see them again. 

Reading | Made in America

> I just started reading Bill Bryson’s “Made in America: An Informal History of the English Language”. I will say that I’m enjoying it but it’s also heavier reading than I expected for being an informal history. I might have to find time to read this one earlier in the day and switch to something lighter right before sleep. Might be perfect for long layovers in the Atlanta airport. Ha!

Remembering | Drink More Water

> Keith and I have Walt Disney World annual passes, so we will be planning some travel to the parks. To make our trips more pleasant, we’ve put together a dedicated backpack for our trips. I solicited some feedback from other annual passholders in a Facebook group and we’ve added a couple of Brita water bottles. They filter water and are BPA free!

Working On | Organizing Warranties and Manuals

> With a new house, comes new stuff. For a couple of months now, we’ve simply been throwing all of the manuals and warranties into a box. Well, we can’t stand it anymore! So, we purchased a little filing cabinet that fits into a closet. My new mission is to organize all of it…and before I start to travel. 

Feeling | Relaxed

> We’re certainly not bored around here. Plenty of work projects and stuff to do around the house. But it’s at a good pace. It’s one thing to accomplish goals when you’re running around at a frantic pace. It’s another to keep working the list of to-dos then realize you’ve been slowly and steadily crossing things off the list. The first one is good. The second way is better. At least to me it is…

Planning | Our first Pilates workout

> Well, it’s not our “first” …but our first in a long time. We’ve been walking regularly, and I still love using my Cubii. Found a Pilates studio near our house and signed up. Let’s hope we remember how to do this. LOL! Seriously, I’m sure we will be feeling it but very happy to be exercising again. 

Loving | My new MacBook Pro

> My laptop was showing some signs of slowing down so as a preventative measure, we decided to buy a new one. This purchase put us 100% in the Cult of Mac. Our last laptop was Windows based. We’re still setting it up for travel but so far, I’m in love. It’s really nice to have the same access to files on the road as when you’re in the office. 

Geeking | Clutch Charger

> Carrying around a portable charger is a ‘must-have’ in my travel bag. But I have to admit, they can be big, bulky, and heavy! The nice folks at Clutch Charger sent me one to test drive and I’m impressed. It’s the size of a credit card. Very lightweight and it does the job. 

What’s UP with you?

Image captured by Sharlyn Lauby off the coast of Charlotte Amalie in St. Thomas, USVI

Aging In Place: 7 Things You Can Do to Prepare Your Home

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fenced yard in New Orleans for aging in place

When Keith and I were making the decision to move to Gainesville, Florida, we also talked about staying put in South Florida and renovating our current home. It was the live version of “Love It or List It” with David Visentin and Hilary Farr. LOL! Deciding whether to stay and renovate or move is a big decision. Especially when you consider aging in place.

Ultimately, we decided to move. But as we were building our current home, we kept in mind that this was going to be a place where we wanted to age comfortably. This played a role in many of the decisions we made during the construction process. 

As you talk about your aging in place plans, think about your home. It could be done as part of a renovation to the home you have right now. Or building something new. Maybe a bit of both – buying a new home and then renovating it. Regardless, here are a few things we learned along the way when it comes to aging comfortably at home.

1. Appliances: I’m specifically talking about refrigerators, washers, and dryers. I know the current trend is to have the refrigerator freezer on the bottom. But that means bending over all the time! Same with front load washers and dryers. Think about how much bending you want to do all the time and are there options to have the latest while saving you some back pain.

2. Bathrooms: Three things to consider: adult height vanities (again, be kind to your back), “comfort height” toilets, and shower bars. If you’re not ready to look at shower bars in your bathroom, it is possible to have them pre-blocked during construction. Then that support structure can be utilized later. 

3. Ceiling Height: We love high ceilings. They can make small rooms look very spacious. But changing out light bulbs and smoke alarm batteries can mean climbing very tall ladders. At some point, we must decide how many times we want to climb up on ladders when we’re 60, 70, or older. I hate climbing on ladders now and want to do even less of it when I’m older. 

4. Drawers and cabinets: Just like ceiling heights, tall cabinets look fabulous. But depending on how tall those cabinets are, it might involve using a step stool to reach those top shelves. And our builder told us to focus on drawer pulls versus knobs. The idea being to minimize the amount of gripping we would need as we age. And as lovely as some drawer pulls look, they also suggested steering away from ones that might accidentally grab or snag clothing.

5. Flooring: This is a double-edged sword. On one hand, it can be helpful to have all wood or tile floors so there are no thresholds to possibly trip over. But then again, if we put rugs on the wood or tile floors, we run the risk of tripping over them. I wish I had an answer. It’s definitely an important conversation to have. 

6. Landscaping: I love beautiful landscaping. I’m not a fan of yardwork. Keith likes yardwork. He finds it cathartic. We spent a lot of time talking about how much yard would give us the beautiful part we love without being a huge burden. While Keith loves doing the yardwork today, there might be a time when he doesn’t want to, and he shouldn’t feel guilty about it.

7. Lighting: Our home in South Florida was filled with natural light. We rarely turned the lights on during the daytime. Yeah, in the evening we turned lights on but not during the day. Gainesville is different. The natural light isn’t the same. Lighting is important because we need it to read, clean, etc. Not only do we need to plan for built in lighting, but we need to consider additional lighting in terms of lamps, night lights, outdoor lighting, etc.

I don’t know that anyone should duplicate what Keith and I did on our home. But I put this list together so you can have the same conversations and make the right decisions for you. I’d like to think that most of us want to enjoy our homes as we age. That means planning for both form and function when it comes to aging in place.

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

What We Are UP To: The Old School Edition

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old school Reykjavík Iceland city street

I’m a big fan of technology and have lots of it. I love technology gadgets and test-driving new tech toys. But loving technology doesn’t mean that I have to give up some old school activities or items. This month, I find myself gravitating towards things that are a bit more classic or old school. 

Watching | Bad Boys for Life

> I’ll admit it. I loved the first two movies. It’s a classic cop buddies action flick. And every once in a while, that’s really okay. I don’t subscribe to the theory that every movie needs to be Academy Award winning material. In fact, lately I’ve been gravitating toward fun, entertaining movies over serious, somber ones. 

Reading | Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore

> Full disclosure, I’m not finished with this one yet, but I’m loving the juxtaposition between old books and new technology. The book is about a marketing executive who loses his job during the Great Recession and ends up working third shift at a bookstore. Then strange things start happening. So far, it’s a nice example of how old school and new school can work together nicely.

Remembering | MAD Magazine

> Talk about old school! I remember reading MAD Magazine when I was much younger. It was my introduction to satirical content. Last year, the publisher announced that MAD was basically shutting down, except for the occasional special collection. Well, I ran across a special collection in the grocery store this month and couldn’t resist. I haven’t opened a MAD Magazine in years. I hope I’m not disappointed. 

Working On | Car Research

> We’re a research family. We do spreadsheets to plan our vacation. LOL! You can imagine what it’s like trying to figure out what car to buy. Keith and I downsized to one vehicle a few years ago, so having a reliable mode of transportation is important. It will take us a while to sort this out. Our current vehicle is almost 15 years old and many of the fancy new items we added back then are now considered to be very old school. GPS? Pfft. Just use your phone.

Feeling | Settled

> We’ve managed to unpack all of the boxes inside the house. Can’t say the same for the garage, but we’re declaring it a win. We’re in phase two of moving – rearranging where everything goes around the house. The nice part is that we’re settled. All of our stuff is in one place and we don’t have to wonder where we’re going to live every month. That was a terrible feeling and one that I hope no one ever has to experience.

Planning | WordCamp Miami

> Unretirement Project runs on a WordPress blog. WordPress is considered to be the most popular content management system (CMS) in the world and used by about 75 million websites. WordPress users hold regular events, called WordCamps, where users help other users learn more about the system. Old school sharing and networking. We’ve been going to the one in Miami for years and even though we live in Gainesville, we’re still going to it. 

Loving | Coconut Water Cold Brew

> I’m a big fan of cold brew coffee. I make my own at home after finding this recipe via Jaime Oliver. It’s very easy to do. My latest experiment is using coconut water. It does make a subtle difference. Not overpowering but very mellow. If you like cold brew, it might be worth a try. 

Geeking | Light Box

> Light boxes are basically plastic boxes with a translucent surface that you can place shapes/letters/etc. on so the messaging is seen via contrast. Growing up (and still today), many businesses use very large light boxes to let customers know the latest specials or advertise help wanted. Today, companies are making smaller versions of light boxes for personal use. I have one in my office so I can post my own motivational messages. It’s fun!

What’s UP with you? Got a favorite old school item or activity? 

Image captured by Sharlyn Lauby while exploring the old school streets of Reykjavík, Iceland

What We Are UP To: Holiday Edition

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Christmas tree ornament pink holiday flamingo with Santa hat

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

The holiday season is upon us. It’s a time to be thankful and giving. And when I say giving that doesn’t necessarily mean buying gifts. There are so many no-cost things we can give to others like our respect and attention. Keith and I are excited to be spending the holidays in our new home. And with a new place I’m sure we will start some new holiday traditions. 

Working On | A New Christmas Tree

> Our last home was a little smaller than this one and a full-size tree just didn’t look right. For the past few years, we’ve had a tabletop tree. In this house, we have a bit more space, so we’ve decided on a full-size Christmas tree. It’s decorated with our favorite things like donuts, pizza, and tacos. LOL!

Watching | Once Upon a Deadpool

> I will admit that Deadpool movies are a guilty pleasure. After the release of Deadpool 2, the movie was re-released in a PG-13 format with the addition of Fred Savage and a holiday theme. We can get our Deadpool fix and some holiday cheer at the same time. I fully expect the debates about whether it’s a holiday movie. Just like Die Hard, which is definitely a holiday movie. 

Reading | Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

> I finally got my hands on book number three in the Harry Potter series. Just started the book (no spoilers, please!) We’ve also been playing the Harry Potter Wizards Unite game on our phones, so I’ve been very curious about the character of Sirius Black. Can’t wait to see how it turns out! 

Planning | 2020

> I can’t wait to start saying it’s the year 2020! When I was younger, the year 2000 seemed so far away. Remember Y2K?! We thought the whole world was coming to an end. The good news is that we survived the turn of the century. And now we have a new decade to celebrate. 

Feeling | Excited

> The thought of a new year is always exciting to me. I spend time thinking about my accomplishments and set goals for the New Year. Now that we’re settling into our new place, we have no excuses. It will be fun to see what the year has in store for us!

Loving | Uten.Silo

>  The Uten.Silo wall storage unit was created by Dorothee Becker in the 1960s. She said it was inspired by her father’s drugstore. There was a hanging bag full of fascinating things waiting to be discovered. I’ve been fascinated by the piece ever since I saw it. Now I’m thrilled to have one hanging in my new office. 

Geeking | Amazon Echo

> We have several Amazon Echo devices. It’s been fun setting them up for the new house. If you have a few Amazon Echo devices and haven’t checked out the routines feature, it’s quite cool. You can set up your device to do a series of commands – like turn on the lights, tell you the weather, and then play your favorite music station. 

Remembering | Self-Care

> It’s easy during the holidays to over-indulge. While I certainly don’t want to damper anyone’s holiday celebrations, do take time to rest, relax, and take care of yourself. It might be having a cuppa tea and reading a good book. Or sleeping in late. Self-care is important. You will be thankful that you did. 

What’s UP with you? Keith and I wish you the best of holidays. Thank you so much for supporting Unretirement Project and cheers to the New Year!